Nakano Shōten & Manshū Tōken

[Kiipu]

The Relationship Between Nakano Shōten and Manshū Tōken

By Nick Komiya

 

In 1937, KK Nakano Shōten 株式会社･中野商店 [Nakano Shop Co., Ltd.] established a sword manufacturing factory in Shinkyō 新京 [Hsinking] (currently Changchun 长春) and became the exclusive manufacturer of swords for the Manchurian Police.  This later became Manshū Tōken KK 満州刀剣株式会社 [Manchuria Sword Co., Ltd.], but the capital investment and personnel continued to be from Nakano Shōten, making it a sister company of Nakano in every way.  Manshū Tōken was initially an outpost of Nakano, but with 150,000 Yen of paid in capital, eventually became an independent company.  They continued to monopolize the production of Manchurian Police swords.

 

By 1942, Manshū Tōken operated 2 factories and may soon build a third in response to growing demand for their police swords.  The President was Nakano Yōzō 中野･要藏, also President of Nakano Shōten.

 

KK Nakano Shōten 株式會社･中野商店 Nakano Shop Co., Ltd.

Manshū Tōken KK 満州刀劍株式會社 Manchuria Sword Co., Ltd.

[Kiipu]

Nick & Kiipu would like to acknowledge the contributions of Trystan, AKA BANGBANGSAN.  Without his input and assistance, the above would not have been possible.

[BANGBANGSAN]

Thomas
Big thanks for you and Nick's work! You guys contribute to the Japanese military collector's community so much, we learned a lot from you!
Salute!

[Bruce Pennington]

Linking this to the Japanese Swords Made in China During WWII thread.

[Bruce Pennington]

Thanks for the post, Thomas & Trystan!

 

Is this available on Warrelics?  Are there any photos?  Any shop logos?

[Brian]

Thank you guys, the amount of effort you put into research is staggering. We are all the better for it.
Heartfelt thanks from all of us. What started as a small offshoot of the Nihonto forum has grown into probably the best research currently done anywhere currently on the subject!