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''Kusanagi no tsurugi'', or the "Grasscutter Sword," is one of the three Japanese [[Imperial Regalia]], along with the mirror ''[[Yata no kagami]]'' and the jewel ''[[Yasakani no magatama]]''.

''Kusanagi no tsurugi'', or the "Grasscutter Sword," is one of the three Japanese [[Imperial Regalia]], along with the mirror ''[[Yata no kagami]]'' and the jewel ''[[Yasakani no magatama]]''.

The sword is said to have been held by the Imperial family ever since, according to the earliest Japanese creation myths, the storm god [[Susa no O no Mikoto]], brother of the sun goddess [[Amaterasu]], slayed the demon serpent [[Orochi]] and discovered the sword within the serpent's body.

The sword is said to have been held by the Imperial family ever since, according to the earliest Japanese creation myths, the storm god [[Susa no O no Mikoto]], brother of the sun goddess [[Amaterasu]], slayed the demon serpent [[Yamata no Orochi]] and discovered the sword within the serpent's body.

The original ''Kusanagi'' sword is said to have been housed permanently at [[Atsuta Shrine]] since the reign of the legendary [[Emperor Keiko|Emperor Keikô]] (r. [[71]]-[[130]]). However, from the [[Meiji period]] onwards, a replica has always been kept close to the [[Emperor]], and in the Meiji period up through 1945, the emperor carried this replica on his person whenever he left the Imperial Palace for an overnight (or longer) trip.<ref>Takashi Fujitani, ''Splendid Monarchy'', UC Press (1998), 258n49.</ref>

The original ''Kusanagi'' sword is said to have been housed permanently at [[Atsuta Shrine]] since the reign of the legendary [[Emperor Keiko|Emperor Keikô]] (r. [[71]]-[[130]]). However, from the [[Meiji period]] onwards, a replica has always been kept close to the [[Emperor]], and in the Meiji period up through 1945, the emperor carried this replica on his person whenever he left the Imperial Palace for an overnight (or longer) trip.<ref>Takashi Fujitani, ''Splendid Monarchy'', UC Press (1998), 258n49.</ref>