Many masterpieces related to the history of Sendai and the feudal lords of Sendai, the Date family
Following the construction of a castle by Masamune Date, Sendai prospered as a castle town and is now famous as a beautiful site for its National Treasures, National Historic Sites such as the remains of Sendai Castle, Important Cultural Properties, and the old remnants pertaining to the Date family. At the Sendai City Museum which is located on the San-no-Maru enclosure in Sendai (Aoba) Castle, the 90,000 artifacts of art works and historical documents pertaining to the history and culture of Sendai and Miyagi Prefecture mainly centering on the donated cultural properties from the Date family are displayed on a rotating seasonal basis, and at any one time, there are approximately 1000 artifacts on display. A wide variety of historically valuable works and illustrations are proudly exhibited beginning with old books, paintings, ukiyo-e, weapons and pottery.
The finest treasures of the Date Family collection
During the Momoyama Era when the most gorgeous culture blossomed, Masamune Date, who had lived in the cultural centers of Kyoto and Edo, reflected on personal items and architecture such as the numerous armor and clothing with that refined sense of beauty. The museum has many artifacts which reflect Masamune’s pre-eminent sense. Among them, the Important Cultural Property of The Black-Lacquered Armor with the 5-Piece Cuirass will greatly impress viewers with its novel design of black armor and gold crest. This armor is only periodically displayed so please check in advance before coming to the museum.
The historical heritage of the Keicho-Era mission to Europe is also on display
Documents of high historical value that were brought home from the 1613 Keicho-Era Mission to Europe that was dispatched under the orders of Masamune Date for the purposes of trade negotiations between the Sendai Clan and Spain have been preserved. Also portraits of Tsunenaga Hasekura and Pope Paul V, the Title of Roman Citizenship conferred upon Hasekura by the Roman city council and other valuable documents that relate the history of Japanese diplomacy and Christianity have been registered as artifacts within the UNESCO Memory of the World programme.