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Japanese Sword Museum: Exploring beautiful Samurai art
The Japanese Sword Musem is about the bladed weapons of the Samurai. But, it’s not about their history and use in war. No, that takes a backseat. Here it is their artistic value and beauty. Art with a cutting edge.
This museum is immaculate. It is small. There were around fifty blades on the third-floor display area when I visited. But there is much to enjoy. Everything is high quality.
The swords come from many eras of Japanese history. On my last visit, I saw a 13th-century tachi, the predecessor of the katana. Another time, an exhibit had some suits of armor. What you see will depend on when you visit. The exhibits change several times over the year.
Once again, the history isn’t so important here. Yes, you can learn who made them and carried them in some cases. But the Japanese Sword Musem is not about that. It is about their artistic beauty. Visitors go there to appreciate them.
One of the things I appreciate is the hamon. Hamon is a pattern running along the blade. It is created during the hardening process. This is one of the things that make Japanese swords unique and beautiful.
And that is only a tiny part of what goes into these swords. You’ll be able to see the things that make Japanese swords works of art. Much of it is so intricate. That means looking at tsuba (crossguards), menuki (metal fittings), and more.
A brief history of the Japanese Sword Museum
- The Society for Preservation of Japanese Art Swords operates the museum. They founded it in 1948 to preserve these weapons. Why? It wanted to protect them from being confiscated by the post-war Occupation administration.
- The society saw their swords as a vital part of Japanese culture. They also saw them as pieces of art. Luckily for all of us, they were successful in their efforts.
- The original museum opened in the Yoyogi district of Shinjuku ward in 1978. It closed in 2017 to move to its current location. In 2018, it once again opened to the public.
What swords can you see there?
Of course, there are lots and lots! Japan has many different types. Depending on the exhibit, you might see:
- Katana – one of the most famous swords of all time. It was developed during the Nanboku-cho period (1336-1392).
- Kodachi – a short sword.
- Tachi – the father of the katana. They were first made during the Heian period (794-1185).
- Tanto – a short blade between 15-30 centimeters. It is classed as a sword and often used as a knife.
- Wakizashi – a short sword with a blade between 30 and 60 centimeters. It is often paired with a katana.
Some swords will be complete, in their scabbards, and fully decorated. Others will be only the blade and nakago (tang). There is also the paraphernalia that goes with them:
- tsuba – crossguards.
- Menuki – small metal fittings fixed to the hilt to prevent hands from slipping.
- Fuchigashira – decorative metal caps attached to the hilt.
- Kozuka – a utility knife that is placed on the scabbard.
- Kogai – a decorative utensil fitted into a slot on the side of the scabbard.
You will also be able to learn about how the weapons were created. On the first floor is an area devoted to this. It also has a video, but that is in Japanese only.
Are cameras allowed at the Japanese Sword Museum?
I’m sorry to say it depends. Some swords can’t be photographed, and they’ll be marked so. And unfortunately, photography isn’t allowed in some exhibits. So, to avoid disappointment, contact the museum before you go and ask.
Photography tips for the museum
- The lighting is quite good, but you will still need high ISO.
- The lighting and glass have been optimized for people, not for cameras. When taking pictures, you might find a lot of glare in your photos. Play with your camera, and move it around to get minimum reflections and bright spots.
- The quality of the glass is very good. But be careful getting absorbed in your photography. You could bump the cabinets with your lens if you don’t pay attention.
- A zoom lens might be useful. I used my Fujifilm 16-55 mm, or these photos and found it rather short. There were times when I wanted to get closer to the swords.
And once you finish, there is a lot to check out in the area:
Japanese Sword Museum details
See the museum’s admission fees, opening hours, and location on the official website.
Wrapping up
Please remember, this museum is not about the samurai. You’ll be disappointed if you go there expecting to learn about them. It is about the swords and everything associated with them.
And while some people have said the Japanese Sword Museum is small, the quality of its exhibits is superb. The blades were created by the masters of their times, old and modern. They deserve to be recognized as art. You could say they are cutting-edge!
And if you have been to the Japanese Sword Museum, what did you think of it? I’d love to know your opinion. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below.
Do you want to read more about Japanese swords? Check these books on Amazon