Occupation Period and Sword Preservation

Defeat and Disarmament — The Existential Crisis of Japanese Swords

The occupation period (1945–1952) by the General Headquarters of the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers (GHQ/SCAP), which began with Japan's surrender on August 15, 1945, marked the greatest crisis in Japanese sword history. The GHQ positioned the Japanese sword as a symbol of Japanese militaristic spirit and ordered the confiscation and destruction of Japanese swords as part of disarmament directives.

From 1946 to 1948, nationwide sword confiscations were conducted. Swords stored in private homes were demanded for surrender, and many of those brought to police stations and occupation military facilities were destroyed. Similar confiscations occurred throughout the Tōhoku region, including Sendai, and some swords connected to the Dáte clan were dispersed during this period. It is estimated that between 500,000 to over 1,000,000 swords and blades were lost during this period, among which were numerous swords of significant artistic and historical value.

Severe restrictions were also imposed on sword smiths. The manufacturing of swords was prohibited in principle, causing many smiths to lose their livelihoods during the postwar reconstruction period and face a serious crisis in the transmission of techniques. In the Shōwa 20s (1940s), there was a strong sense of crisis that the sword-smithing techniques accumulated over centuries might be completely lost.

The Beginning of Sword Preservation Movement

In the midst of such a desperate situation, a movement of dedicated individuals emerged to protect Japanese swords as cultural properties. In 1946 (Shōwa 21), sword researchers, collectors, and sword smith-related professionals gathered to establish the Japanese Sword Preservation Society (Nippon Tōken Hozon Kai). This organization engaged in persistent negotiations with the GHQ and opened a path to incorporate Japanese swords into the framework of cultural property protection by positioning them as "fine art and craft objects."

The most crucial aspect of negotiations with the GHQ was explaining that the Japanese sword was not merely a weapon but a uniquely Japanese art object with over a thousand years of history, and achieving recognition of its cultural and scholarly value. These efforts bore fruit, and from around 1948, a path was opened for swords registered as cultural properties to escape confiscation.

Establishment of NBTHK and Institutional Framework

From 1948 to 1949, preparations were underway for the establishment of the Japanese Art Sword Preservation Association (NBTHK), dedicated to the preservation, research, and promotion of Japanese swords. Established in 1948 (Shōwa 23), NBTHK inherited the authentication functions that the Honami family had performed during the Edo period while promoting the revival of Japanese sword culture with a modern organizational structure.

One of the first important tasks undertaken by NBTHK was the establishment of a sword registration system. Based on the Cultural Properties Protection Law enacted in 1950, a system was established whereby only Japanese swords that had received registration under the Firearms and Swords Control Law could be legally possessed and traded. This registration certificate system continues to the present day and forms the foundation for legal possession of Japanese swords.

For swords returned from the GHQ that were recognized as having cultural value, procedures were undertaken for NBTHK to mediate their return to Japan. However, only a small portion of confiscated swords were returned; the majority were either destroyed or taken to America. One reason why numerous Japanese swords exist in American private collections and museums today is the confiscation and outflow during this occupation period.

Revival and Transmission of Sword Smith Techniques

In 1954 (Shōwa 29), regulations on sword manufacturing were relaxed, and the production of artistic swords as cultural properties was permitted. This allowed sword smiths who had been forced to abandon their profession to resume their forging. Master smiths of the modern era, including Miyairi Yukihira, dedicated themselves to reviving and transmitting techniques during this period.

However, the effects of manufacturing prohibition and restrictions lasting over seven years were severe. Many experienced sword smiths died during this period, and there were numerous cases where the transmission of techniques to apprentices was interrupted. Additionally, the production of tamahagane through tatara ironmaking also ceased, making the securing of quality materials a major challenge. Full-scale resumption of tamahagane production had to await the establishment of Nittōho Tatara in 1977.

Historical Significance of the Occupation Period

Paradoxically, the ordeal of the occupation period resulted in legally clarifying the status of Japanese swords as cultural properties. Through negotiations with the GHQ and the legislative process, the definition of "Japanese swords as fine art and craft objects" became institutionalized, forming the legal and institutional foundation for subsequent development of Japanese sword culture. The establishment of NBTHK was one of the most important legacies of this era and laid the foundation for modern Japanese sword culture.

Furthermore, the experience of the occupation period instilled in Japanese sword enthusiasts a strong sense of mission to "protect sword culture." Gratitude toward the predecessors who dedicated themselves to sword preservation during this era and a sense of responsibility to pass on their legacy to the next generation form the spiritual foundation that contemporary sword collectors should share. The act of collecting and appreciating Japanese swords is recognized here as more than a personal hobby—it is a practice of cultural property preservation.