The katana type of shingunto, issued to officers in the Japanese Army, symbolized the samurai SAMURAI 侍 'warrior serving a lord' learn more. Showato are not considered to be true Japanese swords – even while outside of Japan they are beloved and collected as historical artifacts. In 1937, the Japanese government began requiring the use of special stamps to distinguish these bulk-made blades from traditionally made swords. They were made non-traditionally and are called showato SHOWATO 昭和刀 'Showa-era sword' learn more. However, most of the swords used in this period were mass-produced in factories.ĭuring pre-World War II, and throughout the war, all Japanese officers were required to wear a sword. of the Kamakura Period, the WW2 Japanese sword was either made by modern machines, traditionally manufactured, or had been passed down from ancestors. Manufactured at the Toyokawa Naval Arsenal and styled after the traditional slung tachi TACHI 太刀 'great sword' learn more. The shingunto (translated as something akin to “new military sword”), used by the Japanese Imperial Army from 1935 to 1945, symbolized rank. Uses, Meanings and Rules of Officer Swords In late 1944, two other styles of shingunto mounts were produced. Such traditionally-made swords are gendaito or kindaito. Some blades, however, were hand-made, using non-traditional methods. The most common style of sword mounting from this era, shingunto mounts, used machine-made blades for the most part. or gendaito GENDAITO 現代刀 'contemporary sword' learn more. Japanese military swords produced between 18 are referred to as gunto GUNTO 軍刀 '(modern) saber' learn more.

This led to the building of a powerful modern military. After the Meiji Restoration of 1868, Japan entered the modern era, opening to western trade and influence. Until 1868, Japanese military history consisted of clan warfare followed by feudal wars. This article will explain to you the history, types, meanings, and rules regarding Japanese officers swords and provide you with some information about their availability for collectors today. is the most common type of mounting from the World War II period. Modern Japanese military officers’ swords have been made since the mid-1900s, and the shingunto SHINGUNTO 新軍刀 'new military sword' learn more.

Japanese military culture and history is fascinating and important to learn about, especially if you are thinking about purchasing a Japanese officer sword or becoming a collector of nihonto NIHONTO 日本刀 'Japanese sword' learn more.

Ww2 katana length