Why Policemen Used Non-Curved Katana (The History of Katana Swordsmanship)

[@LetsaskShogo]

⚔Learn Katana Martial Arts from Anywhere Worldwide with Let’s ask Shogo⚔ Sign up here: www.patreon.com/lets_ask_sekisensei I provide the perfect online lessons for anyone worldwide who wishes to dive into the world of katana martial arts through my style, Kobudo Asayama Ichiden Ryu. I, Shogo, a student myself, will also participate in every lesson and interpret everything in English. 1. No previous martial arts experience is required; you can catch up anytime 2. Every lesson will be recorded and will be available to rewatch anytime 3. You can join even if you belong to another Ryuha style 4. You can receive official Dan ranks by taking exams online 👺Learn More About Noh Theatre from an Active Professional👺 We operate the best online community for a deeper understanding of the mysterious and enigmatic world of Noh theatre. You can learn about Japanese history and religion while regularly watching Isumi Sensei’s performances with my, Shogo's English interpretation. Sign up here: (Coming Soon) 🗡Where you can meet me in Kyoto, Japan | Yushinkan Samurai Training with Modern-day Musashi🗡 A 120-minute experience in Japan where beginners can learn how to wield, draw, sheath, and swing the katana from the modern-day Musashi! I, Shogo, will be your interpreter to lead you into the wonderful world of samurai martial arts! Make your reservation here: www.airbnb.com/experiences/4577764?locale=en A video of me visiting this experience: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g6KldHR5aZetd68 💰Please support me through Ko-fi💰 ko-fi.com/letsaskshogo 🗡The BEST online katana shop for martial arts (Iaido, Kendo, etc.): Tozando🗡 tozandoshop.com/letsaskshogo Everything I use for my katana training is bought at this shop! I still use the first training katana I bought in 2016, and it is still in good shape! 🥷The recommended online katana shop for decorations and cosplay: Mini Katana🥷 minikatana.com/SHOGO *Get 15% OFF all their products by purchasing through my affiliate link ⭐Who is Shogo? What is this channel about?⭐ kzbin.infokZbyd0OfdC4 ⭐MY DREAM⭐ “To make every Japan lovers’ dream come true, by making Japan a more secure, comfortable, and safer place for everyone to visit, study, and live in.” kzbin.infoWFF3AhN0LXE ⭐Instagram⭐ instagram.com/lets_ask_shogo/ *Please ask me questions through the DM here!（⚠I do not use e-mail）

[@Serenity_Dee]

One of the fun things about the curved katana is that the curve isn't forged in with the hammer, but created during the quench, through the careful use of the clay through differential hardening. You can find footage online of bladesmiths quenching such a blade in a clear tank and see the curve developing. It's eerie and fascinating.

[@erniemathews5085]

you said it first and best.

[@Uryendel]

it's not the clay that make the curve, it's how you put the blade in the bath of coolant

[@M0rb]

It's both the result of the forging process and the selective quenching actually. The blade's curvature is also refined afterwards, using a hot block of copper for example. There are many more variables that influences the blade's curvature. Interestingly during the quenching process the blade curves frontside before going back and settling to the intended shape. You can see this in the fishtank quenching videos you mentionned.

[@5co756]

​@@UryendelNo , the clay let the blade cool down slower were the clay is thicker . It colls down slower at the back and faster at the edge and this creates the curve .

[@Uryendel]

@@5co756 if that was the case you wouldn't be able to make a straight blade. And the clay doesn't prevent cooling, it prevent heating Katana blade are drop t in a bassin parallel to the ground with a movement that create the curve. Now if you want a straight, you drop the blade at once in a tube perpendicular to the ground

[@adriellightvale8140]

You're telling me that they aren't ninja blades, but cop blades?!

[@MasterOfBaiter]

What is a ninja but a cop undercover.

[@Makingnewnamesisdumb]

What if ACAB includes ninjas?

[@MasterOfBaiter]

@@Makingnewnamesisdumb reject feudal lord ideology and ninja simping!

[@vids595]

@@MasterOfBaiter What do cops have to do with assassins?

[@MasterOfBaiter]

@@vids595 ninja were not really assassins in history they were more intelligence gatherers and a lot of them were actually samurai. Literal undercover officers of the state.

[@kalandarkclaw8892]

I love how you not only broke down the reasons for the blades but also the political and social issues so clearly. Japans eras never cease to amaze me

[@angelosilva342]

Nice to have you back Shogo!

[@macruz8503]

I call him chocko!

[@liquidminddesign1367]

Just a small nit-pick about the purpose of the curve. Although said curve DOES make for a better cutting/slashing implement vs a straight blade, it is NOT actually any sharper (assuming equal craftsmanship). The improved cutting dynamic has to do with the relationship between the blade shape and the natural arc that a human body will produce when swinging it. Think leverage, surface area, and ergonomics rather than inherent mechanical sharpness. Great video! Super interesting!

[@rogerp4612]

Correct.

[@deltrex]

This is actually not true. a light curve does not impact cutting capacity of a sword directly in most cases, the only impact is in the fact that it makes it easier to feel the edge alignment. Curves do (stronger curves more) increase the ability to draw cut, but draw cuts are very uncommon in Kenjitsu or Iaido and are only common (as far as I know) in fighting styles with very curved sabres.

[@Ikaros---]

@@deltrex on top of this, a curved blade also increases the pressure at the edge, the smaller the contact area, the better the cut, it's why scissors have their distinctive shape, rather than just clamping 2 parallel blades together, and why axes usually have curved edges.

[@chaosXP3RT]

I don't trust you. What's your source?

[@Talon19]

@@deltrex Drawing cuts occur whenever a blade moves in an arc. Swing a blade, creates a draw cut, more curve, more draw cut.

[@tehchikon]

I've been playing Like a Dragon: Isshin! lately and have been learning all about the Shinsengumi and the Meiji period. Thank you for providing more information about this very tumultuous and interesting point in Japan's history. And welcome back Shogo!

[@khadizaanwarjolly5779]

ten years in the dungeon

[@jayrice5736]

Arigatou gozaimasu, Shogo-San! Your videos are always helpful!

[@ARKYmouse]

This was indispensably informative, Shogo-san! This clears up a lot of my own confusion and misconceptions about the change in blade styles during the Meiji Restoration Period.

[@chopperchuck]

I have always been fascinated by Japan it's people it's culture it's history I've got a lot of books on the subject Your channel has greatly expanded my knowledge thank you

[@i6power30]

It's its. Not it's

[@_fawkes]

This video makes me want to go and watch Rurouni Kenshin again. Great content as always. And welcome back!

[@sageofsixpathskakashi3742]

As an overseas kendoka I was super surpried to learn so much about it in a non kendo video. It also funny that kendo was used both by the Shogunate in the form of the Shinsengumi and by the Government with the Battoutai. "We may have our differences but we agree on one thing. Kendo wins wars"

[@23Disciple]

I cannot agree. Shinsegumi used classic gekiken (free sparring), look at Tenen rishin ryu. Yes, they used similar gear, it is ancestor of kendo, but whole gekiken is ancestor of kendo, which is sport with rules, and gekiken is training method. Yes, i see videos with "old school kendo", but thats practicaly gekiken before rules was setted.

[@Ianmar1]

@@23Disciple Gekiken was a gamification of the uchikomi keiko of the jikishinkage ryu, which was first made into a sport within the Nakanishi-ha itto ryu and popularised by the 14th headmaster of jikishinkage ryu Sakakibara Kinkichi, who founded the Gekken Kogyo. Uchikomi keiko was a corrective measure for "dead" kata, gekiken since renamed to kendo was always an extracurricular sport. Free sparring is a very modern concept, the people of that time would have had duels, the purpose of which was to prove their system and skill. The word for a duel between students of different schools is taryu jiai not gekiken.

[@CarterElkins]

I love the presentation style of this channel and Seki Sensei’s. Showing me a table of contents seems like it would steal the video’s thunder, but in reality, it usually piques my interest, while setting an expectation of what’s to come. It’s remarkably relaxing.

[@sportstermissions]

Nobody does it better than Shogo! 👍🏽

[@MercenaryJames]

Shogo remains my favorite channel in regards to Japanese culture and understanding. Love your videos.

[@tsoonklah]

Your videos are the best & most enjoyable! Don’t mind the less frequency at all, if anything it makes me even happier to see a new one. ❤

[@SilatBegin]

"Curved Sword only belongs to Hammerfell" - Whiterun Guard

[@ericthompson3982]

The curve also increases the length of the cutting edge without increasing the overall length of the sword, making it slightly more convenient for carrying and close fighting.

[@sinisterthoughts2896]

That is covered both by the aids in cutting/sharpness segment, and the balance and drawing segments he went over. So he covered those points.

[@lmclrain]

I'd say the metal becomes stronger, just as a bow that can project energy at a point with the help of curvature.

[@mrkiky]

None of those things make sense. What's the advantage in having more cutting edge without more reach? The metal definitely doesn't become stronger because it's curved. There's absolutely no principle that would make that happen, unless the sword was extremely curved, like an arch supporting the weight of the wall above it. The curve in a katana is way too slight to have that effect. And what does it have to do with a bow? A bow bends to store energy, which is then released into an arrow, which has a point. That's the only sense the bow uses curvature to project energy at a point, but none of those mechanics are in common with the katana. The only advantage to the curve is that when you swing a sword, you move it in an arc, and a curved blade more readily follows the arc as you draw it across the thing you're cutting, therefore making the cut easier. Also if you're hitting a flat surface, less of the blade comes in contact at a time, so it exerts higher pressure. But you never hit a flat surface with a sword, so that doesn't really matter. It matters when cutting veggies on a flat cutting board.

[@ericthompson3982]

@@mrkiky You do increase the cutting length. Geometry, dude.

[@AdamOwenBrowning]

@@ericthompson3982 you don't increase *effective* cutting length - cutting length that you can use. Why? Because the curve retreats towards you! This reduces the extra reach you're technically given. You're absolutely right about geometry, but you can't suddenly "straighten the sword" during a fight to make effective use of that extra cutting length. A straight-blade with a couple inches LESS BLADE would have the same *effective* cutting length as a curved sword with a couple inches more blade, if you follow what I'm saying

[@rbranham8062]

The curve in katana is a byproduct of the differential hardening process, and is not necessary for drawing the blade. It also does not significantly change the point of balance of the blade, and it definitively does not make it sharper.

[@XerrolAvengerII]

not directly sharper, but someone wielding a curved sword vs a straight sword of the same weight and sharpness will find the curved sword to cut more readily from slashing motion than the straight sword.

[@Ose-here]

it does occur during heat treatment, but the curvature is decided upon by the smith through shaping before quenching.

[@sailingsibongile]

It's been widely reported and proven that the curvature was as a result of the dissimilar metals used in the production process, for the back and the cutting edge, and how they contracted differently when quenched. The cutting edge was the primary focus, and then the balance between flexibility and rigidity. The easier draw, better cutting, etc, was secondary benefits; and the became the reasons why the production process stayed.

[@stevenfriedman2902]

A very informative video. Love hearing about Japanese history (along with history of weapons in general) and hope to some day visit. You've just gotten another subscriber from me!

[@christopherharris6005]

Awesome video as always Shogo. Shogo I always look forward to watching your videos on all kinds of topics about Japanese 🇯🇵 culture keep up the great work.

[@fabiofelix2809]

First of all curve does not increase sharpness, the thing is single edged swords allow greater and smoother transition from the core of the blade to the edge increasing cutting capability, in second the curve minimizes the contact point concentrating more force in a smaller surface that, as well, increseas cutting capability. Cutting Capability=/= Sharpness, sharpness is one factor of many that cutting capability has.

[@IkedaHakubi]

It's been a while. Glad to see you back!

[@ichibanbento]

Yay Shogo is back! It was very informative thank you!

[@monicab204]

Thanks Shogo! Wonderful presentation on the straight katana. ❤

[@viktorvolkov5314]

Found my new favorite channel on yt. Love Japan and Japanese History!

[@richt63]

Love this video ❤ I'm glad you're back. 👍

[@alycewonderland5824]

All I want is for you to continue creating these videos and including as much information as you possibly can! It is always exciting to learn something new, especially from someone knowledgeable about the topic. Thank you very much. ☺️

[@SmokeyBacons]

I am thankful to have watched this! Your knowledge of history is something I would like to see more of. I will be checking out stuff from time to time. Well done!

[@peterharrison5833]

Thank you for posting, Shogo-san. You videos are always entertaining and very educational.

[@nigelprendergast2595]

I thought the curve in a katana was due to the iron spine of the blade shrinking more in quenching than the steel core. how then do you prevent this to make a straight blade?

[@adamwu4565]

You can just make a counter curve in the blade prior to quenching, instead of starting with it straight. That way, when you quench, the differential shrinkage reverses the counter curve to end up with a straight blade,

[@stevealford230]

*sigh* No. The curve came about because smiths in the 8th century started making blades with a low Carbon steel core so that there would be fewer broken Chokuto in battle... and they discovered that that new composition caused the blade to curve in the quench, creating the Tachi. Straight Chokuto and curved Tachi of that period were identical in every way except for the composition that caused the curve. The curve wasn't the goal in the beginning: it was a happy accident that they found had advantages for horseback and draw, so it replaced the Chokuto, but the reason for the change in composition was to have blades whose spine would bend without breaking, NOT to have a curved blade. And the later era policemen's blades were straight because they were made fast and cheap with one grade of steel instead of two or more, so the differential hardening from the clay would still give a hamon but the blade would not curve in the quench, because the core steel wasn't a different Carbon content than the edge steel.

[@Kaiyanwang82]

Loved this one. Also, with the utter respect, and also revealing my venerable age - Saigo Takamori gives me a sort of Golgo vibe.

[@WhuDhat]

golgo 13?

[@Kaiyanwang82]

@@WhuDhat YES!

[@creightonfreeman8059]

The Ninja using straight swords doesn't really make sense if they were acting as intelligence agents/spies. Carrying a different weapon would make them immediately stand out rather than blend in with the crowd. Police trained in Kendo makes more sense.

[@MtRevDr]

Would like to see swordsmiths making straight katana or sword. Would also like to see if straight katana are sold in Japan currently.

[@heronwireo1085]

I think you are right about the 'ninja sword' not to mention the whole ninja panoply. Movies aside, a spy/scout and a commando are very different things. If a spy does his job right, no violence ever happens; he or she blends in, does nothing suspicious and sticks to his story. Much safer if he isn't armed at all. Most special 'gadgets' if any are reserved for the most dangerous parts, which would rarely include assassination (e.g., Operation Valkyrie) but more commonly communication with his handlers. Ninja commandos if they existed, no doubt trained for night raids and wore camouflage, but their weapons and gear was likely not otherwise different.

[@reinesmelloid3468]

I still remember Sakamoto Ryoma had a straight sword called Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki. I hope I'm right because I've been playing Touken Ranbu for a long time.

[@dashtfied8508]

It's really awsome to watch your videos again.Also looking forward for more Kyoto family vlogs.

[@deltrex]

Curves do nothing for balance and certainly don't increase sharpness. 1: Balance is impacted by the profile taper and distal taper of a blade and also by the weight of the handle in relation to the blade, a curve does nothing to make a sword feel lighter, especially a light curve as it is on the Katana. It does however make you feel the edge alignment better. 2: Sharpness is a combination of edge profile (or thinness) and level of polishing. A curve does not make anything sharper.

[@alexisrivera200xable]

The curve does mechanically help in cutting. Think of it as a kinetic energy transfer, with a straight edge if you hit something the entire edge makes contact with the object at the same time, imparting its kinetic energy evenly across the object's surface, cutting it in the process but diffusing the energy a cross a larger area. Now consider the curve of the sword. You are still imparting the same kinetic energy as long as the are the same lenght and weight right? Yes but the difference is that the moment the curved sword makes contact only a very small part of the edge makes contact first concentrating the kinetic energy into a verty small point. This increases the cutting power dramatically despite both examples involving the same potential kinetic energy.

[@deltrex]

@@alexisrivera200xable that would only be true if the object you are cutting is flat and the edge hits it perfetly perpendicular. In reality almost nothing you'd want to cut with a sword is flat and also any area on a Katana that is about the length of a hand (so the size of a target) will seem basically streight because the curve is so small it is almost imperceivable. And most targets are at least a bit soft and elastic taking away even the last bit of theoretical advantage such a slight curve may have.

[@Icemanactual]

A curved blade doesn’t make it “sharper”. Rather, it assists in slashing ability as a separate factor from sharpness. Sharpness is simply the quality of thinness in a blade.

[@Icemanactual]

@@LimaXIII huh? My comment has nothing to do with history or culture 🤣. It’s the English language. How ironic

[@roymarron7622]

I am so grateful to live in a time when I can get this knowledge from my room, thanks Shogo!!!

[@richardjohnson4052]

Curved saber-like blades are better for a running cut than are straight blades that are better at hacking-and-breaking. The straight blade gave way to the curved when combat switched from individual duels to cutting as you passed your enemy. When on horseback, a curved blade will cut-and-draw when a straight blade will be pulled from your hand.

[@Demnus]

Well actually, regardless of the "katana" topic, you are perpetuating a myth of curvature making it sharper. Yes curvature do lower a proportion of the blade contact length which in theory should multiply the force. But It works only with much stronger curves. With something like Shamshir blades. And still the test shows negligible effectiveness compared to straight blades. According to scientific experimental data, curve of the katana blade does literally nothing to make it perform better in term of cutting ability.

[@kaiser-365]

It also helps with aligning the blade during a cut, which also perpetuates that myth. It makes it easier for people to use even without as much training with blade alignment.

[@HappyBuffalo347]

Which tests? I would like to read them

[@Ose-here]

swords with stronger curvature were a thing, but afaik, not common among the katana you're probably thinking about since those are a result of sword regulation during the 1600s or 1700s?

[@codycarter7638]

As a lifelong kendo/iado student, I truly appreciate your reverence for the katana and the various disciplines that have evolved over the passage of years.

[@sternentigerkatze]

This was very informative and it is so nice to see videos from you again!

[@Byzantios1]

Also explains the strong link between police and kendo, why so many top ranked kenshi are police officers.

[@Thundernoob98]

This is the point where I realize everything I know about Japanese history comes from rurouni Kenshin 😂

[@lionljb]

Curved swords also make edge alignment easier. Always feel this difference between longswords and kriegsmesser

[@nelsinki5177]

Thanks for your explanations on non-curved Katanas.

[@hasensaurus]

As always, really interesting. One thing though. The katana or the odachi were curved not just to be safely drawn on horseback, as you say, but to deliver deeper cuts while moving. One of the reasons why the monouchi was the sharpest part of the blade, for the reach.

[@Hugo.345]

Beautiful katanas in the back, great informative video!

[@JaxGoesBerserk]

Shogo, you have taught me so much. Many thanks.

[@unrussleablejimmies4428]

Battoutai?! that's so badass! This is a very informative explanation. It is amazing how far kendo has travelled across the world.

[@shanel4348]

As someone who has always known Japanese culture but always been somewhat in the dark about many of the customs of the feudal/imperial period, I really appreciate your videos! Thank you! Subscribed!

[@seanfrancishenry]

Fantastic video! You shed some light the popularity kendo and the use of straight shinai for sword practice. I have to admit, Im pleasantly stunned.

[@StephenEWong]

Fascinating martial arts and Japanese history lesson! 👏

[@bullzebub]

a curve does not make the sword sharper. however it makes edge alignment easier and makes the sword more forgiving. (the curved blade "straighten itself out" where a straight blade would easily twist in the hand if the edge alignment wasnt spot on.

[@bullzebub]

sharpness is mainly down to the crossection of the edge.

[@PalmettoNDN]

Great video. Thank you.

[@KirBirger]

Great video. I have one minor minor clarification. Unless I misunderstood, it does not seem like you actually meant to say that the blades become sharper from being curved. A blade's sharpness has to do with the geometry of the apex (where both sides of the metal come to a point). That is, generally, how fine the point is, and the angle at which the two sides meet. The curvature of the blade wouldn't affect the sharpness, but it would aid in the slicing motion, where you press the apex of the blade against the object you are cutting, and drag it along the surface of the object, slicing it. With a straight blade, the entire motion of slicing would have to come from your elbows and shoulders, pulling the blade towards (or away from) your body, which is a compound motion. With a curved blade, the arc that is formed, means that when you swing the sword, using a combination of your shoulders, elbows and waist, some of the motion already translates into the slice. In the videos that show slicing bamboo, mats, and other objects, neither blade would perform as well if wielded like an axe, simply chopping the object. An ax makes use of the heft of its head, as well as a rather relatively obtuse sharpening angle, to cleave the object. A sword, such as a katana, does not have the same amount of heft to it, so it would not be able to chop as well. On the other hand, both bladed weapons might be equally sharp, if you were to, for example, take a piece of fruit, or a stick, place it on a table, and try to saw it in half. The katana would do a better job due to its more aggresive (acute) sharpening angle, which would allow it to separate the sides of the object as it cuts deeper. This can be explained by trigonometry, but that's another post. Thanks for all of the research you did for this video.

[@mikehunt9884]

i always thought that it was because they made them using modern industrial tools, as opposed to the handmade traditional methods.

[@TheHoneyBadgerDUDE]

I just happened to see the statue of Saigo in a recent trip - I believe they refer to him as the "last samurai". The surrounding park was beautiful, and I enjoyed the museums as well.

[@TTwistie]

I always thought the curve was an accidental discovery at first due to the metal deformation during tempering process. By the time advancements were made in the forging technology, the curved blades had not only become the identity, but the users had also developed tactics unique to its shape.

[@guyblew1733]

Loved this history lesson about Japan. Enjoyed learning about the different katana swords.

[@kdefensemartialarts8097]

Thank you for your videos.

[@Meanness_Scar]

Thank you for mentioning Shinsengumi! It kinda makes me happy when someone mentions them^^

[@MaxGolden]

I really, really, like this format. It is an interesting story followed by a review. This is professional quality instructional video.

[@limonsolitario740]

11:08 my hypothesis is that the ninja used uchigatanas while the samurai used tachi and kodachi, if you put these blades on exhibition, the uchigatana seems more straight than the others, like a modern ninjato. I hope you can understand my comment, I'm a Spanish speaker.

[@ken2000X]

This is fascinating and seems like a really important part of Kendo’s history. Have the straight blades been preserved for kata and solo demonstrations? I have only seen shin-ken demos using the curved blade. I’m sure they had a unique drawing technique has to be developed with them for the battotai to use them. Is that drawing techno taught as well. This blew my mind.

[@HidaAtarasi]

This was interesting; I had always been under the impression that the curvature of katana was a side effect of the forging process, and had never been intentional.

[@RannonSi]

TBH, I think that's closer to the truth (at least in the beginning).

[@2adamast]

All over the world most sabers are curved. I think it is by choice

[@donkeno247]

Welcome back! Thanks for this amazing lesson

[@lax9586]

Glad to see you back Shogo.

[@e.d.7742]

I really enjoyed the video and learned a lot. But I have some issues with “Why are Katana generally curved?”. 1- “Easier to draw” - For the most part, I agree; such as the horseback aspect. But I don’t think iai(do/jutsu) have anything to do with why the katana is curved. Because iai(do/jutsu) developed after the katana was already curved. Iai is the way it is because the katana is curved, not the other way around. Naginata are not at all convenient to draw from the sheath, but they are also curved. Possibly because (point 3 below). 2- “Makes it feel lighter” - I feel this is very far off the mark. I think katana feel lighter (than they’d otherwise feel) *because* they are curved; not the other way around. I don’t think there ever was an era in Japanese history where samurai all were like “Hey guys, these feel heavy. Can we make them feel lighter somehow? No, don’t carve hì (grove/fuller), change the cross section geometry, or distal taper… make it… curved!” Carving out a bo-hi (fuller), utilizing different blade geometry (hira zukuri, unokubi zukuri, etc), adjusting the taper, all make the sword lighter. I don’t believe the curve exists for this purpose; I think the “feeling of lightness” is simply one of the results of the curve. 3- “Becomes sharper” - I’m not going to go into semantics. We all know that the curve doesn’t actually make it “sharper”, it makes it easier to cut with/utilize the cutting edge of the sword. This goes hand in hand with the history of horseback riding samurai who wanted a curved sword for use on horseback (referring to point 1). If you swing a straight sword on horseback, and you receive resistance, you’ll end up most likely chopping as opposed to slicing. This can realistically lead to shoulder or elbow injury. A curved blade will make it easier to slice an enemy down. Of course, this then begs the question: Why is it curved? The basic reason as to why it is curved is due to the differential heat treatment in the way that it is made. In summary, clay insulation covers the back of the sword in a thick layer before and during the heat treatment. Causing the edge and back of the sword to cool at different rates and retain different states of expansion/contraction. The back cools slowly, this causes the sword to cool “towards the back”, so to speak. This is why Japanese swords have Hamon. This is why Japanese swords can be very sharp (no, not magically sharp for all you katana nerds haha). It’s just the way they’re made. And horseback riding and slicing enemies have had an influence on this. What do you think?

[@BikerDash]

I'd love to see a video about the history of the Shinsengumi, as well as other factions from that era.

[@ZodiacTVMsc]

Statement about curveture = sharpness is slight doubtfull

[@Shorai_3]

Well, I certainly hope this puts to bed the debate over Leonardo's swords. For years, his swords have been officially classified as katana. But in recent years, a growing minority have argued that they can't be katana because the blades are straight. Instead insisting that they were ninjato.

[@HelyaRavn]

This was so interesting! Thank you for sharing, Shogo

[@stupidburp]

I suspect that an additional reason is because at this time foreign military swords were moving away from curved blades to use more straight thrusting blades as a result of experience in many more recent battles. Despite being closed for many years, Japanese leaders did try to follow global military trends. During the Meiji era in particular this was expanded upon and led to greater reforms. Thus the leadership in the Meiji government was likely aware that the traditional curved katana was suboptimal when fighting against thrusting swords such as a straight saber. The straight katana was somewhat similar to the UK 1796 heavy cavalry sword which was derived from an earlier Austrian pattern and several Eastern European patterns such as pallasch used by the Polish Hussars. These numerous examples could have given them confidence in the wisdom of shifting to straight cut and thrust style blades to leverage the kendo training while using a sword pattern that was a logical option and contemporary for the period.

[@slayeralmighty]

your editor is doing an amazing job btw

[@ns987]

This is the case when hobbies and sports create a combat system. People today use the 22 lr cartridge for sports and hobbies. Many people use it for self-defense, too, but not because it is the best cartridge for that. They use it because training with this cartridge is their sport and hobby.

[@kengthao5945]

I kove how this guy makes me want to learn about something I didn't know I wanted to learn

[@arielquelme]

1:34 why Katana is curved 3:33 why non curvrd Katana used 6:46 Kendo, Takamori and non curved Katana Hope will help

[@carluyabut1461]

The Return of the King

[@MissesWitch]

This was a great history lesson!!

[@bobojerry1798]

my introduction to the Shinsengumi and Battotai was from the Himura Kenshin manga 🤣

[@tyrranicalt-rad6164]

Can you please do a video on why Godzilla hates Japan so much ? Thanks !

[@stalkingtiger777]

The same reason why King Kong always attacks New York City.

[@visasha]

your videos are somehow both so incredibly thorough and so incredibly succinct !! you have a real talent for writing and editing. i don't know if you are a native english speaker and i don't want to incorrectly assume, but i noticed you tend to say "formal" where i think you probably mean "former." just wanted to mention in case you weren't aware. thank you so much for your uploads, your content is amazing !!!!

[@wolfphantomanimations_official]

Very interesting history, i like it 👍🏽

[@MadmanJnr]

As always, really well explained Shogo!

[@massacreking]

Thanks for being back some content!!!!

[@christopherross1027]

Just want to say, I love your videos and have always been fascinated by Japanese culture.. love it.. wish I could visit someday

[@Tattooed-bs4cm]

A really interesting post on this topic. Explained by a friendly person. Videos like these are really fun to watch as a fan of Asian culture and as a sword lover! Best regards from Vienna

[@nyhyl]

Perfectly explained!

[@globetrotter147]

Very awesome. The Meiji Restoration is an interesting time period for sure. Lots of intriguing history there that can be traced to Japan as we see it today.

[@alexanderzarubin2065]

Great content, Shogo. Thank you! One question i have: do you think samurai being a cavalry and police being foot-soldiers had an influence on their swords curve? I mean, european cavalry were using sabres, which are also curved. Mongolian scimitars too. So it seems that curved swords are more suitable for using on a horseback, but not necessarily for fighting on-foot.

[@JiyuKishiParn]

When one considers that Shinsengumi members such as Okita Souji and Saitou Hajime were known for deadly thrusting techniques, it makes even more sense if they were indeed using straight blade katana.

[@robertgerow670]

Really interesting video! It gave me all kinds of flashbacks to watching Kenshin like 20 years ago. Insane it’s been that long, wow

[@iamnothale]

I'd gone so used to Shogo's old haircut that his new haircut took me off-guard.

[@baluba006]

Fantastic video so full of valuable information and very clearly explained.

[@HarryToeface]

Getting close to 2 million subs Shogo :) I hope you have the time to celebrate it properly when it happens!