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Japanese Swords: Cutting Edge
Shinshintō (new-new swords)
By the beginning of the eighteenth century Japan had been peaceful for many years and sword-making had declined. This situation changed towards the middle of the eighteenth century as the Western naval powers increased their activity in Japanese waters. The swordsmith Suishinshi Masahide (1750-1825) became involved in attempts to revive Japan's military vigour. The swords made by him and his followers are known as shinshintō (new-new swords).
Masahide spent many years studying and writing about ancient sword traditions. He taught over one hundred pupils and influenced the vast majority of smiths. The shinshintō smiths revived long swords and imitated the shapes of the earlier periods. The blade depicted here is a wakizashi (companion sword). It was made by Taikei Naotane, a pupil and successor of Masahide who travelled widely and taught throughout Japan. The scabbard is ribbed and lacquered black. The metal fittings are decorated with gold inlay.
Internal disputes over Japan's isolationist policies caused unrest during the 1860s. In 1868 the shogunate was abolished and a new government was formed under Emperor Meiji. As the country rapidly modernised, swords became increasingly redundant, and from 1876 samurai were no longer allowed to wear them in public. Many shinshintō swords were put into decorative mountings and exported.