Modern Japanese Army and nihonto

[Bruno]

G'day all!

 

I was reading this article about our fantastic President visiting Japan and saw this photo.

 

The officer is wearing a sword so of course I threw an eye to see what kind of sword it was, not nihonto obviously.

 

So my question is : Are nihonto totally nonexistent in Japanese Army nowadays? Not asking if they are wore as often as Gunto were but at least on few occasions like ceremonial events, parades etc, or/and for some high ranked officers only...?

 

Thanks

[Alex A]

Good question Bruno, I would assume non existant, of coarse I may be wrong. A nice tachi would look a lot better in my opinion . To me, these ceremonial western swords dont quite suit.

 

Alex

[george trotter]

Hi Bruno,

In my youth 1960s I worked as a Customs (Douane) clerk on the wharves at Fremantle Harbour, Western Australia.

I can remember a number of times when Japanese Navy delegations made official visits and out of courtesy were invited to a reception at the Town Hall with the Mayor and Council. On these occasions the senior officers all wore sabres...I think they were decorated like the usual Japanese Kaigun sabres. It is 50 years ago now so maybe things have changed?

Some things don't change of course, in 2010 I and my family were in Tokyo and the Imperial Palace was opened for the Emeror's birthday address.

We went in like all the others and stood in the courtyard when the Emperor, Empress, Crown Prince, his wife (Masako I think) and the Crown Prince's brother and his wife came out on the balcony. The Emperor spoke..."be kind to old people and animals etc". The crowd were all holding hi-no-maru flags and in front of me was a huge man (obviously a JSDF member in civilian clothes) and as soon as the Emperor began to speak he went to attention amd cast his eyes down. When the Emperor finished he raised his arms with clenched fists and shouted "Banzai"...all the crown responded with "Banzai". It was an amazing feeling...like being in Singapore in 1942...very chilling to us whose families suffered in WWII...but really, no different from our "Long Live the Queen".

So, I suppose things are still the same with swords...only they have gone back to "non-katana" sabres.

Regards,

[Sporkkaji]

Interesting choice for parade rifles. I wonder how many of those Garands actually saw combat against the Japanese military and are now being used by them.