Why Policemen Used Non-Curved Katana (The History of Katana Swordsmanship)
One of the Japanese katana’s biggest characteristics is that it’s curved, right? However, there are some katana that aren’t. “Oh yeah, you’re talking about those ancient Japanese swords, right?” Nope, I’m not. This straight katana was used by a group of swordsmen who fought in the Meiji period (1868~1912). Who were they? Why did they use these katana? By unraveling this mystery, we can see why katana and Budo martial arts are still important in Japan today.
So today, I will explain the purpose of curvature on a katana. Next, I will explain the historical process that led to the creation of this straight katana. Finally, we will explain how history was changed by the straight sword and the men who handled it. Please be sure to watch this video to the end, as it will incredibly deepen your knowledge of the history of the Katana and the martial arts. If you have any other questions about katana, please let me know in the comments!
*The content is based on personal studies and experience
There is no intention of denying other theories and cultural aspects
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You're telling me that they aren't ninja blades, but cop blades?!
What is a ninja but a cop undercover.
What if ACAB includes ninjas?
@@Makingnewnamesisdumb reject feudal lord ideology and ninja simping!
@@MasterOfBaiter What do cops have to do with assassins?
@@vids595 ninja were not really assassins in history they were more intelligence gatherers and a lot of them were actually samurai. Literal undercover officers of the state.
One of the fun things about the curved katana is that the curve isn't forged in with the hammer, but created during the quench, through the careful use of the clay through differential hardening. You can find footage online of bladesmiths quenching such a blade in a clear tank and see the curve developing. It's eerie and fascinating.
you said it first and best.
it's not the clay that make the curve, it's how you put the blade in the bath of coolant
It's both the result of the forging process and the selective quenching actually. The blade's curvature is also refined afterwards, using a hot block of copper for example. There are many more variables that influences the blade's curvature. Interestingly during the quenching process the blade curves frontside before going back and settling to the intended shape. You can see this in the fishtank quenching videos you mentionned.
@@UryendelNo , the clay let the blade cool down slower were the clay is thicker . It colls down slower at the back and faster at the edge and this creates the curve .
@@5co756 if that was the case you wouldn't be able to make a straight blade. And the clay doesn't prevent cooling, it prevent heating Katana blade are drop t in a bassin parallel to the ground with a movement that create the curve. Now if you want a straight, you drop the blade at once in a tube perpendicular to the ground
Nice to have you back Shogo!
I call him chocko!
I love how you not only broke down the reasons for the blades but also the political and social issues so clearly. Japans eras never cease to amaze me
Just a small nit-pick about the purpose of the curve. Although said curve DOES make for a better cutting/slashing implement vs a straight blade, it is NOT actually any sharper (assuming equal craftsmanship). The improved cutting dynamic has to do with the relationship between the blade shape and the natural arc that a human body will produce when swinging it. Think leverage, surface area, and ergonomics rather than inherent mechanical sharpness. Great video! Super interesting!
Correct.
This is actually not true. a light curve does not impact cutting capacity of a sword directly in most cases, the only impact is in the fact that it makes it easier to feel the edge alignment. Curves do (stronger curves more) increase the ability to draw cut, but draw cuts are very uncommon in Kenjitsu or Iaido and are only common (as far as I know) in fighting styles with very curved sabres.
@@deltrex on top of this, a curved blade also increases the pressure at the edge, the smaller the contact area, the better the cut, it's why scissors have their distinctive shape, rather than just clamping 2 parallel blades together, and why axes usually have curved edges.
I don't trust you. What's your source?
@@deltrex Drawing cuts occur whenever a blade moves in an arc. Swing a blade, creates a draw cut, more curve, more draw cut.
*sigh* No. The curve came about because smiths in the 8th century started making blades with a low Carbon steel core so that there would be fewer broken Chokuto in battle... and they discovered that that new composition caused the blade to curve in the quench, creating the Tachi. Straight Chokuto and curved Tachi of that period were identical in every way except for the composition that caused the curve. The curve wasn't the goal in the beginning: it was a happy accident that they found had advantages for horseback and draw, so it replaced the Chokuto, but the reason for the change in composition was to have blades whose spine would bend without breaking, NOT to have a curved blade. And the later era policemen's blades were straight because they were made fast and cheap with one grade of steel instead of two or more, so the differential hardening from the clay would still give a hamon but the blade would not curve in the quench, because the core steel wasn't a different Carbon content than the edge steel.
As an overseas kendoka I was super surpried to learn so much about it in a non kendo video. It also funny that kendo was used both by the Shogunate in the form of the Shinsengumi and by the Government with the Battoutai. "We may have our differences but we agree on one thing. Kendo wins wars"
I cannot agree. Shinsegumi used classic gekiken (free sparring), look at Tenen rishin ryu. Yes, they used similar gear, it is ancestor of kendo, but whole gekiken is ancestor of kendo, which is sport with rules, and gekiken is training method. Yes, i see videos with "old school kendo", but thats practicaly gekiken before rules was setted.
@@23Disciple Gekiken was a gamification of the uchikomi keiko of the jikishinkage ryu, which was first made into a sport within the Nakanishi-ha itto ryu and popularised by the 14th headmaster of jikishinkage ryu Sakakibara Kinkichi, who founded the Gekken Kogyo. Uchikomi keiko was a corrective measure for "dead" kata, gekiken since renamed to kendo was always an extracurricular sport. Free sparring is a very modern concept, the people of that time would have had duels, the purpose of which was to prove their system and skill. The word for a duel between students of different schools is taryu jiai not gekiken.
I've been playing Like a Dragon: Isshin! lately and have been learning all about the Shinsengumi and the Meiji period. Thank you for providing more information about this very tumultuous and interesting point in Japan's history. And welcome back Shogo!
I have always been fascinated by Japan it's people it's culture it's history I've got a lot of books on the subject Your channel has greatly expanded my knowledge thank you
It's its. Not it's
Nobody does it better than Shogo! 👍🏽
Curves do nothing for balance and certainly don't increase sharpness. 1: Balance is impacted by the profile taper and distal taper of a blade and also by the weight of the handle in relation to the blade, a curve does nothing to make a sword feel lighter, especially a light curve as it is on the Katana. It does however make you feel the edge alignment better. 2: Sharpness is a combination of edge profile (or thinness) and level of polishing. A curve does not make anything sharper.
Arigatou gozaimasu, Shogo-San! Your videos are always helpful!
Thanks Shogo! Wonderful presentation on the straight katana. ❤
The curve also increases the length of the cutting edge without increasing the overall length of the sword, making it slightly more convenient for carrying and close fighting.
That is covered both by the aids in cutting/sharpness segment, and the balance and drawing segments he went over. So he covered those points.
I'd say the metal becomes stronger, just as a bow that can project energy at a point with the help of curvature.
None of those things make sense. What's the advantage in having more cutting edge without more reach? The metal definitely doesn't become stronger because it's curved. There's absolutely no principle that would make that happen, unless the sword was extremely curved, like an arch supporting the weight of the wall above it. The curve in a katana is way too slight to have that effect. And what does it have to do with a bow? A bow bends to store energy, which is then released into an arrow, which has a point. That's the only sense the bow uses curvature to project energy at a point, but none of those mechanics are in common with the katana. The only advantage to the curve is that when you swing a sword, you move it in an arc, and a curved blade more readily follows the arc as you draw it across the thing you're cutting, therefore making the cut easier. Also if you're hitting a flat surface, less of the blade comes in contact at a time, so it exerts higher pressure. But you never hit a flat surface with a sword, so that doesn't really matter. It matters when cutting veggies on a flat cutting board.
@@mrkiky You do increase the cutting length. Geometry, dude.
@@ericthompson3982 you don't increase *effective* cutting length - cutting length that you can use. Why? Because the curve retreats towards you! This reduces the extra reach you're technically given. You're absolutely right about geometry, but you can't suddenly "straighten the sword" during a fight to make effective use of that extra cutting length. A straight-blade with a couple inches LESS BLADE would have the same *effective* cutting length as a curved sword with a couple inches more blade, if you follow what I'm saying
This was indispensably informative, Shogo-san! This clears up a lot of my own confusion and misconceptions about the change in blade styles during the Meiji Restoration Period.
Your videos are the best & most enjoyable! Don’t mind the less frequency at all, if anything it makes me even happier to see a new one. ❤
I love the presentation style of this channel and Seki Sensei’s. Showing me a table of contents seems like it would steal the video’s thunder, but in reality, it usually piques my interest, while setting an expectation of what’s to come. It’s remarkably relaxing.
Shogo remains my favorite channel in regards to Japanese culture and understanding. Love your videos.
Yay Shogo is back! It was very informative thank you!
I am thankful to have watched this! Your knowledge of history is something I would like to see more of. I will be checking out stuff from time to time. Well done!
A very informative video. Love hearing about Japanese history (along with history of weapons in general) and hope to some day visit. You've just gotten another subscriber from me!
Awesome video as always Shogo. Shogo I always look forward to watching your videos on all kinds of topics about Japanese 🇯🇵 culture keep up the great work.
It's been a while. Glad to see you back!
Love this video ❤ I'm glad you're back. 👍
It's really awsome to watch your videos again.Also looking forward for more Kyoto family vlogs.
Great video! So glad to have you back and always love your well explained format.
This video makes me want to go and watch Rurouni Kenshin again. Great content as always. And welcome back!
Glad to see you back Shogo.
This was so interesting! Thank you for sharing, Shogo
Thanks for being back some content!!!!
Amazing video Shogo! Love the new video format
Another amazing video, Shogo! Love the mix of martial arts and history. :)
Wonderful! You answered so many questions I’ve had for decades 😊
This was very informative and it is so nice to see videos from you again!
I still remember Sakamoto Ryoma had a straight sword called Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki. I hope I'm right because I've been playing Touken Ranbu for a long time.
Welcome back! Thanks for this amazing lesson
This is a great video as always, Shogo, although I did hope for some dive into how differently the straight katana and the traditional ones fared in combat, how they matched against each other and changed tactics and the like!
Thank you for this and welcome back! 😉
Loved this history lesson about Japan. Enjoyed learning about the different katana swords.
"Curved Sword only belongs to Hammerfell" - Whiterun Guard
Thanks for your explanations on non-curved Katanas.
Loved this one. Also, with the utter respect, and also revealing my venerable age - Saigo Takamori gives me a sort of Golgo vibe.
golgo 13?
@@WhuDhat YES!
Found my new favorite channel on yt. Love Japan and Japanese History!
Thank you for mentioning Shinsengumi! It kinda makes me happy when someone mentions them^^
As someone who has always known Japanese culture but always been somewhat in the dark about many of the customs of the feudal/imperial period, I really appreciate your videos! Thank you! Subscribed!
your editor is doing an amazing job btw
It's been a while since I've watched your vids! I'm so early though. And very cool topic!
I am so grateful to live in a time when I can get this knowledge from my room, thanks Shogo!!!
Another great, thought provoking and informative video - thanks for sharing...!
Welcome back shogo 🎉 and love the new looks 😊
your videos are somehow both so incredibly thorough and so incredibly succinct !! you have a real talent for writing and editing. i don't know if you are a native english speaker and i don't want to incorrectly assume, but i noticed you tend to say "formal" where i think you probably mean "former." just wanted to mention in case you weren't aware. thank you so much for your uploads, your content is amazing !!!!
Thank you for sharing your wisdom and knowledge.
Great to see a new video from you again.
Fantastic video so full of valuable information and very clearly explained.
I think you are right about the 'ninja sword' not to mention the whole ninja panoply. Movies aside, a spy/scout and a commando are very different things. If a spy does his job right, no violence ever happens; he or she blends in, does nothing suspicious and sticks to his story. Much safer if he isn't armed at all. Most special 'gadgets' if any are reserved for the most dangerous parts, which would rarely include assassination (e.g., Operation Valkyrie) but more commonly communication with his handlers. Ninja commandos if they existed, no doubt trained for night raids and wore camouflage, but their weapons and gear was likely not otherwise different.
Really interesting video! It gave me all kinds of flashbacks to watching Kenshin like 20 years ago. Insane it’s been that long, wow
You presented an excellent treatise on the variants of katanas. I might proffer a little more information that might be a possible reason why as well. In the Napoleonic wars, the opposing armies of the British and French used two distinctly different types of swords. the French used straight sabers and they incorporated a fighting style that was two-fold. The French used a parry and thrust style. On the other hand, the British, with their cutlass, utilized a fighting style that put more importance slashing to defeat their opponent. Without going into too much detail as to what the strategy behind their logic was, this anecdote might give perspective. During Napoleonic battles, the French leadership discussed issuing a formal protest against the British for using the cutlass after viewing the horrific wounds the cutlasses were influcting, but French physicians advised the leadership against doing so. They stated that although the Saber wounds French soldiers received looked horrific, many more wounded were surviving. On the other hand, when the human body is pierced by a sword, not only does this cause "decompression of the cabin", but if a vital organ such as the heart or liver are pierced from a blades thrust, it is "game over" and the wounded soldier is more likely to die! This perspective might warrant your further investigating!
Happy to see a video!! ❤❤
Battoutai?! that's so badass! This is a very informative explanation. It is amazing how far kendo has travelled across the world.
Excellent presentation, as always!
Just want to say, I love your videos and have always been fascinated by Japanese culture.. love it.. wish I could visit someday
Getting close to 2 million subs Shogo :) I hope you have the time to celebrate it properly when it happens!
I love the historical vids! Keep 'em comin'....... BTW, I love the Falx so how would that hold up, Shogo?
It's kind of cool already knowing a little bit about Takamori from The Last Samurai movie with Tom Cruise. I always liked how the title of the movie directly refers to Takamori, but also has a small amount of ambiguity to also refer plurally to the samurai around him and could even be interpreted in the continuation of the samurai tradition through Captain Algren (fictitious).
Nice to see you back to doing your own channel a bit too.
This was interesting; I had always been under the impression that the curvature of katana was a side effect of the forging process, and had never been intentional.
TBH, I think that's closer to the truth (at least in the beginning).
All over the world most sabers are curved. I think it is by choice
how do you collect and accumulate the information? where do you usually find papers or get the researches done? that video was very focal and concise and highly informative. I genuinely appreciate your work :)
very interesting and fun explanation, thank you
Youre awesome Shogo. I enjoyed this :) Not to get overly personal but I hope you're well
Fascinating! Thank you for sharing🙏
Shogo! what a great video! you’re awesome. I am on an Aikido practitioner here in the states and would love to know whether practicing in Japan during a visit, I am planning would be recommended.
8:14. You actually brought up my lineage. I was wondering if that was going to happen.
I really, really, like this format. It is an interesting story followed by a review. This is professional quality instructional video.
Nice details, thanks!
This is a totally new subject to me, I learned a lot from this video, I'm gonna go read up more on the end of the Edo period now because this all sounds really interesting.
A really interesting post on this topic. Explained by a friendly person. Videos like these are really fun to watch as a fan of Asian culture and as a sword lover! Best regards from Vienna
Very awesome. The Meiji Restoration is an interesting time period for sure. Lots of intriguing history there that can be traced to Japan as we see it today.
Hey Shogo! Thanks for the informative video! My question is how is your health these days? I hope the best.
Amazing history lesson shogo ❤ 👍👍👍👍
Great video!
Curved saber-like blades are better for a running cut than are straight blades that are better at hacking-and-breaking. The straight blade gave way to the curved when combat switched from individual duels to cutting as you passed your enemy. When on horseback, a curved blade will cut-and-draw when a straight blade will be pulled from your hand.
I'm enjoying our Chanel Shogo and thank you for showing us the great Katanas
Very informative class.
First of all curve does not increase sharpness, the thing is single edged swords allow greater and smoother transition from the core of the blade to the edge increasing cutting capability, in second the curve minimizes the contact point concentrating more force in a smaller surface that, as well, increseas cutting capability. Cutting Capability=/= Sharpness, sharpness is one factor of many that cutting capability has.
never knew any of that. nice vid! i like the new hair too!
Wonderful and very informative video, as always! Thank you! I have a question - Did the non-curvature katanas and other "straight" swords mentioned in the end have a single blade or were they double-bladed? Again, thank you very much! 😊
depends on the type. Ken are double edged, and Chokutou, are single edged, for example. So an straight katana can be like a chokuto perfectly
i hope your doing better shogo! nice to see you again
This is fascinating and seems like a really important part of Kendo’s history. Have the straight blades been preserved for kata and solo demonstrations? I have only seen shin-ken demos using the curved blade. I’m sure they had a unique drawing technique has to be developed with them for the battotai to use them. Is that drawing techno taught as well. This blew my mind.
Wonderful video. I have a question. Forgive me if this has already been answered. From the many videos I've watched about traditional sword makers in Japan, the curvature of the blade is produced by differential quenching using clay along the bevel. When the hot blade is quenched in water, the uninsulated spine contracts faster than the insulated bevel and the curve is produced. This is also what produces the hamon. I noticed that the straight bladed katana also have hamon, which would indicate they too had the clayed bevel, yet have no curve. Are they forged and quenched in a way that doesn't produce a curve? Are they produced with a curve and then straightened during the tempering process? Something else? Thank you!
If you start with a straight blade, then after quenching, the differential heating and cooling curves the blade. If you want a straight blade, all you need to do is make a blade with a counter curve prior to quenching, and then the curving effect of the quenching process will straighten the blade. You just have to have enough experience with the quenching process to know how much curvature would be produced. Which presumably the Japanese swordsmiths by that era easily had.
Absolutely fascinating. Thx
Oh shogo's back. Nice!
Shogo, your videos are always amazing, congratulations for your hard work. Just a small comment: the shinsengumi used to train Gekiken and not Kendo, since most of them were members of the Tennen Rishin Ryu and the Hokkushin itto ryu schools.
Gekiken was renamed to kendo by the ZNBK in 1921. Both HIR and TRR were styles which emerged during the gekiken phenomenon, and were each known for their kendo curriculums and the quality of their students. These two styles and their students were greatly influential in the standardization of the modern budo. Indeed all surviving kendo techniques were devised by Chiba Shusaku founder of HIR and published by his student Masataka Kosaka in Jikiden Kenjutsu Meijin-Ho.
Hey Shogo... I love your videos and I missed your videos for the time you were not making them. I'm totally interested in learning iaido, kendo and batudo. But I don't not have any avenues iny country. How can I learn these arts with limited resources?
Hi! Thank you for the great Video!
Being a Jodoka, I was going to say Historical Japanese Police preferably used Jo Staff (amongst other weapons); But yes, Japanese swords do differ depending on the prefecture & historical period of Japan they were in, things were also in flux during the Meiji period and military officers would start to carry Japanese swords with westernised fittings like basket hilts, rings mounts & spur-like scabbards and wear the sword blade down, like a Tachi. Also, one of the best Sword Smiths in Tokyo only makes straight bladed Nihonto, probably because of the Tokyo's ties to the Battotai and Kenjutsu. Curved Blade: Yes, easier to draw & Sheath - On Horseback; Remember Katana evolved from Uchigatana & Tachi. People in my Dojo always suspected that Ninjato were probably just Edo period Kodachi with (later outlawed) square Tsuba, long Tsuka-Ito & Saya; Which they'd use like a step ladder to climb over walls and pull their swords up behind them. But it could be from Battotai swords...
Indeed I expect they didn't use fire weapons and were at a disadvantage against katana traditionalists, so they came with non traditional swords instead of sticks. They carry them like sticks too.
Awesome stuff, thanks.
Very interesting! Thank you 👍
Also explains the strong link between police and kendo, why so many top ranked kenshi are police officers.
Well actually, regardless of the "katana" topic, you are perpetuating a myth of curvature making it sharper. Yes curvature do lower a proportion of the blade contact length which in theory should multiply the force. But It works only with much stronger curves. With something like Shamshir blades. And still the test shows negligible effectiveness compared to straight blades. According to scientific experimental data, curve of the katana blade does literally nothing to make it perform better in term of cutting ability.
It also helps with aligning the blade during a cut, which also perpetuates that myth. It makes it easier for people to use even without as much training with blade alignment.
Which tests? I would like to read them
swords with stronger curvature were a thing, but afaik, not common among the katana you're probably thinking about since those are a result of sword regulation during the 1600s or 1700s?
that was fascinating! Thansk!