General's Swords In The Australian War Memorial

[PNSSHOGUN]

While I imagine some of the Australian members have seen these, I'm sure the other members might enjoy Lieutenant General Imamura and Baba's swords.

 

General Imamuras sword was a gift from the Emperor in 1918 and is thought to have been made by Kanenori Miyamoto or Gassan Sadakatsu. 

 

Another interesting sword is a Kai Gunto of Lieutenant Kenshi Chuma, recovered from the midget sub that attacked Sydney harbour.

 

Detailed info on the Kai Gunto: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C209155?image=3

[Bruce Pennington]

Thanks for the pics and the article John, very interesting! That's the first brown laquered kaigunto I've seen, other than the one on Ohmura's site.

[Shamsy]

I really need to get to the memorial to pay my respects but also to read and look at the exhibits. Thank you for posting and reminding me that I need to get that trip organised.

[IJASWORDS]

My 37 year old son actually visited the AWM on the weekend with his family. He was quite moved when he read the stories attached to some exhibits. Schools these days don't teach any thing about our war history, and how close Australia came to being invaded by the Japanese. For example he didn't know that more Aussies died in the bombing of Darwin, than died in the attack on Pearl Harbour.

[vajo]

Thank your for posting history. I didn't know that Australia was attacked.

I also didn't no that the leading captain of the raid on pearl harbour and darwin Mitsuo Fuchida become a christian priest who lived the rest of his life in the USA.

Very interesting.

[IJASWORDS]

Thank you Chris for your knowledge of our history. Mitsuo Fuchida did in fact lead both devastating air raids. In fact a wave of 188 planes on Darwin. Our beautiful city of Sydney was also attacked by Japanese midget submarines, launched from a mother ship.

[Bruce Pennington]

There's a movie "The Bombing of Darwin" on Amazon Prime.

[Ian B3HR2UH]

After spending a couple of days on the bottom of Sydney harbour they raised the mini sub and found a sword inside .The Sydney Morning Herald of the 8th July 1942 describes the sword as  " it is 36.5 inches long with a slightly curved blade of 27 inches. The hilt is bound with silken cord with bronze or gold inlay .The copper guard is inscribed and is shaped to represent the rising sun . The sword has three coverings its scabbard is enclosed in a leather sheath which in turn is completely covered by a silk lined tasselled purple cloth . The officers initials are printed on the cloth." The following day there is a photograph of the sword in the paper and from what can be seen it looks like a Kai gunto with a leather cover over the saya . I suspect that at some stage the leather cover has been taken off and  the same or lacquer has disintegrated  at this time . Perhaps someone put the current finish on to cover or protect the wood .

 

I saw General Imamuras sword about 40 years ago when it was still owned by Sir Vernon Sturdee's widow Lady Sturdee . The habaki was interesting as it was gold foil with the characters Goshi on it which I think translates as Imperial gift . Lady Sturdee had a second Shin Gunto also with a general grade tassel on it . Which one was Imamuras is hard to say , perhaps they both were .

 

Ian Brooks

[PNSSHOGUN]

Ian that's a very unique opportunity to have had, to me it seems more likely to have been made by Gassan Sadakatsu, it's a very finely made sword.

[Kai-Gunto]

Brown saya, I once had a kaigunto with brown lacqured shark skin saya and stainless blade.

Its the same brown color I have on my naval dirk with star mekugi.

[Ian B3HR2UH]

And I have seen one Kai Gunto with a same or sharkskin scabbard that was in original condition and that had brown lacquer . This sword had a blade made at the tenshozan forge and was surrendered by an Admiral Nomiya to Brigadier Wood  near Balikpapan.on Borneo

Ian Brooks

[IJASWORDS]

Hi Ian, this is one of my brown SAYA Kai's. A KOTO blade, so may e a special order at the time.

[Bruce Pennington]

Nice backboard for your gunto display, Neil!! Ha!

[Bryce]

G'day Guys,

I visited the Jezzine Barracks Military Museum in Townsville yesterday. On display they have the sword of Major General Uno which was surrendered to Lt Col Ewan Robson in Banjarmasin, Kalimantan. 

Cheers,

Bryce

 

[John C]

Looks like the tassel was attached in the original picture. Wonder what happened to it.

 

John C.

[Bruce Pennington]

Gorgeous blade!

[Bryce]

Yeah it definitely still had the tassel when it was surrendered. Couple of other interesting things, the tsuka was covered with the less common laced up leather wrap, which is still with the sword and General Uno was wearing spurs. Did he have a cavalry connection or was that standard dress for generals?

Cheers,

Bryce

 

[PNSSHOGUN]

An addendum to the maker of General Imamura's sword, it is in reality an un-tempered piece. Last year an identical blade appeared for sale from Japan, in rather poor, but original condition.

 

There was a letter on Pages 255-257 of the large Fuller & Gregory book from the 17th Army's Chief of Staff Major General Makata, to Brigadier Garret. In it he notes some officers having service dress swords (Seito), full dress swords (Fukuto), and their real swords. He goes on to mention the swords initially surrendered were their Seito, and one might imagine that the sword in the AWM is General Imamura's Seito.

 

 

 

 

[paul griff]

Very interesting articles , photographs and subsequent contributions…thank’s for starting it off John..

Regards,

Paul.