Its popularity lasted until the Mongol invasions of 12, when the Japanese learned a very hard lesson: A curved sword combined with a mounted rider is a pretty lethal combination.Īs you may know, the Mongol invasions of Japan were stopped mainly by the weather. Of the two, the chokuto type was probably more common. For those who don’t know, the chokuto is the straight-bladed version of the katana. One is a double-edged broadsword, while the other is more like what some would call a chokuto CHOKUTO 直刀 'straight sword' learn more. When we look at these weapons, we see that there are two basic types. However, some archaeologists believe these swords to have been ceremonial. The natural assumption is that these pommels were intended as bludgeoning weapons. Of particular interest is the large and bulbous pommel that is seen on many of these Kofun-era Japanese war swords. However, some exquisite Japanese war swords have been recovered from these burial mounds. Unfortunately, there is a lot that remains unknown about the history of Japan during this time. It’s named for the extensive burial mounds that are associated with this culture. The Kofun period of Japanese history covers the years between 300 and 538 AD.

In this article, we will attempt to take a broader look and show you how so many different Japanese war swords played important roles in the history of Japan.

While virtually everyone is familiar with the katana, not as many people are familiar with all of the other swords that were common in ancient Japan. The Japanese sword is known throughout the world for its excellence.

Japanase ww2 swords