If you have read our page on Ninja Swords you will know that there is a rather fierce debate about what exactly a Ninja sword actually was from a historical point of view..
You see, the classic Ninja sword that most people imagine – a straight blade with chisel like tip and square, distinctive handle – cannot be found in any museum (ok, scratch that – the Ninja Museum in Iga has a very similar sword on display – BUT it is not an original, for all intents and purposes, it might as well be the hanwei sword on display).
Here is a picture of the sword in the museum again for those of you playing at home:
The incriminating Ninja sword in the Ninja Museum, Iga, modern day Mie prefecture, Japan.
However, it gets complicated because it IS listed as representative – and the good folk at Iga are the living descendents of the arts and have certainly researched it more than anyone in interwebz land, so who knows..
Perhaps that is the way the Ninja would have liked it.
But – all argument aside – at face value I must admit, on its own merits it is a fantastic, versatile and incredibly good FUN sword. And oh my, can that chisel tip kissaki sure can deliver one rather frightening stab..
Ah, good times.. For a trip down memory lane and a review that was as valid now as it was when it was made 6 or 7 years back…
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In the meantime, here are a few more pics from the Iga Museum I snapped on one of my trips there.
Very plausible, concealed blades, chains and other things that cause people to go ouch..
Here are some concealable weapons, ranging from blades in a walking stick ala Zatoichi to flails and all manner of clever knick knacks.
Below is some chain armor:
I don’t know if you can call this chain armor “concealable” or not – guess it depends what you are wearing on your head over it! (even today, concealing the face in public is not strange in Japan, so I guess it was possible)..
And the “Ninja’s” from the show (which is quite impressive, especially the display from the old senior guy throwing 3 heavy shuriken at once into a wooden board from about 30 feet!):
A piece of that tip just got me O’Dell.. Performers at the museum stage in Iga hamming it up.
If you are ever down Kansai way (West Japan – includes Osaka, Kobe, Nara, Kyoto – and excludes Tokyo – West is the best! Go Hanshin Tigers, rah, rah, rah) – sorry, I will start that again..
If you are ever down in West Japan/Kansai a visit to the museum is a must ーbut bring a friend who can speak Japanese as the show, etc is not in English.
まあーやっぱり日本だね – Well, it is Japan after all!
Luckily, they do have an English website for the curious or those who are seriously planning the trip.
Back to topic again, the Hanwei Iga Ninja-to.
Here is a link to the original review of the Hanwei Shinobi Ninja-to on SBG.
And here is the sam model sword available in our store:
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