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更新日：2025年4月26日更新
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2nd Floor Exhibition｜Connecting the Past: Akabanetō and the Story of the Japanese Sword
Taken from across Japan between 1945 to 1946, Sesshū Tōken (‘seized swords’) is the term for those blades confiscated under the directives of the occupying Allied forces in their efforts to disarm Japan at the end of WWII.
Without a thought
This order applied not just to those belonging members of the military, but to every sword in the country. Along with those owned by ordinary citizens, valuable heirlooms belonging to lordly families, designated Important Cultural Properties, and even swords enshrined at religious institutions were collected indiscriminately.
What happened to the swords?
The exact fate of most of the swords is unknown, the exact location and manner of disposal remaining a mystery even today due to the lack of contemporary records. Even so, it seems that most were thoroughly disposed of, with each region seeing different methods implemented, from burning, to breaking, to burying at sea.
To the rescue
Responding to the ruthless destruction of these vital cultural artefacts like so much scrap iron, a national campaign sprung up in their defence. In 1946, their wish came true, GHQ authorizing the first Sword Appraisal Committee.
With their help, 70,000 of the confiscated swords recognised for their artistic value were returned to their original owners.
With their help, 70,000 of the confiscated swords recognised for their artistic value were returned to their original owners.
Who helped save the blades?
Foremost among the swords’ advocates were Honma (Kanzan) Junji, member of the Sword Appraisal Committee, and later head of the Tokyo National Museum’s Research Division, and Satō (Kanzan) Kanichi, the museum’s Keeper of Swords. Though most prominent, they were supported by a highly motivated group that included everyone from scholars and artisans, to enthusiasts and collectors.
Akabanetō
‘Akabanetō’ is the name given to a specific segment of the swords collected by GHQ from across Tokyo and the surrounding regions. Specifically, it refers to the group of blades stored at the old Japanese Imperial Army arsenal at Akabane in Tokyo’s northern Kitaku District in preparation for their disposal.
What happened to the Akabanetō?
By the time the Sword Appraisal Committee first convened, the fate of the 20,000 or so swords piled up in the arsenal seemed to be sealed, their disposal having already been decided.
Piles of Akabanetō (Agency for Cultural Affairs Art Curatorial Division)
Firm in their belief the Akabanetō were worth saving, the Committee and Japanese government petitioned GHQ and, through stubborn negotiation, the Committee was given special permission to convene once more. Led by Honma, they set to work deciding which swords might be saved and, thanks to their work, around 5000 swords with acknowledged artistic value were given over to the care of the Tokyo National Museum.
What happened next?
Having now escaped destruction, while a handful of Akabanetō were later used as reference and practice materials by modern craftsmen in their studies, the majority would lie untouched within the stores of the Tokyo National Museum for decades.
Almost forgotten, only 48 years later did they gain a new lease on life with the 1995 ‘Confiscated Sword Handling Act’.
Almost forgotten, only 48 years later did they gain a new lease on life with the 1995 ‘Confiscated Sword Handling Act’.
The passing of the new law set events in motion, beginning with an attempt to find the swords’ original owners. Though a strict investigation led to the return of several hundred, the majority of the Akabanetō, some 4576 blades, remained unclaimed and entered state ownership. Of these, it was decided that 3209 would be given free of charge to public museums and institutions across Japan.
Why give away the swords?
While it is widely thought the government’s main aim was to spread understanding of Japan’s sword heritage in the regions where they were made, they also had other, more practical, reasons. With many blades in poor condition, with some partially rusted, distribution made it easier for them to be preserved and to be exhibited more widely. Japan also saw in the national campaign of Akabanetō restoration an extra added benefit: a chance for the nation’s traditional artisans to practice, improve upon, and pass on their crafts.
From Akabane to Okayama
A survey conducted when deciding their destinations resulted in 45 of 47 prefectures receiving blades after showing interest.
Of the roughly 200 Akabanetō sent to Okayama, the majority were received by the Okayama Prefectural Museum and Bizen Osafune Japanese Sword Museum, with the rest being sent to institutions in cities such as Takahashi and Niimi.
Of the roughly 200 Akabanetō sent to Okayama, the majority were received by the Okayama Prefectural Museum and Bizen Osafune Japanese Sword Museum, with the rest being sent to institutions in cities such as Takahashi and Niimi.
One look at the graph above, and it is clear that Okayama Prefecture received a comparatively large proportion of the remaining Akabanetō. Why is this?
The answer lies in how the government distributed the swords. Focussing primarily on returning them to where they were made, or to areas to which they had some other strong connection, it is no surprise Okayama Prefecture received so many. A centre of high-quality sword production since antiquity, it was the origin of a large percentage of the Akabanetō.
The answer lies in how the government distributed the swords. Focussing primarily on returning them to where they were made, or to areas to which they had some other strong connection, it is no surprise Okayama Prefecture received so many. A centre of high-quality sword production since antiquity, it was the origin of a large percentage of the Akabanetō.
The Akabanetō arrive in Osafune
In 1999, in the wake of the passing of the 1995 ‘Confiscated Sword Handling Act’, Osafune Town (now: Setouchi City) also saw itself contacted by the central government and, excited by the opportunity, quickly agreed to take in some Akabanetō. So it was that, in the last days of the millennium, after undergoing and passing a strict storage and handling assessment, 107 blades were delivered to the Bizen Osafune Japanese Sword Museum in December 1999.
The Akabanetō arrive at the Osafune Museum (now: Bizen Osafune Japanese Sword Museum), 21/12/1999
Private viewing of the Akabanetō upon returning to their birthplace, December 1999
Exhibiting the Akabanetō
The tribulations of swords after WWII. The stories of those who strived tirelessly to preserve them for posterity during the uncertainty of Japan’s reconstruction period. Through the Akabane swords, our museum is working to pass down Japan’s important sword culture and the story of these enigmatic blades to future generations.
These swords also serve as a reminder to local people of Okayama Prefecture’s past as the nation’s undisputed capital of sword production and as the point of origin of so many masterpieces that can now be found in collections across Japan.
These swords also serve as a reminder to local people of Okayama Prefecture’s past as the nation’s undisputed capital of sword production and as the point of origin of so many masterpieces that can now be found in collections across Japan.
The 2019 exhibition ‘Akabanetō from Inside and Outside Okayama’
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