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Tōken Ranbu Fans Raise US$328,000 for Sword Restoration Crowdfund
posted on by Lynzee Loveridge
The fans of DMM's Tōken Ranbu game and anime franchise continue to take their love for sword guys to the next level. Fans have, time after time, raised funds to help benefit the shrines, museums, and weapons that the game references. Most recently, a Campfire crowdfund campaign launched to restore the Ishikirimaru sword.
The campaign swiftly met its goal of 10,000,000 yen (US$90,460), raising half the amount in just two hours. Since the campaign launched on March 26 it's raised a total of 36,248,482 yen (US$327,900).
The campaign is offering reward items for supporters ranging from 2,500 yen (US$22.50) to 13,000 yen (US$118). Items include postcard sets, clear files, keychains, tape, drinking glasses, T-shirts, liquor, ema, art prints, happi coats, dedicated name plates, and arrows. A miko service was also offered but is sold out.
Ishikirimaru is considered a sacred blade and it is currently housed at the Ishikiri Tsurugiya Shinto shrine in Higashiosaka, Osaka. The crowdfund seeks to restore the sword and properly dedicate it within the main shrine's inner sanctum as part of the change over from the Heisei period. The sword was forged during the Heian period (794 to 1185 AD).
The shrine's legend states that the Ishikirimaru can cut through stone.
National treasure and swordsmith Kunihira Kawachi will be in charge of restoring the blade. Kawachi is the second son of 14th-generation swordsmith Kunisuke Kawachinokami. He is a member of the Ancient Sword Research Committee of the Kashihara Archaeological Institute and has restored many important ancient swords.
The Daimaru Umeda department store in Osaka will display the Ishikirimaru Tōken Ranbu character to promote the project.
The Tōken Ranbu franchise has helped lead the way to restoring multiple heritage items and sites including the lost tanto and sword blades Yagen Tōshirō and Hotarumaru, and restore the Mikazuki Munechika blade.
