Photo/Illutration Many blades listed as national treasures and culturally important properties are shown at “The Exhibition of Samurai” in the Fukuoka City Museum. (Kunihiko Imai)

FUKUOKA—A rare exhibition here is displaying dozens of swords, armor and other possessions of samurai that are designated as national treasures and important cultural properties.

“The Exhibition of Samurai” at the Fukuoka City Museum in Sawara Ward, features 150 items used by samurai from the mid-Heian Period (794-1185) to the 1600 Battle of Sekigahara, which is said to have ushered in the Tokugawa Shogunate (1603-1867).

About 60 percent of the items on display are listed as national treasures or culturally important assets.

“More emphasis is put on the history of the advancement of the weapons than the artistic values of swords and armor in the exhibition,” said Kazushige Horimoto, chief of the museum’s art division who organized the exhibit. “It is rare that such exceptional works are displayed so I hope many people will come see them.”

Historic swords and blades wielded by famous warlords have recently gained much attention after being featured in video game titles.

Among the weapons on display that are wowing sword fans is the culturally important property called Yoshimoto Samoji, which is said to have been owned by warlord Imagawa Yoshimoto (1519-1560) and then possessed by Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582).

Other star attractions are the national treasure known as Heshikiri Hasebe presented by Nobunaga to Kuroda Yoshitaka (1546-1604) and the culturally important asset called Honebami Toshiro that was used by Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598).

Between the Heian Period and the Kamakura Period (1192-1333), samurai in open battles mainly shot arrows from horses. High-class warriors on horses donned thick “oyoroi” armor, while lower-grade soldiers wore “haramaki” light trunk protectors and wielded long swords and “naginata” partisans fought on foot.

During the period known as the Northern and Southern Dynasties (1336-1392), samurai typically attacked entrenched enemies. But they needed to manipulate their weapons while walking, so even high-class warriors started to frequently sport haramaki.

Longer blades measuring more than 120 centimeters were created at the time.

After the Muromachi Period (1338-1573) started, a bevy of “ashigaru” footmen were mobilized in the Onin War and later battles. They wore “domaru” armor, which was lighter than haramaki.

The conventional huge swords were shortened and their tips were curved to make the weapons easier to carry and draw. Such blades, called “uchigatana,” became popular in the period.

During the age of provincial wars (1467-1568), traditional protectors using “kozane” small iron and cowhide plates bundled with string were replaced by ones made of iron panels.

Although warlords previously connected kozane with threads of various colors to emphasize their personalities, peculiar helmets created in the image of animal horns and various vessels were in vogue in the era.

New types of armor around that time were known as “tosei gusoku.”

The special exhibit in Fukuoka shows paintings depicting scenes of those weapons being used along with portraits of armored warlords.

The Fukuoka City Museum is closed on Mondays. If a Monday is a holiday, the museum will be closed on the following Tuesday. Admission is 1,500 yen ($13.95) for adults, 900 yen for college and high school students. Those of junior high school age or younger can enter free of charge.

The samurai exhibition continues until Nov. 4.