Japanese use of swords

[Mait]

Dear Winward,

I found some pictures of shorter katana-like swords on the aforementioned site. These seemed to be related to tankers and aircraft pilots. Could You give some comments or translations?

Best Regards,

Mait.

[Windward]

To Kingsley:
I read somewhere but can't recall it exactly, that IJN switched over to the Navy blue uniforms in circa early 1890s.

To Mait:
Can you provide me the URL?

[Mait]

Dear Winward

My request for short translations/comments is as follows:

These seem to be shorter swords i mentioned:
http://www.h4.dion.ne.jp/~t-ohmura/gunto_025.htm
http://www.h4.dion.ne.jp/~t-ohmura/gunto_026.htm


Could You give some comments about these too?
http://www.h4.dion.ne.jp/~t-ohmura/gunto_024.htm
http://www.h4.dion.ne.jp/~t-ohmura/gunto_018.htm

I know it is much asked, but sadly i don't speak necessary languages

Best Regards,

Mait.

[Windward]

http://www.h4.dion.ne.jp/~t-ohmura/gunto_025.htm


IJA Tanto (shorter katana)
inscription on hilt: "Hosokawa Tadamasa, Shimofusa Goku (ancient Japanese province) "
edge length 25.7cm, total length 41cm
wood scabbard with leather wrap
yellow rope for hanging around neck
issue to aircraft and tank drivers for close combact and suicide, or jungle tool for pilots who wrecking in south Pacific

[Windward]

IJA tanto
no inscription
edge length 30.9cm, total length 60cm
wood scabbard with leather wrap
batch production


officers of IJAAF 2nd Hakkou wing Itiu squardon


tank pilot with tanto

[Windward]

IJN tanto
no inscription
edge length 46.2cm, knifepoint 0.8cm, total length 75.5cm
wood scabbard with sharkskin wrap
batch production
kanto were issued to pilots and naval (especially submarine) officers & NCOs who must stay in a limited space



IJN tanto
inscription: Toshiji, Bizen Goku
edge length 39.5cm, knifepoint 0.3cm, total length 67cm
wood scabbard with sharkskin wrap
batch production


IJN petty officer wave his cap to a Zero fighter

[Windward]

IJA kanto for field officer
inscription: "包則" (I don't know how is it pronounced, it's name of a famous Japanese sword maker) Echizen Goku
edge length 53.1cm, knifepoint 13cm (I think it should be 1.3cm), total length 80.5cm
wood scabbard with sharkskin wrap
sharkskin scabbard was typical for IJA gunto, the most famous one may be General Yamashita's type 98 gunto with brown sharkskin scabbard. The scabbard were made by wood instead iron for saving weight, etc

* There are some special terms of Japanese swords that I can't translate into English and to be honest I don't know their meaning neither, though they are wrote in Chinese characters



IJA kanto for company officer
inscription: "備洲長船祐光" (another famous Japanese sword maker) Bizen Goku
edge length 49.7cm, knifepoint 1.5cm, total length 71.5cm
handcraft wood scabbard with cowskin wrap

[Windward]

IJA type 98 gunto
aluminium scabbard paint brown, with "field leather cover" outside, simple figure, IJA use "field leather cover" to protect alum inium or iron scabbards. note its difference with "convenient leather scabbard" on the ring



kamikaze against US carrier

Minegakki, IJAAF second lieutenant, born in 1921, student ot Tokyo Univ Law Faculty, died in accident in 1945

[Hanski]

Windward, thank you very much for presenting all these excellent photos! They are historically interesting and the swords and daggers are aesthetically beautiful.

Hanski

[Mait]

Thank You Winward.

I really appreciate it.

Best Regards,

Mait.

[Lawrence]

Winward, beautiful pics and thanks for the reply.
I believe the IJA had a similar dark blue uniform during the Sino-Japanese war and up to the Russo-Japanese war. I believe because of their appalling losses, they switched over to the famous kahki style uniform. I guess dark blue helps you stand out in the field.