Top 6 National Treasure Katanas / History of Japanese Swords

In present-day Japan, numerous famous swords that have appeared throughout Japanese history still exist. They are preserved in shrines and museums, or owned by private individuals. Among them, those with particular historical value are designated as "National Treasures." Currently, there are 122 swords recognized as National Treasures.
At HOCHO KNIFE, you can purchase knives online made by Japanese knife artisans. They offer a wide variety of knives, so please find and purchase your unique knife!↓
www.hocho-knife.com/?aff=140
00:00 Opening
00:52 "Atsu Toushiro"
03:37 "Akashi Kuniyuki"
05:57 "Kousetsu Samonji"
07:58 "Inabagou"
10:41 "Yamatorige"
13:03 "Mikazuki Munechika"
引用
るちあ@陸奥国,明石国行兄さんに会いに両国へ 〜2023刀剣博物館『日本刀の装い 豊かなる刀装・刀装具と名刀展』
X,@funassyi
日本放送協会,真田丸 (NHK大河ドラマ)
毛利家歴史チャンネル,殿×刀 遂に公開！ 国宝『稲葉江』徳川家を救った伝説の刀
ふるこね,学芸員が考える、文化を継承する意味～岡山県瀬戸内市 山鳥毛里帰りプロジェクト～

[@mikehancho2082]

I just got back from Japan last week and was fortunate to go to the National Museum in Tokyo. Getting to see the Dojigiri“Demon Slayer” in real life was breathtaking. It was hard to believe something can be crafted so perfectly so many years ago.

[@itsmeagain7825]

When it comes to blades Japan is second to none 🙏

[@Za7a7aZ]

Its so fascinated to see all these old japanese traditions and values. How they give meaning to ordinary things like making and serving a pot of tea. Can you imagine being a billionair and able to buy treasures like these swords without eating less at dinner.

[@joshuaadams738]

As an American I wish McArthur wouldn’t have destroyed the swords after WW2. We must learn from these errors

[@user-hy5be4zc6p]

My thoughts exactly the sec I saw this

[@Sajuuk]

If it makes you feel any better, most katanas carried by Japanese officers were mass produced before and during the war and not of any significant value.

[@ghostiama]

@@Sajuuk and many officers with family swords cut down them down to fit the shorter military pattern

[@irishfiveoh]

That is because we as American are too young to value real culture. We should be ashamed of what we did to the Japanese.

[@nathanielhicks1473]

Great writing, recording, & editing! Good job and thanks

[@cesarvidelac]

Thank you very much for sharing this knowledge with us!

[@nowgaku]

Thank you for letting me know Japanese Katana history from abroad.

[@Junior-jw1bb]

As always, very informative.

[@VTheGonk]

Great and informative video!

[@elcap420]

Thanks for the video. The title and numbers mention 6 blades, yet blade #2 isn't in the video. Are we missing a section of the video or are there only meant to be 5? Thanks

[@adrianabreu7050]

Nice video mate

[@jewlz9095]

Thanks for the video! It’s so cool how much history there is with these beautiful swords!

[@jethawk9941]

Beautiful pieces of art sure there weapon but there much more then that

[@joshjacob1530]

Would use the inabagou, a master piece created by a young fallen grand master for a young grand master.

[@MrJohnblaine]

Wow

[@lucianoromero777]

Swords were also believed to ward off evil spirits

[@tn1881]

The theory that the new katana was influenced by Mongolia is a myth without primary sources. China and Mongolia were importing katana. Trade between Japan and the Yuan Dynasty Exported goods from Japan were gold, silver, copper, mercury, sulfur, swords, fans, raden (shell inlay) and makie (Japanese lacquer sprinkled with gold or silver powder) .Japanese swords were cherished as arms in the Yuan Dynasty and continued to be exported to the Chinese continent in the future generations. Mongolian scholar Zheng Si-xiao (1241-1318)."Japanese are brutal and not afraid of death. Even if ten Japanese people encounter 100 enemies, they will fight against them. If they don't win, they all fight until they die.If they do not die in the war, they will be killed by the king's hand when they return.Japanese women are also very temperamental, don't rape them.katana is extremely sharp. " 鄭思肖『心史』中興集 元韃攻日本敗北歌 倭人狠不懼死，十人遇百人亦戰，不勝俱死，不战死，歸亦為倭主所殺。倭婦甚烈，不可犯。幼歲取犀角刈　小珠，种額上善水不溺，倭刀極利，地高險難入，可為戰守计。

[@jongwlee62]

There is some misinformation in the video. Japanese sword style did change in the Nanbokucho period(just after the kamakura period) in anticipation of the Mongol invasion which eventually failed due to the "divine wind"(kamikaze). The swords became longer and wider with a larger "point"(kissaki). These are some of the best looking Japanese swords in my opinion. Blade #2 is similar to this larger style even though the point area got much larger later on.

[@StuartAnderson-xl4bo]

WW2 proved that wrong your whole country quit every man woman and Child including your government and King.

[@24934637]

Excellent video, thank you for posting! Although high quality Japanese swords aren't all that many legends claim (Can't cut through a machine gun barrel, can't cut a piece of silk that is dropped onto the blade etc), they ARE absolutely beautifully crafted pieces of functional high art, and the absolute ultimate examples of top end blade smithing! Each blade TOTALLY unique. The fact that the blade actually displays the internal crystal structure of the steel is truly stunning! I recently made a Japanese style blade myself, from a monosteel (1070), and did the differential hardening process / clay hardening, and I was SO happy and surprised when I etched the full blade in Ferric Chloride before the final polish, and the Hamon line WAS actually visible! Had a smile on my face all day! Massive respect for the skills of the sword smiths who made these incredible blades!

[@misarasdaniel]

super video , but i have a question ( how come the swords are not chipped at all ) i am just curious

[@DeadPig325]

chips couldve been buffed out in sharpening them

[@misarasdaniel]

true but then the with of the blade wouldnt be so straight , i am a metalworker and i know some things... i think they ware not used in battle to much@@DeadPig325

[@HistoryofKatana]

Thank you for your sharp observation. As you rightly pointed out, swords given to daimyos or shoguns were highly valuable and treated as treasures, so it is believed that in many cases they were not actually used to cut many people. Indeed, they did carry famous swords, but they were not necessarily on the front lines in battle.

[@misarasdaniel]

Thank you @@HistoryofKatana

[@mikemckague9506]

There are some examples of damaged ones on display as well

[@pacificcarpophagous]

Inches... how many farthings is it worth now?

[@Jippa_33]

Cool video 👍 where can I find the music?

[@0megaJB]

My favorite is the Inabagou, what a beautiful piece of artwork.

[@godkingmaximus2710]

I heard the Japanese number one national treasure is a seven branched sword given to the Japanese by baekchae which was Korean kingdom that had close alliance with Japan at the time. It’s not open to the public as it would undermine Japanese history.

[@ssquirrel88]

The REAL number 1, The Honjo Masamune sword, crafted by Goro Nyudo Masamune during the Kamakura period between 1288 and 1328, is considered to be one of the finest swords in Japanese history. The sword must be found!

[@1COMIXMAN]

I'd love to be the on o find the missing masamune sword if it still exists. just to find it and present it to the Japanese people would give me such a rush. I don't think I'd be able to keep it because I'd feel bad keeping such a historically profound sword. Like Indy says. It belongs in a museum not in an attic or in th ha ds9 of some rich criminal or billionaire hanging in his collection. It belong to the Japanese people. omg imagine going to Japan and telling a museum curAtor I think I have the Hanjo masamune. His eyes would bug out or hed laugh at m3 and say yeah right.

[@_Saracen_]

We'll probably end up watching it being sold on Pawn Stars for a few thousand bucks.

[@yennakunadikatheriyathunga5807]

all thanks goes to one piece Educating the smith and KATANA

[@wischfulthinking]

How are you gonna leave the Kusunagi no Tsurugi off this list?

[@doncacique2769]

to think a lot of these swords ended up in pawn stars 😂

[@Zatracenec]

It would be nice to mention the blade dimensions in metric system as well. Very nice video.

[@malthus101]

google

[@leventceyhan6950]

I have a katana called "Tori Onita" that I bought from the antique market. I would sell it to anyone who wants to own a valuable antique katana.

[@creamcreak]

when was it forged?

[@aj-tp2yh]

very interesting good work

[@clyde968]

Wouldn’t it be awesome to have Musashi Miyamoto’s sword?

[@vladimie281287]

I feel like I’m watching a narration of an episode of Samurai Jack.

[@theananza007]

12:12

[@josephvandyke1017]

Brothers and sisters of this page can you guys help me out on this can you tell me who is the narrator of this video please

[@HistoryofKatana]

The narrator for this channel is J.B. For inquiries, please contact at [e-mail].

[@Dreddwinner]

⚔️

[@dhiakarimah8829]

I think they call Kenshin's sword Sanchoumo not yamatorige Anyway, my sword boys here all very beautiful (i play Touken Ranbu)

[@creamcreak]

it can be read as both yamatorige and sanchoumou

[@banggoman7371]

Where is Masamune?

[@Mishu-cd7xb]

no Hattori Hanzo sword?

[@arno_nuehm_1]

hawked, for 200 bucks.

[@Mishu-cd7xb]

@@arno_nuehm_1 you hawked a Hattori Hanzo sword? it was priceless!

[@Davivd2]

I was expecting to see at least one Masamune blade.

[@malthus101]

you did. kinda.

[@creamcreak]

ishida kirikomi?

[@mikemckague9506]

You mentioned that the uesugi Kenshin is the most expensive but technically wouldn't the Hanjo masamune be worth more? If it's still around

[@prabshiro]

It would be. The history of it and loss only adds to value. If its ever found. I belive it could still be in Japan. Hidden away. Otherwise destroyed.

[@cameronjames3499]

Yeah I lean on the side of a private Japanese collector paying "Cole" D.B. Moore.@@prabshiro

[@pamandjohnmc]

Hasn't there been more swords added the the National Treasure of swords since the 1950's? It seems that there should be a lot more.

[@HistoryofKatana]

Currently, 122 Japanese swords have been designated as national treasures.

[@octaviantasei9653]

@@HistoryofKatanawhat I find very remarkable is that the hilts are not part of the display… could you elaborate on this?

[@arno_nuehm_1]

​@@octaviantasei9653 Maybe it's easier to maintain the blade. And put it together after every maintenance would increase the risk of damaging parts. And maybe the held stays in a special environment to reduce decay.

[@samuelgarrod8327]

​@@octaviantasei9653The parts of the hilt will have been changed or replaced, perhaps many times, over the years. The blade is the only truly important part.

[@Martyn737]

I only knew much of these swords thanks to Touken Ranbu

[@marcelhofmann2001]

Thanks for this video. But what about the Honjō Masamune (本庄正宗) ? I know it went lost after the 2. world war and nobody knows where it is. I don‘t belive that this sword was beeing destroyed. This sword deserve it‘s place on that list. I really hope it will find it‘s way back to Japan one day where it belongs.

[@alesh2275]

The Matsudaira family IS the Tokugawa family ….

[@earth4212]

I named my daughter Katana

[@tacticalsam9408]

fml

[@cesaravegah3787]

Hope that girl doesn't gets bullied just because one of her parents wants to look "cool"

[@5tarstriker78]

Moon Veil is Real. 😱

[@userbosco]

Is an 8" blade a sword? WTF

[@tl9760]

I don’t complain and neither does my wife 😉

[@wisono7857]

8:19 feels like a pinoy name -Jack Juarez Inabagoo-

[@thehendrixexperience1704]

Am I the only one watching this and thinking of what each swords Bleach; Bankai and Shikai would be?

[@WhuDhat]

in 2024? yes..

[@LogiForce86]

Just curious, but are the two swords of Miura Anjin (William Adams) bestowed upon him by Tokugawa Ieyasu himself still among us and maybe part of these national treasures? 🤔

[@wahidulislam4453]

👍🏻👍🏻❤️❤️👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@Tacticaltaco-kc9be]

No hanzo sword?

[@WhuDhat]

this is reality, not kill Bill

[@bellianamicrofarm9174]

I agree AI voices everywhere..

[@NiekLodewijkx]

He's fluid in Japanese......

[@michaelbesana6999]

I have 1245 sword during Kamakura period you can contact me and I will show you the item

[@ian101284]

Nice display of death lol

[@picklewiickle.1583]

showing molten steel that didnt happen here ever

[@cliffordjancelvalmoria4575]

Today...japan still make a katana,but not a sword,a suzuki bikes 2023 edition...sad to say....😅😅😅

[@BRLaue]

Are you saying that no new swords are being made in Japan?

[@stefthorman8548]

Did you have an seizure?

[@arno_nuehm_1]

Freshly produced katana swords are available but not cheap.

[@briscoedarling3237]

I read somewhere that following WWII, all Japanese officers were required to surrender their swords to the American Army. Many of these officers carried family heirlooms that were centuries old. Most were promptly melted down.

[@shable1436]

I just want an actual decent Japanese katana, i have bought enough fakes and crap swords, i gave up. I couldn't afford thousands of dollars and yen swords. Im a simple man, I don't want any historical swords or mythical fakes like wolverine canon😂, nor a WW2 dishonored sword, just a real one😢😢

[@arno_nuehm_1]

a new one? Still not cheap. Ca. 20000$ if I'm not wrong.

[@shable1436]

@@arno_nuehm_1 I thought they were around 3k+

[@joshsniper1]

Try ryansword or hanbon forge. There made in China using traditional techniques. The reason Japanese swords are so expensive is because there treated like firearms. Blacksmiths are only allowed to make a handful a year, and they have to use traditional tamahagane. With these rules they can basically name there own price so 10k for a sword is normal there. I just ordered a custom from Ryansword in T10 tool steel. Price was alot cheaper that a Japanese sword. I think mine was around $350 US. Hopefully this helps a little.

[@asasipogi]

Those jap smiths though are true masters. They really master their craft, unlike the chinese. If you are a prson that really wants the essense of the katana like the op here, u have to buy a jap sword, not soeme. Chinese mass produced fake katana. The price is ridiculous though. So if it was me, yeah id rather buy a 350usd sword. ​@@joshsniper1

[@beyrutphl]

Would you like to have e a duel for one?

[@TikiHi77]

I know many of these names because of Age of Samurai on Netflix.

[@samuelgarrod8327]

That was an awful show. So much was wrong in it.

[@Taz81660]

Millimetres, would make more sense, f@$#ing inches😂🤣

[@ohotnic-sobiratel]

Японцы потеряли честь , сувенитет, катаны, все теперь у них делается по приказу дяди Сэма

[@nobodyspecial9513]

Not true, Uncle Sam found your people extremely honorable and fierce warriors. War is an extremely complex fact of life. Japan woke the sleeping beast, may our people never again meet on a battlefield. The loss of life would be immense. Mōshiwake arimasen.

[@willynillylive]

I can't go to Japan I would steal all these swords for my collection

[@dandaman4985]

Idk - all these swords are in way too good of shape to have been used for their intended purpose. Seems like a lot of showmanship.

[@grabedigger]

Well it was. Cheap swords were thrown into battle. These were pretty much show off, from swords to armor.

[@The_Ricky_g]

The craftsmanship has a lot to do with how they weathered the test of time

[@StuartAnderson-xl4bo]

Sj11 high priced japanese knifes are cheap shit sold expensive very sharp butquick to dull

[@karlharrison2449]

Shame that the U.S stole most of these great swords.

[@Codename-B]

These AI voice models are getting really annoying.

[@BrushandBlade]

They're everywhere. And I'm starting to despise them all.

[@ateiviz]

To be fair if this is one it's very good, I can't really tell if it is or not and usually I can.

[@HistoryofKatana]

Thank you for watching my video. Actually it’s not AI voice.

[@shable1436]

Hahaha this is a real person you ignoramus

[@thomasesau2376]

I didn't think this was an AI voice. His phrasing and articulation reminded me of Kurosawa's dialogue. May I suggest a haiku to match each blade. They must all be that honored.

[@HipnoDark]

Yep. BS culture.

[@papwithanhatchet902]

Any katana owned by the Shogunate is a useless sword and admired by those who obsequiously submit themselves to thugs and psychotics. These swords never saw any honorable service. What a shameful video. Any sword is only historic by the nature of their usage, their beauty or by the virtue of their maker.

[@arno_nuehm_1]

But they are still old, handcrafted and in good shape.

[@creamcreak]

if you see no value, then why are you here?

[@papwithanhatchet902]

If it were any of your business, I’d tell you. Suffice it to say this comment was borne of my first and last visit to this channel.

[@creamcreak]

i guess some people just had different eyes about swords

[@papwithanhatchet902]

@@creamcreak The physical beauty of all exceptional katana is undeniable. Their importance comes from the other criteria I mentioned. Shogunate katana were never honorabe in that they were carried by dishonorable thieves of power who abused their people through thuggery, deception and authoritarianism. Imagine celebrating anything Stalin ever owned. It's gross.

[@claverhouse1]

My Japanese karate instructor has a safe with his family blades and other treasures including finger paintings by Miyamoto Musashi. I will not name him as his family are very famous in samurai history.

[@jensonthebastard]

im surprised an american hasn't tried to say africans helped to make these