just wondering

[chuck_norris_XII]

Hey i was just wondering. i don't know if any of you guys/girls are gamers, sorry for getting off topic, but. Is there a Japanese sword named Masamune? It's the one Sephiroth uses in FIANL FANTASY VII. :)

[David Craik]

Masamune was a famous Japanese swordsmith of the Soshu school who lived in the 1300s, and is considered the best to have ever lived. Outside of swordsmithing, he was known as Goro Nyudo. There are very few examples of signed Masamune swords around today, and they are extremely valuable - nearly priceless.

His (arguably) most famous blade was the 'Honjo Masamune', a sword made for the Tokugawa.

"Masamune" as a name for a video game sword also has apparently appeared in Castlevania, Golden Sun, Shining Soul, Soul Calibur, Ragnarok Online, Secret of Mana,Tales of Symphonia, and Onimusha.

[zatojoshi]

I have heard many of them had been smuggled out of Japan during the US occupation and the Japanese government sought to bring them back. They are, I believe, considered to be national treasures.