This is why we should respect every sword

[Okan]

I took this picture the other day..It's from an old Japanese war magazine that I noticed in a book market. I wasn't going to share it as it's a sensitive picture but I think it's important. (I'm adding a spoiler tag) But it was a good reminder for me that these were actually weapons and their lives depended on it.. Sometimes i forget that...

A soldier or a civilian, killed in a night raid, holding his sword. I'm sure this sword was very dear to him. A family heirloom maybe? 

Maybe one of us owned this exact sword before..Perhaps it was a mumei wakizashi and we decided to sell it for a papered one. 

Imagine owning this sword now...it's priceless right..Just like every other sword you have. 

 

 

 

Spoiler

 

[Guest Simon R]

A very salutary, sobering and much needed observation.

I have so few swords that I think of each of them as an old friend - but it's very easy to lose sight of the much deeper meaning they held for the original owners.

 

Thank you.

m(_ _)m

[WillFalstaff]

Something that should never be forgotten by collectors. 

[Kiipu]

On 2/28/2023 at 2:07 PM, Okan said:

A soldier or a civilian, killed in a night raid, holding his sword.

 

The location was Okinawa and the picture was taken on 1945-04-06.  The caption for the photograph is below.  The caption & location is courtesy of "hittavainen" over at GBF.

http://www2.archives.pref.okinawa.jp/opa/SearchPicsDetail2.aspx?pid=53806

Quote

【原文】 The Japanese civilian was killed the night of April 5th when he tried to infiltrate the command post area of the 2nd Bn., 382nd Inf. Regt.  He holds the sword he was carrying at the time.

【和訳】 4月5日の晩に第382歩兵連隊第2大隊の司令部地区に潜入しようとして殺された住民。その時持っていた刀を抱いている。