It is often evaluated as a sword with an elegant impression. [38][39] The swords of this period were a mixture of swords of Japanese original style and those of Chinese style brought to Japan via the Korean Peninsula and East China Sea. These reproductions are being made in a variety of factories around the world. The wakizashi and kodachi are in this category. However, some dait were designed with blades slightly shorter than 2 shaku. Rice farming came as a result of Chinese and Korean influence, they were the first group of people to introduce swords into the Japanese Isles. Gunt (?, military sword) is the name used to describe Japanese swords produced for use by the Japanese army and navy after the end of the samurai era in 1868. It had resemblance to the officers shin gunt katana, but was specifically designed to be cheaply mass produced. WW2 Japanese officers gunto. ( Tenka-Goken). The katana further facilitated this by being worn thrust through a belt-like sash (obi) with the sharpened edge facing up. [65][66], Traditionally, yumi (bows) were the main weapon of war in Japan, and tachi and naginata were used only for close combat. The mei is chiseled onto the tang on the side which traditionally faces away from the wearer's body while being worn; since the katana and wakizashi are always worn with the cutting edge up, the edge should be held to the viewer's left. Mokusa Area was famous for legendary swordsmiths in the Heian Period (AD 794-1185). The nagamaki (, "long wrapping") is a type of traditionally made Japanese sword ( nihont) [1] [2] with an extra long handle, used by the samurai class of feudal Japan. As a result, swords of this era are of poor quality. This fine example is a genuine WWII Japanese Type 95 NCO Samurai Sword or katana with aluminum handle construction and machine made blade. NOVA | Secrets of the Samurai Sword | PBS, Japanse Swordmaking Process ~ www.samuraisword.com, Touken World YouTube videos about Japanese swords, Touken World YouTube videos on koshirae (sword mountings), Classification and history of Japanese sword, Dramatic and Accurate Explanation of Manufacture, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japanese_sword&oldid=1142340117, Military Swords of Imperial Japan (Gunt). Masamune, who learned from Shintgo Kunimitsu, became the greatest swordsmith in Japan. According to the record of June 1, 1430 in the Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty, a Korean swordsmith who went to Japan and mastered the method of making Japanese swords presented a Japanese sword to the King of Korea and was rewarded for the excellent work which was no different from the swords made by the Japanese. Their revolution influenced other schools to make the highest quality swords, but this technique was lost before the AzuchiMomoyama period (Shint period). [76] This style of swords is called handachi, "half tachi". Due to importation of Western swords, the word nihont was adopted in order to distinguish it from the Western sword (, yt). Thus, there may sometimes be confusion about the blade lengths, depending on which shaku value is being assumed when converting to metric or U.S. customary measurements. Okadagiri Yoshifusa, by Yoshifusa. [61][23] The export of Japanese sword reached its height during the Muromachi period when at least 200,000 swords were shipped to Ming Dynasty China in official trade in an attempt to soak up the production of Japanese weapons and make it harder for pirates in the area to arm. Because American bladesmiths use this design extensively it is a common misconception that the design originated in America. Swords forged after the Haitrei Edict are classified as gendait. Japanese swords are measured in units of shaku. The average price for a recent katana made in Japan is $6,000 to $8,000. 14th century, Nanboku-ch period. [43][44], In the middle of the Heian period (7941185), samurai improved on the Warabitet to develop Kenukigata-tachi (ja:) -early Japanese sword-. The scabbard of the tachi was covered with a gilt copper plate and hung by chains at the waist. Curvature, length, width, tip, and shape of tang of the sword are the objects for appreciation. After then they wore it special times(travel, wedding, funeral) until meiji restoration. While the straight tip on the "American tanto" is identical to traditional Japanese fukura, two characteristics set it apart from Japanese sword makes: The absolute lack of curve only possible with modern tools, and the use of the word "tanto" in the nomenclature of the western tribute is merely a nod to the Japanese word for knife or short sword, rather than a tip style. The meaning was a sword wrapped around a leech, and its feature was that a thin metal plate was spirally wrapped around the scabbard, so it was both sturdy and decorative, and chains were not used to hang the scabbard around the waist.[55][56]. By Sukezane. To qualify as a dait the sword must have a blade longer than 2 shaku (approximately 24inches or 60 centimeters) in a straight line. [2] Western historians have said that Japanese katana were among the finest cutting weapons in world military history, for their intended use. What generally differentiates the different swords is their length. The legitimate Japanese sword is made from Japanese steel "Tamahagane". [19] In the Kot era there were several other schools that did not fit within the Five Traditions or were known to mix elements of each Gokaden, and they were called wakimono (small school). On the other hand, in the Kamakura period, there was a type of tachi called hirumaki tachi () with a scabbard covered with metal, which was used as a weapon until the Muromachi period. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for WW2 Japanese Showato Katana 27" Sword, Type 98, 1935-1945 Rank Tassel Shin Gunto at the best online prices at eBay! WW2 Japanese NCO Sword - Matching #s, First Type (Copper Handle) . A nice IJA Japanese Type 32 (B) Army Sword! This rough shape is referred to as a sunobe. The production rate of katana was high, because it was the newest school among 5 big schools. 4.5 out of 5 stars (445) There is a Japanese legend that, along with the mirror and the jewels, the sword makes up one of three Imperial Icons. sh swordsmiths appeared in books in quite early times compared to others. The sunobe is then covered all over with a clay mixture which is applied more thickly along the back and sides of the blade than along the edge. At the end of the 13th century, the Kamakura shogunate invited swordsmiths from Yamashiro school and Bizen school, and swordsmiths began to gather. They were both swordsmiths and metalsmiths, and were famous for carving the blade, making metal accouterments such as tsuba (handguard), remodeling from tachi to katana (suriage), and inscriptions inlaid with gold. The kot swords, especially the Bizen school swords made in the Kamakura period, had a midare-utsuri like a white mist between hamon and shinogi, but the swords since shinto have almost disappeared. Pinnacle of Elegance Sword fittings of the Mitsumura Collection. The mass-produced ones often look like Western cavalry sabers rather than Japanese swords, with blades slightly shorter than blades of the shint and shinshint periods. The best sword forged by Japanese swordsmiths is awarded the most honorable Masamune prize by The Society for Preservation of Japanese Art Swords. [126] As with many complex endeavors, rather than a single craftsman, several artists were involved. [16] However, in order to maintain the quality of Japanese swords, the Japanese government limits the number of Japanese swords a swordsmith can make in a year to 24. They fought on foot using katana shorter than tachi. Before about 1500 most swords were usually worn suspended from cords on a belt, edge-down. Original Item: Only One Available. In addition, the whole body of the blade became whitish and hard. After that, they also adopted the forging method of Ssh school. To remove the handle one removes the mekugi. A popular method for defeating descending slashes was to simply beat the sword aside. In this period, it was believed that swords were multifunctional; in spirit they represent proof of military accomplishment, in practice they are coveted weapons of war and diplomatic gifts. Although it is not commonly known, the "chisel point" kissaki originated in Japan. During the Edo period samurai went about on foot unarmored, and with much less combat being fought on horseback in open battlefields the need for an effective close quarter weapon resulted in samurai being armed with daish. These weapons are not typically regarded as collectible artifacts by the Japanese themselves, but fortunately for foreign enthusiasts they are still collected and cared for elsewhere as historical objects. Some are found in new condition, but most have artificially aged by . In turn, samurai would gift Daimyo swords as a sign of respect, most Daimyo would keep these swords as family heirlooms. Daish made as a pair, mounted as a pair, and owned/worn as a pair, are therefore uncommon and considered highly valuable, especially if they still retain their original mountings (as opposed to later mountings, even if the later mounts are made as a pair). For example, in the poem "The Song of Japanese Swords" Ouyang Xiu, a statesman of the Song Dynasty in China, described Japanese swords as "It is a treasured sword with a scabbard made of fragrant wood covered with fish skin, decorated with brass and copper, and capable of exorcising evil spirits. When the time is deemed right (traditionally the blade should be the colour of the moon in February and August which are the two months that appear most commonly on dated inscriptions on the tang), the blade is plunged edge down and point forward into a tank of water. [104] This period also saw introduction of martial arts as a means to connecting to the spirit world and allowed common people to participate in samurai culture. These Japanese swords were often seen with Japanese troops, especially generals, during WW2. In fact, many had difficulty reaching the bolt when the butt was at the shoulder in a . Details such as the ridge line (shinogi) another distinctive characteristic of the Japanese sword, are added at this stage of the process. However, the historical shaku was slightly longer (13.96inches or 35.45cm). There are irregular fingerprint-like patterns on the surface of the blade, the hamon has a pattern of undulations with continuous roundness, and the grains at the boundary of the hamon are large. It is a scene from World War II movies and comic books; seeming fanatical Japanese soldiers charging out of the jungle wielding a "samurai" sword, swinging widely and yelling "banzai." It isn't . The "D" guard curves downward to a pierced basket hilt, and . A triangular section is cut off from the tip of the bar and shaped to create what will be the kissaki. Many, perhaps most, of the blades found in shin-gunto mounts are NOT traditionally made swords . Kunitoshi, WW2-era Sword Maker The kissaki (point) is not usually a "chisel-like" point, and the Western knife interpretation of a "tant point" is rarely found on true Japanese swords; a straight, linearly sloped point has the advantage of being easy to grind, but less stabbing/piercing capabilities compared to traditional Japanese kissaki Fukura (curvature of the cutting edge of tip) types. The swords designated as cultural properties based on the law of 1930, which was already abolished, have the rank next to Important Cultural Properties as Important Art Object (Jy Bijutsuhin, ). The number of swordsmiths of Gokaden, as confirmed by signatures and documents, were 4005 in Bizen, 1269 in Mino, 1025 in Yamato, 847 in Yamashiro and 438 in Ssh. A katana sword, the most famous and sought-after type of Japanese sword, will have a starting price of $4,000 if it is made in Japan, but they can cost much more. "[85] One of the most popular swordsmiths in Japan today is Minamoto Kiyomaro who was active in this shinshint period. It is often evaluated as a sword with a simple and strong impression. Tokyo National Museum. Two other martial arts were developed specifically for training to draw the sword and attack in one motion. This Japanese Officer Type 19 Kyu-Gunto Sword has a fine all brass hilt. The forging of a Japanese blade typically took weeks or even months and was considered a sacred art. The production of swords in Japan is divided into specific time periods: jkot (ancient swords, until around 900 A.D.), kot (old swords from around 9001596), shint (new swords 15961780), shinshint (new new swords 17811876), gendait (modern or contemporary swords 1876present)[10], Early examples of iron swords were straight tsurugi, chokut and others with unusual shapes, some of styles and techniques probably derived from Chinese dao, and some directly imported through trade. This characteristic is important in recognizing the development, function, and different styles of wearing swords from this time onwards. This hardened edge is capable of being reground and sharpened many times, although the process will alter the shape of the blade. Swords began to be simplified and altered to be durable, sturdy and made to cut well. In fact, evasive body maneuvers were preferred over blade contact by most, but, if such was not possible, the flat or the back of the blade was used for defense in many styles, rather than the precious edge. Emperor Meiji was determined to westernize Japan with the influence of American technological and scientific advances; however, he himself appreciated the art of sword making. In the Ming Dynasty of China, Japanese swords and their tactics were studied to repel pirates, and wodao and miaodao were developed based on Japanese swords. When the mounts are taken out of the equation, a tanto and wakizashi will be determined by length under or over 30cm, unless their intended use can be absolutely determined or the speaker is rendering an opinion on the intended use of the blade. Testing of swords, called tameshigiri, was practiced on a variety of materials (often the bodies of executed criminals) to test the sword's sharpness and practice cutting technique. Nanboku-ch period. Although a sturdy weapon, at just over 50 inches, the Arisaka Type 38 6.5mm (1905) rifle was a bit too long for the typical height of a Japanese infantryman. The Tohoku region and indeed the whole sh district in the 8th century was controlled and populated by the Emishi. Conflicts began to occur frequently between the forces of sonn ji (), who wanted to overthrow the Tokugawa Shogunate and rule by the Emperor, and the forces of sabaku (), who wanted the Tokugawa Shogunate to continue. Kanemitsu and Nagayoshi of the Osafune school were apprentices to Masamune of the Ssh school, the greatest swordsmith in Japan. It is estimated that 250,000350,000 sword have been brought to other nations as souvenirs, art pieces or for Museum purposes. Here is a list of lengths for different types of blades:[37]. The blade is left to dry while the smith prepares the forge for the final heat treatment of the blade, the yaki-ire, the hardening of the cutting edge. Japanese army sword theme, hand forged . [82][83] Under the Tokugawa shogunate, swordmaking and the use of firearms declined. This was a more comfortable way for the armored samurai to carry his very long sword or to draw while mounted. History of Japanese swords "Muromachi period Azuchi-Momoyama period". The Bizen school consisted of schools such as Ko-bizen, Fukuoka-ichimonji, Osafune, and Hatakeda. These swords are now illegal[36] in Japan. Kory Kagemitsu, by Kagemitsu. [132][133], Generally, the blade and the sword mounting of Japanese swords are displayed separately in museums, and this tendency is remarkable in Japan. [80], During this period, the Tokugawa shogunate required samurai to wear Katana and shorter swords in pairs. These short swords were wakizashi and tant, and wakizashi were mainly selected. [52], By the 11th century during the Heian period, Japanese swords had already been exported to neighboring countries in Asia. A wakizashi forged by Soshu Akihiro. The hilt was held with two hands, though a fair amount of one-handed techniques exist. Nihonto Bunka Shinko Kyokai Public Foundation: NBSK newsletter (September 2009), "Oshigata of Japanese Swordsmiths of the Showa (Ww Ii) Era", "The Craft of the Japanese Sword",Leon Kapp,1987,P.20, "Katana:The Samurai Sword", Stephen Turnbull, 2010, P.16. The word dachi is also sometimes used as a synonym for Japanese swords. They also made the curve of the blade gentle, lengthened the tip linearly, widened the width from the cutting edge to the opposite side of the blade, and thinned the cross section to improve the penetration and cutting ability of the blade. The cross-sectional shape of the blades of these early swords was an isosceles triangular hira-zukuri, and the kiriha-zukuri sword, which sharpened only the part close to the cutting edge side of a planar blade, gradually appeared. In the Kamakura period, tachi from a magnificent rai school became popular among samurai. Important Cultural Property. Free shipping for many products! Maybe a badge of honour being captured weapons. [77], In the Muromachi period, especially the Sengoku period, anybody such as farmers, townspeople and monks could equip a sword. In addition, whether the front edge of the tip is more curved (fukura-tsuku) or (relatively) straight (fukura-kareru) is also important. Japan saw this as a threat to national security and felt the need to develop their military technology. Japanese swords since shint are different from kot in forging method and steel. The Yamashiro school consisted of schools such as Sanj, Ayanokji, Awataguchi, and Rai. A flat or narrowing shinogi is called shinogi-hikushi, whereas a flat blade is called a shinogi-takushi. [60], Katana originates from sasuga, a kind of tant used by lower-ranking samurai who fought on foot in the Kamakura period. [79] The Umetada school led by Umetada Myoju who was considered to be the founder of shinto led the improvement of the artistry of Japanese swords in this period. The bulk of the samurai armor made it difficult to draw the sword from any other place on his body. The three main divisions of Japanese blade length are: A blade shorter than one shaku is considered a tant (knife). In 1719, Tokugawa Yoshimune, the 8th shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate, ordered Hon'ami Kch, who was an authority of sword appraisal, to record swords possessed by daimyo all over Japan in books. Imperial Japanese Court Style Army Sword. Odachi means "great sword", and Nodachi translates to "field sword". This was due to the economic development and the increased value of swords as arts and crafts as the Sengoku Period ended and the peaceful Edo Period began. The different interpretations of the origins of swords and their connection to the spirit world, each hold their own merit within Japanese society, past and present. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for WWII JAPANESE TYPE 30 ARISAKA BAYO-LATE WAR WOODEN SCABBARD-LB #149 at the best online prices at eBay! [93] As a part of marketing, modern ahistoric blade styles and material properties are often stated as traditional and genuine, promulgating disinformation. Two patterns of the Type 32 were produced. Some companies and independent smiths outside Japan produce katana as well, with varying levels of quality. In these books, the 3 swordsmiths treated specially in "Kyh Meibutsu Ch" and Muramasa, who was famous at that time for forging swords with high cutting ability, were not mentioned. The buffalo horn grip is in good condition, however, there is no . Miyamoto Musashi refers to the long sword in The Book of Five Rings. [107][108] The Meiji era marked the final moments of samurai culture, as samurai's were no match for conscript soldiers who were trained to use western firearms. Assuming that the target is, for example, a human torso, ten-uchi will break the initial resistance supplied by shoulder muscles and the clavicle. WWII Japanese Type98 Sword NIHONTO KOSHIRAE Imperial Japanese Army WW2 BLADE $507.69 $75.00 shipping 85 watching WW2 Japanese Sword Gunto Late War Type 1944 parts $110.00 $10.40 shipping WWII JAPANESE NAVY OFFICERS SWORD W SCABBARD FAMILY OVER 300 YEARS OLD BLADE J25 $1,195.00 $25.00 shipping or Best Offer 18 watching Important Cultural Property. Modern, authentic Japanese swords (nihont) are made by a few hundred swordsmiths. It is properly distinguished, then, by the style of mount it currently inhabits. When unarmored, samurai would carry their sword with the blade facing up. Ranging from small letter openers to scale replica "wallhangers", these items are commonly made from stainless steel (which makes them either brittle (if made from cutlery-grade 400-series stainless steel) or poor at holding an edge (if made from 300-series stainless steel)) and have either a blunt or very crude edge. [1], In modern times the most commonly known type of Japanese sword is the Shinogi-Zukuri katana, which is a single-edged and usually curved longsword traditionally worn by samurai from the 15th century onwards. Japanese swords fall into many separate classes depending on length, curvature, and other determining factors. 70% of daito (long swords), formerly owned by Japanese officers, have been exported or brought to the United States. List of terms related to Japanese swords "Sasuga". . In the completed "Kyh Meibutsu Ch" () 249 precious swords were described, and additional 25 swords were described later. Only samurai could wear the daish: it represented their social power and personal honour. The most prominent part is the middle ridge, or shinogi. The most common style of sword mounting from this era, shingunto mounts, used machine-made blades for the most part. Since 1867, restrictions and/or the deconstruction of the samurai class meant that most blades have been worn jindachi-zukuri style, like Western navy officers. Once the blade is cool, and the mud is scraped off, grooves and markings (hi or bo-hi) may be cut into it. SJ316. Animism is the belief that everything in life contains or is connected to a divine spirits. Suspending the sword by 'cords' allowed the sheath to be more horizontal, and far less likely to bind while drawing it in that position. The word nihont became more common in Japan in the late Tokugawa shogunate. The Mongol invasions of Japan in the 13th century during the Kamakura period spurred further evolution of the Japanese sword. The first pattern, known as 'Ko,' was issued to cavalry NCOs and had a blade length of around 830mm. At this point in Japanese history, much of the warfare was fought on horseback. Under the United States occupation at the end of World War II all armed forces in occupied Japan were disbanded and production of Japanese swords with edges was banned except under police or government permit. 13th century, Kamakura period. [22], The Bizen school is a school that originated in Bizen Province, corresponding to present-day Okayama Prefecture. The application of the clay in different thicknesses to the blade allows the steel to cool more quickly along the thinner coated edge when plunged into the tank of water and thereby develop into the harder form of steel called martensite, which can be ground to razor-like sharpness. A blade longer than two shaku is considered a dait, or long sword. By repeatedly folding and forging the blade, fine patterns such as fingerprints, tree rings and bark are formed on its surface. [citation needed]. Other aspects of the mountings (koshirae), such as the menuki (decorative grip swells), habaki (blade collar and scabbard wedge), fuchi and kashira (handle collar and cap), kozuka (small utility knife handle), kogai (decorative skewer-like implement), saya lacquer, and tsuka-ito (professional handle wrap, also named tsukamaki), received similar levels of artistry. Some are more practical. This style is called jindachi-zukuri, and dait worn in this fashion are called tachi (average blade length of 7580cm). These greatswords were used during war, as the longer sword gave a foot soldier a reach advantage. Shinto is the way of the gods, meaning that all elements of the world are embedded with god like spirits. Historically, Japanese swords have been regarded not only as weapons but also as works of art, especially for high-quality ones. Sword scholars collect and study oshigata, or paper tang-rubbings, taken from a blade: to identify the mei, the hilt is removed and the sword is held point side up. The tang is never supposed to be cleaned; doing this can reduce the value of the sword by half or more. However, in 1588 during the AzuchiMomoyama period, Toyotomi Hideyoshi conducted a sword hunt and banned farmers from owning them with weapons. Even when a daish contained a pair of blades by the same smith, they were not always forged as a pair or mounted as one. Large naginata and kanab were also popular in this period. Giving Up the Gun: Japan's Reversion to the Sword, 15431879. Bronze swords were made as early as the Yayoi period (1000 BC 300 AD), though most people generally refer to the curved blades made from the Heian period (794 1185) to the present day when speaking of "Japanese swords". (top) Wakizashi mounting, Early Meiji period. While there is a well defined lower limit to the length of a dait, the upper limit is not well enforced; a number of modern historians, swordsmiths, etc. Japanese mythology states that the sword is a symbol of truth and a token of virtue. Late Edo period. [73] For example, many of the tachi that Masamune forged during the Kamakura period were converted into katana, so his only existing works are katana and tant. It has a perfect fit and solid tip. It is a very strong sword made with traditional methods, for multiple applications. Bizen has been a major production area of high quality iron sand since ancient times. There are direct lines on the surface of the blade, the hamon is linear, and the grain at the boundary of the hamon is medium in size. Typical WWII Imperial Japanese Army style fittings, with a single suspension ring from the scabbard, known as the New Military Sword (shin guntou) style. Tokyo First Arsenal blade numbers. The dazzling looking tachi gradually became a symbol of the authority of high-ranking samurai. These smiths produced fine works that stand with the best of the older blades for the Emperor and other high-ranking officials. It was not simply that the swords were worn by cords on a belt, as a 'style' of sorts. "Type 95" Non Commissioned Officer's sword of World War II; made to resemble a Commissioned Officer's shin gunt. The hardened edge is where most of any potential damage to the blade will occur in battle. This sword has a cast aluminium tsuka (hilt) with a 4mm thick plain iron tsuba (guard). This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 21:36. Daimyo hid some swords for fear that they would be confiscated by the Tokugawa Shogunate, so even some precious swords were not listed in the book. In addition, The Society for Preservation of Japanese Art Swords, a public interest incorporated foundation, rates high-value swords in four grades, and the highest grade Special Important Sword (Tokubetsu Juyo Token, ) is considered to be equivalent to the value of Important Art Object. In addition, experts of modern Japanese swords judge when and by which swordsmith school the sword was made from these artistic points of view. Although this forging method is not fully understood to date, one of the elements is heating at higher temperatures and rapid cooling. [75], In the Sengoku period (14671615) or the AzuchiMomoyama period (15681600), the itomaki tachi (itomaki no tachi, ), which means a tachi wound with thread, appeared and became the mainstream of tachi after that. Japanese swords are generally made by a division of labor between six and eight craftsmen. The Imperial Icons present the three values and personality traits that all good emperors should possess as leaders of celestial authority. The Yamato school consists of five schools: Senjuin, Shikkake, Taima, Tegai, and Hsh. The hilt of a tachi is wrapped in leather or ray skin, and it is wrapped with black thread or leather cord, and the scabbard is coated with black lacquer. The Yayoi period saw swords be used primarily for religious and ceremonial purposes. The Nihonto Meikan shows the earliest and by far the largest group of sh smiths from the beginning of the 8th century were from the Mokusa school, listing over 100 Mokusa smiths before the beginning of the Kamakura period. Previously, the curved tachi had been worn with the edge of the blade facing down and suspended from a belt. In the earlier picture, the examples were flat to the shinogi, then tapering to the blade edge. [11][136], At present, by the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties, important swords of high historical value are designated as Important Cultural Properties (Jy Bunkazai, ), and special swords among them are designated as National Treasures (Kokuh, ). [97][98] Subsequently, bronze swords were used for religious ceremonies. A good help that could be bought by hundred gold, equipping it can dispel evil. In time, it was rediscovered that soldiers needed to be armed with swords, and over the decades at the beginning of the 20th century swordsmiths again found work. SJ317. [23], From around the 16th century, many Japanese swords were exported to Thailand, where katana-style swords were made and prized for battle and art work, and some of them are in the collections of the Thai royal family. Shintgo Kunimitsu forged experimental swords by combining the forging technology of Yamashiro school and Bizen school. In one such method of drawing the sword, the samurai would turn the sheath downward ninety degrees and pull it out of his sash just a bit with his left hand, then gripping the hilt with his right hand he would slide it out while sliding the sheath back to its original position. In some instances, an "umbrella block", positioning the blade overhead, diagonally (point towards the ground, pommel towards the sky), would create an effective shield against a descending strike.
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