IJA Sword Collectors-Look at this photo!

[Ian Lim]

Hi All,
Saw this reprinted press photo on ebay, makes you wonder where all these swords ended up? were they destroyed or are they in some collection

[Ian Lim]

and the back of the photo

[sandsnow]

My dad was assigned to such a post. It was in Kyoto if I remember right. He brought back numerous items, even a bugle.

[brooks]

Quite a few were placed in piles and burned.

[Bob Coleman]

Ian-
A Friend Of Mine Owns A Photograph Of An Army Technical Sergeant Standing In Front Of A Pile Of Swords At Least Ten Feet High And It Fills The Background Of The Photo In Width.
During The Early Days Of The Occupation Of Japan, An Order Was Instituted That All Weapons Were To Be Surrendered To The Local Police Station. This Is The Reason Many Swords Are Found With Rice Paper Glued To The Scabbard With The Name And Address Of The Owner Along With An Added Inventory Number. In Turn, The Occupation Authorities Would Pick Up And Warehouse The Swords, Guns, Spears, Etc. These Warehouses Often Became A Point For Discharged Soldiers To Pick Up A Souvenir Before Going Home. Swords Were Being Dumped In Tokyo Bay And Melted Down. National Treasure And Important Cultural Property Swords Were Being Taken Out Of Japan By Servicemen Who Did Not Know What They Had. It Was At This Point That Two Noted Sword Experts, Dr Junji Homma And Dr. Juzen Sato Approached Colonel Robert Cadwell, Commander Of All Military Police And Criminal Investigation In Japan. They Explained The Artistic And Historical Importance Of Some Japanese Swords. Through This
Meeting, A System Of Review Was Set Up To Check All Future Swords Departing Japan To Insure The Safety Of Important Swords. This Board Of Review Eventually Became The Foundation For The Nippon Bijitsu Token Hozon Kyokai, The Sword Musuem Located Today In Yoyogi, Tokyo. Their Issued Certificates Of Sword Quality Are Considered The Best And Most Reliable In Japan These Days.

[Andy Harris]

Thanks for the info, Bob!
It's too bad that despite the best efforts of Homma-san and Sato-San, more than a few valuable swords were destroyed.
But, I'm glad they saved what they did.

[Ian Lim]

HI Bob,
Thank you for the very interesting information provided.