I have 2 Wakizashis, 1 from the Muromachi era 1400-1500 and 1 from the Kamakura era 1200-1300. I accidentally had cut my finger today with the Muromachi one 🤦🏻♂️ 500 years old and still cuts like it was made yesterday. Never again
Huge numbers of these "lost" swords were taken back to the US, UK, and Australia by returning soldiers, where they are still "coming out of the woodwork" even today. I'm a Japanese sword collector, and my main supplier is still constantly finding new "stashes" of these swords that were originally brought back by soldiers, and have only just now come to light again, found in attics and closets by family members. Japanese swords were a highly sought-after souvenir after the war, and during the Occupation period-so much in demand that Gen. MacArthur actually authorized a Japanese swordmaking company to produce swords for sale in Army PX stores during the Occupation, when all other swordmaking was forbidden.
My brothers inherited one that was made around the time of the Russo Japanese war, though taken in WW2 in New Guinea. It’s no ancient masterpiece, but well above much of what was turned out thirty years later. You can see others like it, along with captured pistols, rifles, machine guns, mortars and artillery pieces, in RSL clubs all over Australia.
Out of the handfull of swords I own I chose one of the nicest swords and gave it to a Japanese friend because I felt it belonged with him. He was one of the greatest men ive met.
@@gf2390 most would think its crazy how I need to psych myself up to watch post ww11 sword hunt. I have had such a reverence for Japanese since I started martial arts in the early 80’s. I am aware that my reasons are a bit selfish , thinking “ I could have gone through those piles and they would be in good hands”. And knowing my Grandfather fought in Burma and the South Pacific at the end of the war against the emperor army. I was not one of the lucky ones that was able to have a relative bring one back from the theatre. I understand people would look at this post negatively, I am just being honest. I guess not having a real nihonto handed to me gave me the drive to be able to forge my own blades as I am generally not happy with “most” replicas. Sorry for the rambling, this may have been cathartic for me lol!!!
I used to do work for a WW2 Hero Mr. Wells who had one in his gun cabinet. I told him a story I had read in the Tulsa World about a Katana being repatriated to the surviving Japanese family members. He told me he had to trade an M-1 round to a Japanese leutenant and no one was getting it back off him. Mr. Wells was a wonderful MAN yet he is gone now. One of his Sons might be willing to part with it? EXcellent history lesson am now very curious. Thanks.
Man they are lucky they weren’t all melted down by the great atomic forge from the sky . The fact that we let them keep their emperor is kinda shameful
Leonard Siffleet, a World War Two Australian Commando was a prisoner of war, and was murder with one of these sword. It of course wasn’t the swords fault, as it is a tool, but the criminal wielding it.
I don't care what the swords represented to the Japanese soldiers. They got far less for starting the war than the allies would have got for losing it had the allies lost it.
They would have done America just like they did China. They made the Nazis look like girl scouts. Anyone who knows history shouldn't feel bad for them.
My family has a Sword that was won in battle in Okinawa. That sword is not going anywhere my wife's uncle fought a bloody battle and won. So it's hard won war trophy. Sorry is this upsets any apologists. The sword was verified many times by experts as being over 200 years old.
Just to add some facts, the majority of those swords are not katanas. Rather they're actually called gunto. And most of these guntos are not traditionally hand made. Some guntos from the early 1900s are sabres with D shaped hand guard which is very exotic for a japanese sword.
My grandfathers brother fought the Japanese in WW2 he had a Japanese sword he brought back it was used for wood splitting and other garden tasks then some relative took it when he died . His hatred of Japan and the Japanese was absolute I remember as a kid my father got. Japanese company car and if we visited we had to park it away from his house I would hate to think of the things he saw
I believe that the number of historical Samurai katana's passed down thru time by relatives of officers during WW2 were limited. the vast majority of katana's issued to officers during WW2 were mass produced for the war. they were of no value.
I have about 20-30 WW2 Japanese Officers swords in my collection. About half of them have old, traditionally-made blades in them. There were plenty of swordsmiths hand-forging blades all during the war,too.
Let's not forget the damn Japanese started this fight with ruthless brutality at Pearl Harbor. I have zero sympathy for lost swords or nuclear bombs dropped. If you poke the bear and then get bitten, it's your fault not the bears.
Interesting how japan had an accepted culture of capturing the swords of a defeated enemy for hundreds of years but once they were defeated the swords were "stolen".
Most of those destroyed swords were mass produced junk. And considering Japans crimes against humanity during the war, fully equal to the Nazis, I'm not going to cry over some lost blades.
It’s funny how people keep on and on about the Nazi and Japanese, you always seem to forget the USA holocaust of the native Americans , the so called land of the free were people today are still on reservations.
Way worse of the Nazis where the americans in all wars starting from the american indian wars. Educate yourself before you open your mouth. Check also the My Lai massacre
Now, everyone who complains about the swords and insists that they must be sent back to Japan, and so on. Remember that the Japanese killed approximately 20 million people between 1895 and 1945 and committed unspeakable atrocities against civilians and POWs during World War II. These swords were used in several war crimes. Never forget.
Before 1939, let’s talk about years of horrific torture, s. assault, and murder of Chinese men, women, and children. WW II started way before ‘39 for them.
They did the same to the Philippines. It was called Pershing's sword/blade hunt when the U.S. was pacifying the Philippines. We lost our KAMPILANS, AND GINUNTINGS, AND OUR BUTTERFLY KNIVES WERE MADE WELL KNOWN!!!
Such a shame so many swords were destroyed confiscated or lost but at least they were able to save some of them.
I have 2 Wakizashis, 1 from the Muromachi era 1400-1500 and 1 from the Kamakura era 1200-1300. I accidentally had cut my finger today with the Muromachi one 🤦🏻♂️ 500 years old and still cuts like it was made yesterday. Never again
Thank you Colonel Cadwell for helping preserve some of these important blades
❤️❤️
Dumped into the ocean... Indeed, that was a hard watch.
Just like our boys who were dumped in the ocean.
Huge numbers of these "lost" swords were taken back to the US, UK, and Australia by returning soldiers, where they are still "coming out of the woodwork" even today. I'm a Japanese sword collector, and my main supplier is still constantly finding new "stashes" of these swords that were originally brought back by soldiers, and have only just now come to light again, found in attics and closets by family members. Japanese swords were a highly sought-after souvenir after the war, and during the Occupation period-so much in demand that Gen. MacArthur actually authorized a Japanese swordmaking company to produce swords for sale in Army PX stores during the Occupation, when all other swordmaking was forbidden.
It would be amazing to move into an old house and find one in the attic huh.
I've seen many of them pop up on Nihonto Message Board
My brothers inherited one that was made around the time of the Russo Japanese war, though taken in WW2 in New Guinea. It’s no ancient masterpiece, but well above much of what was turned out thirty years later. You can see others like it, along with captured pistols, rifles, machine guns, mortars and artillery pieces, in RSL clubs all over Australia.
Very well researched and objectively presented. Thank you.
❤️❤️
Out of the handfull of swords I own I chose one of the nicest swords and gave it to a Japanese friend because I felt it belonged with him.
He was one of the greatest men ive met.
This is going to be a tough watch! I hate looking at those piles of swords going “who knows where”, a good percentage were destroyed .
Totally agree
@@gf2390 most would think its crazy how I need to psych myself up to watch post ww11 sword hunt. I have had such a reverence for Japanese since I started martial arts in the early 80’s. I am aware that my reasons are a bit selfish , thinking “ I could have gone through those piles and they would be in good hands”. And knowing my Grandfather fought in Burma and the South Pacific at the end of the war against the emperor army. I was not one of the lucky ones that was able to have a relative bring one back from the theatre. I understand people would look at this post negatively, I am just being honest. I guess not having a real nihonto handed to me gave me the drive to be able to forge my own blades as I am generally not happy with “most” replicas. Sorry for the rambling, this may have been cathartic for me lol!!!
How many Americans were killed with those swords ⚔️⁉️
@@treystephens6166 not near as many Chinese. A few of my fellow Canadians I would guess.
@@aaronmatheson9730 Canada 🇨🇦 had a hand 🖐🏻 in the Pacific War ⁉️🇯🇵💥🇺🇸
Swords don't kill people ,
People kill people
Victors make the rules & get to write the history.
This is a very interesting piece thank you
❤️❤️
I'm glad you did not victimize the whole event and presented this in a fair light. :)
I used to do work for a WW2 Hero Mr. Wells who had one in his gun cabinet. I told him a story I had read in the Tulsa World about a Katana being repatriated to the surviving Japanese family members. He told me he had to trade an M-1 round to a Japanese leutenant and no one was getting it back off him. Mr. Wells was a wonderful MAN yet he is gone now. One of his Sons might be willing to part with it? EXcellent history lesson am now very curious. Thanks.
Man they are lucky they weren’t all melted down by the great atomic forge from the sky . The fact that we let them keep their emperor is kinda shameful
I have often wondered what happened to the swords that were owned and used by Miyamoto Musashi. Does anyone know if they still exist?
There's a few..
Leonard Siffleet, a World War Two Australian Commando was a prisoner of war, and was murder with one of these sword. It of course wasn’t the swords fault, as it is a tool, but the criminal wielding it.
I don't care what the swords represented to the Japanese soldiers. They got far less for starting the war than the allies would have got for losing it had the allies lost it.
They would have done America just like they did China. They made the Nazis look like girl scouts. Anyone who knows history shouldn't feel bad for them.
More than a few US soldiers that passed through australia took home aftermarket swords.
Most swords were cut to peices.. 80% of them or more
My family has a Sword that was won in battle in Okinawa. That sword is not going anywhere my wife's uncle fought a bloody battle and won. So it's hard won war trophy. Sorry is this upsets any apologists. The sword was verified many times by experts as being over 200 years old.
Just to add some facts, the majority of those swords are not katanas. Rather they're actually called gunto. And most of these guntos are not traditionally hand made. Some guntos from the early 1900s are sabres with D shaped hand guard which is very exotic for a japanese sword.
My grandfather had one with a piece of buckshot in it.
My grandfathers brother fought the Japanese in WW2 he had a Japanese sword he brought back it was used for wood splitting and other garden tasks then some relative took it when he died . His hatred of Japan and the Japanese was absolute I remember as a kid my father got. Japanese company car and if we visited we had to park it away from his house I would hate to think of the things he saw
Do you think the Japanese are naturally murderous ⁉️🇯🇵⚔️
I believe that the number of historical Samurai katana's passed down thru time by relatives of officers during WW2 were limited.
the vast majority of katana's issued to officers during WW2 were mass produced for the war. they were of no value.
many used family heirloom as their gunto blade that was because they thought they were fighting for family glory.
I have about 20-30 WW2 Japanese Officers swords in my collection. About half of them have old, traditionally-made blades in them. There were plenty of swordsmiths hand-forging blades all during the war,too.
Many of the captured destroyed swords in General Population Japan were heirlooms, and in fact, many in combat were as well. I have a wall of them here
@@LancelotChanMaybe but the vast majority were mass produced junk blades.
Let's not forget the damn Japanese started this fight with ruthless brutality at Pearl Harbor. I have zero sympathy for lost swords or nuclear bombs dropped. If you poke the bear and then get bitten, it's your fault not the bears.
My dad brought 2 back that he got in the Philippines. Both were covered in blood. He never said who's blood. Brought 2 Arisakas as well.
We have found one of this oldest katana in our province in leyte
Should be a federal US law not one sword should be returned to Japan ever. They lost.
I'd say a few lost swords pales in comparison to the atrocities committed by the Japanese.
Well said.
Interesting how japan had an accepted culture of capturing the swords of a defeated enemy for hundreds of years but once they were defeated the swords were "stolen".
Most of those destroyed swords were mass produced junk. And considering Japans crimes against humanity during the war, fully equal to the Nazis, I'm not going to cry over some lost blades.
WAY worse than the Nazis.
Australian POWs where treated badly by these B#stards , swords where of no importance
It’s funny how people keep on and on about the Nazi and Japanese, you always seem to forget the USA holocaust of the native Americans , the so called land of the free were people today are still on reservations.
Way worse of the Nazis where the americans in all wars starting from the american indian wars. Educate yourself before you open your mouth. Check also the My Lai massacre
I want that blade! And am ecurently building a small collection of it!
What did they expect was going to happen 😳 🤔
No Hatori Hanso swords? Hat ta ta ta tat!
The Japanese were brutal to prisoners of war and don’t deserve to keep the katanas!
3 million lost samurai 3 million lost ninja is the way I see it
the US would have made a ton of money if they sold all those sword confiscated
To the victor goes the spoils of war! Always has been, always will be!
Now, everyone who complains about the swords and insists that they must be sent back to Japan, and so on. Remember that the Japanese killed approximately 20 million people between 1895 and 1945 and committed unspeakable atrocities against civilians and POWs during World War II. These swords were used in several war crimes. Never forget.
Before 1939, let’s talk about years of horrific torture,
s. assault, and murder of Chinese men, women, and children.
WW II started way before ‘39
for them.
oh no they lost their swords
meanwhile the rest of southeast Asia was brutalized by Japan 💀
Of course it will be stolen. Like tell me plz what is in America and Europe that is not stolen from other nations? 😂
America lost a lot of manufacturing jobs to Japan. We're even.
Who cares?
They did the same to the Philippines. It was called Pershing's sword/blade hunt when the U.S. was pacifying the Philippines. We lost our KAMPILANS, AND GINUNTINGS, AND OUR BUTTERFLY KNIVES WERE MADE WELL KNOWN!!!
At least they couldn't be used to commit further atrocities.