Glossary: Tsukumokami Nasu

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Tsukumokami Nasu (九十九髪茄子)

Also known as: Matsunaga Nasu (松永茄子), Tsukumogami (九十九髪), Tsukomo Nasu (九十九茄子), Sakubutsu Nasu (作物茄子), Tsukomo Nasu (付藻茄子)

A masterpiece tea caddy which was imported from China during the early Muromachi Shogunate (1336 - 1573) and owned by the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. It was said that Ashikaga Yoshimitsu carried it even when going to battle. The caddy was treasured by several generations of Ashikaga shoguns and passed through several hands before being sold to Matsunaga Hisahide for the price of 1,000 kan.

When Matsunaga Hisahide surrendered to Oda Nobunaga, he offered the Tsukumokami Nasu to Nobunaga as a sign of his loyalty.

This priceless item now resides in the Seikadou Bunko Art Museum in Tokyo.