Discovering the Japanese Sword of the Second World War

Japanese swordsmiths are in a league of their own. These craftsmen do not rely on modern machinery to create stunning bladed arms. Instead, they draw on ancient traditions handed down through generations of expert swordsmiths. Unsurprisingly, Japanese swords are among the best in the world.

Up to the Second World War

Although a Second World War Japanese sword may rival the blades of the pre-Meiji era, demand from high-ranking Japanese military officers somewhat compromised the swordsmiths' devotion to high-quality swords. It was almost impossible to keep pace. Many were machine-made, while a few were made by hand, but not in the traditional way.

Yet these swords are worth studying because they illustrate Japan's fascination with tradition. Join us as we discover Second World War Japanese swords.

Second World War Japanese swords: reviving ancient traditions

The Land of the Rising Sun is a nation rich in traditions that many Westerners might find outdated and irrelevant. From rituals to sword-making, the Japanese have a way of doing things with grace and peace, unlike the hurried pace of other civilisations.

This way of life changed in the middle of the 19th century when Japan opened its borders to the rest of the world. The Meiji government sought to reform the country and escape its feudal past. This led to the dissolution of the samurai class, banning the public wearing of Japanese swords.

As Japan sent representatives abroad, the government recognised the potential for conquering other lands. They saw expansionism as a tool to fuel industrial growth and feed the people. More importantly, the ideal of the early 20th century was to place Japan on the world stage, preferably on an equal footing with the other world superpowers.

But they could not be like other countries. Instead, Japan sought to set itself apart by reviving ancient traditions rooted in unshakeable nationalism. While Japan was looking to the future, it was also reflecting on its past. And there is no better way to bridge that gap than by producing the archetype of the Japanese sword.

Pre-Second World War swords: the Kyu Gunto

Kyu gunto swords by MADFINGERGames on Twitter.

Japan's first foray into international conflict was against China in the First Sino-Japanese War of 1894 to 1895.

The Japanese general, swordsman, samurai, marksman, firearms inventor and armourer Murata Tsuneyoshi was the first to mass-produce Murata-to, or Kyu gunto, swords.

Army, cavalry and navy officers wore these swords. These bladed arms had striking similarities to American and European swords, but with Russian-inspired mountings.

Kyu Gunto swords varied in features and quality. Although some were made by hand, most were mass-produced to meet growing demand. Some scabbards had chrome components, while others featured brass fittings and lacquered wood. The hilt resembled that of a sabre, with its characteristic D-shaped guard.

Unsurprisingly, these Japanese swords were also used during the Russo-Japanese War between 1904 and 1905.

Second World War swords: the Shin Gunto

A Shin gunto sword by Collectors Weekly.

In 1935, the Imperial Japanese Army called for a new sword for commissioned officers and senior ranks. The army commissioned the Toyokawa Naval Arsenal to produce Second World War Japanese swords known as Shin gunto.

Their aim? To return to the traditional design of Japanese swords, preferably the Tachi of the Kamakura period. The reason was to strengthen the sense of nationalism within the Imperial Army even further.

These Japanese swords have distinct features for classifying military ranks. For example, generals and admirals wore Shin gunto swords with gold and reddish-brown tassels. The swords of field-grade officers (colonels and majors) had red and brown tassels, junior or company officers (captains and lieutenants) had blue and brown tassels, and sergeants or corporals had swords with brown tassels.

As mentioned, the production of Second World War Japanese swords varied. Although most were mass-produced at the Toyokawa Naval Arsenal, some blades were made by hand. However, hand-made Second World War Japanese swords did not follow the traditional methods of forging and blade-making.

Instead, the army opted for new hand-made sword-making techniques. These swords are the Showato, Yotetsuto, Muratato, Hantanzo and Mantetsuto. Some swordsmiths of the Yasukuni Shrine, Ichihara Nagamitsu, the Gassan school and Chounsai Emura hand-made some of the swords of the Second World War era.

It is worth pointing out that some high-ranking Japanese military officers wore ancestral swords. These swords are highly prized for their exceptional craftsmanship, forged by some of the greatest swordsmiths in the country. Unfortunately, such Japanese swords are rare.

4 Second World War Japanese swords to know

Shin gunto swords appeared in 1935 and persisted until Japan's defeat by the Allies in mid-1945. Several types of Japanese sword existed throughout this period, and you will want to know the most popular ones.

Type 94: Kyuyon-shiki gunto

A Type 94 sword at the Australian War Memorial.

The Type 94 replaced the pre-Second World War Japanese sword, the Kyu gunto. It abandoned Western elements for more traditional features, such as a tsuka, or handle, covered in ray skin with a silk wrap. The tsuba, kashira, fuchi, and menuki bore the cherry blossom symbol of the Imperial Japanese Army.

The scabbard, or saya, also had several features reminiscent of the Tachi of the Kamakura period. For example, the sword-makers inserted a wooden lining into the metal scabbard to protect the nagasa. They also painted the saya brown and added two brass mounts for suspending the sword as part of a full-dress military uniform.

Type 95: Kyuko-shiki gunto

A Type 95 sword by killorbekilled55 on Reddit.

Type 94 swords of the Japanese Second World War period were intended for commissioned officers, while Type 95 variants were for non-commissioned officers, or NCOs. These swords are almost identical to the Type 94, except that they were mass-produced. The bo-hi, or fullers, are deep, while the nagasa bears a serial number in Arabic numerals stamped on the surface.

Between 1935 and 1944, Type 95 swords had a metal scabbard (saya) with wooden linings. Towards the end of the war, the scabbard was mainly wood because of the scarcity of resources. The handle was also made of wood. Gone was the ray skin. Instead, the wooden handle has cross-hatched grooves. The sword fittings also became cheaper. Makers fitted the Type 95 with iron, not brass.

Type 98: Kyuhachi-shiki gunto

A Type 98 sword on Reddit.

Officers of the IJA required a simplified version of the Type 94. So the swordsmiths produced the Type 98 in 1938. It was almost identical to the 1935 version, except for a single scabbard mount.

Unfortunately, later versions of the Type 98 were of poor quality. This is not surprising, as the war drained Japan's reserves of raw materials. As a result, the Type 98 no longer featured the metal scabbard (saya) and the intricate details of the Type 94. Instead, this Japanese sword had a wooden scabbard, cheap metal ornaments and blackened iron or copper fittings.

Naval sword: Kai gunto

A naval officer's Kai gunto sword at the Australian War Memorial.

Officers of the Imperial Japanese Navy required a different sword because of the corrosive nature of marine environments. Many of these Second World War Japanese swords had stainless steel blades with dark blue or black lacquered scabbards covered in luxurious ray skin.

Most high-quality Kai gunto came from the Tenshozan Tanrenjo production facility in Kanagawa Prefecture. Others came from the Toyokawa Naval Arsenal.

Are Second World War Japanese swords valuable?

Second World War Japanese swords vary in quality. Their value therefore also varies according to several factors. Let's look at these parameters.

Age of the sword

Japanese swords of the pre-Meiji era show better craftsmanship than Kyu gunto and Shin gunto swords. Only the country's most eminent swordsmiths can produce exceptionally sharp, robust and functional swords in the traditional way.

Older swords feature tamahagane steel, giving the blades exceptional sharpness and strength. The hardening line (hamon) is also distinct and natural, produced by the natural processes of folding and hammering metal, burning like lava, into a sword blade.

Unfortunately, few inherited swords survived the Haitorei edict of 1876, when the Meiji government banned its citizens from wearing swords in public.

Swordsmith

Most Second World War Japanese swords were mass-produced to supply a growing imperial military organisation. The emphasis is on quantity, not on the quality of the sword.

However, some high-ranking military officers preferred their swords to be made in the traditional way. Some of the recognisable swordsmiths of the Second World War include Yasunori, Yasuoki, Yasutoku and other swordsmiths whose names begin with "Yasu". Interestingly, these swordsmiths all came from the Yasukuni Shrine.

The most striking attribute of the Yasukuni swordsmiths is their Bizen sword-making heritage. These swords can be expected to have consistent patterns and a hamon whose style and shape are easily discernible.

Materials

As mentioned, traditional swordsmiths use tamahagane to produce the country's best swords. Unfortunately, forging tamahagane is a long process. The Imperial Japanese Army did not have the time.

Pre-Second World War Kyu Gunto swords were made of puddled steel. With raw materials growing scarcer as the war went on, swordsmiths and mass-production sword facilities had to make do with cheaper materials.

Condition

The condition of the Second World War Japanese sword can also influence its value. Battle damage, improper storage and age can create imperfections on the blade. This can reduce the sword's appraisal value.

What happened to Japanese swords after the Second World War?

Japan's defeat in the Second World War meant the end of its rich sword-making heritage. The Allies confiscated and destroyed many Japanese swords. Some were taken to the United States and allied countries as trophies or museum pieces. Some swords were saved and are now protected by the Japanese government's agency for historical and cultural affairs.

A Japanese officer surrendering his sword to an Allied officer. Photo by Japan Forward.

Conclusion

A Second World War Japanese sword may not have the same appeal and value as a classic sword from feudal Japan. However, these blades remain rich in culture and history. They remind us of a country's sense of nationalism and its pride in its traditions. These swords may no longer serve their original purpose. They remain objects of admiration and inspiration.