Online dictionary of history and traditions in Japan: weapon

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Battleship Yamato

戦艦大和戦艦武蔵大和武蔵
alternative words: Senkan Yamato, Battleship Musashi, Senkan Musashi, Musashi, Yamato
keywords: weapon , world war 2
related web sites: http://www.biwa.ne.jp/~yamato/index.htm , http://www.kcn.ne.jp/~nabeck/250yamato.htm
explanation: The largest battle ship ever built by Japanese imperial navy. Displacement: 64,000 tons, speed: 27 knots, main armament: 9x46 cm, length: 263 m. It was completed at Kure naval shipyard near Hiroshima in 1941 after the abrogation of London naval treaty in 1935. Yamato participated to the battles of Midway, Marianas and Leyte as flag ship. During a kamikaze sailing to Okinawa in April 1945, Yamato was sunk by hundreds of plans. Musashi sunk at battle of Leyte belongs to the same class.

Black ship

黒船
alternative words: Kurofune, Kuro fune, Kurofune ship
keywords: weapon
related topics: Commodore Perry , Kanagawa treaty , Edo period
related web sites: http://www.izu.co.jp/~p-boo/blackship.html , http://www.izu.co.jp/~ryosenji/
explanation: The term used by Japanese to qualify western ships at the end of Edo period. In order to increase the water tightness, their hulls were frequently covered with coal tar at that epoch. The ships used by Commodore Perry during the negotiation of Kanagawa treaty in 1853-1854 were the most famous examples.

Guandong army

関東軍
alternative words: Kwantung army, Kantogun, Kanto gun, Kantougun, Kantou gun
keywords: china , colony , office , weapon , world war 2
related topics: Guandong army , Manshukoku , Russo-Japanese war , Nomonhan incident
explanation: After Russo-Japanese war, Japan created an independent army group at Port Arthur in 1919 to protect Liaodong peninsula and south Manchurian railroad. After Manchurian incident in 1931, it conquered all the Manchuria and strove to protect Japanese interests by provoking Nomonhan incident. During the world war II, the best units were sent to Pacific front to fight against Americans so when Soviets entered the war on August 8, 1945, they collapsed without resistance.

Japanese dart

手裏剣
alternative words: Shuriken, Shuri ken, dart, dark
keywords: ninja , weapon
related topics: Ninja
explanation: Favorite weapon of Ninja because it allows to surprisingly attack an adversary without making any sound which might attract more enemies. There existed different forms of dart but the most famous one is "Juji shuriken" i.e. "cross form dart" or "star form dart" which rotates during flying course. It allows to aim more precisely the adversary thanks to its symmetry.

Japanese sword

日本刀刀
alternative words: Nihonto, Nihon-to, Nihon to, Nihontou, Nihon-tou, Nihon tou, Sword, Katana, Swords
keywords: art , craft , thing , weapon
related topics: Heian period , Kamakura period , Muromachi period , Samurai , Masamune , Muramasa , Tsuba
related web sites: http://www2d.biglobe.ne.jp/~yamaka/ , http://www.n-p-s.net
explanation: Japanese swords had been made first in the official factories. After a collapse of the central government at the end of Heian period, then samurai clans took powers in Kamakura period, the sword smiths of each region had competed to make their best. They are highly appreciated because of their artistic aspect and called "Ko-to" (old sword). After Muromachi period, the technique of fabrication had greatly improved and become industrial. The swords of this period are called "Shin-to" (new sword).

Kaiten

人間魚雷回天回天
alternative words: Human torpedo kaiten, Human torpedo
keywords: weapon , world war 2
related topics: Kamikaze
related web sites: http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~k_yasuto/album.htm , http://www.yasukuni.or.jp/museum/hall/kaiten.html , http://www2.ocn.ne.jp/~manabi/tokuyama/kaiten.htm
explanation: Human torpedo used by Japanese imperial navy at the last stage of world war II: the torpedo is guided by a pilot and explodes with him at the target. The total length 15m, diameter 1m, it owns a periscope and 1.6 ton of explosive. Initially proposed in 1943 by lieutenants Nishina and Kuroki, the plan was first rejected due to its consequence, but finally adopted in 1944 because of a hopeless situation. 4 training bases were created in Yamaguchi and Oita prefectures with 400 apparatus.

Kamikaze

神風
alternative words: Kami kaze, Kamikadze, Kami kadze, Kamukaze, Kamu kaze, Divine wind, Kamikaze wind
keywords: event , war , weapon , world war 2
related topics: Kamakura period , Invasion of Mongols , Amaterasu , Waka , Kaiten
related web sites: http://www.geocities.jp/kamikazes_site/ , http://ww8.tiki.ne.jp/~hidekun/7.htm , http://www.tokkotai.or.jp
explanation: Literally "divine wind", this word has been used in different contexts. Its first meaning is "makura kotoba" (debuting word in Waka poem) for Ise province which owns the main shrine of "Goddess Amaterasu". The second meaning is the gale which sank Mongol's ships during the invasion of 1274 and 1281. The third meaning is "special suicidal fighter pilots" used at the last phase of WWII. Finally you can use this word in any context, when you are saved from a hopeless situation.

Masamune

正宗五郎正宗五郎入道正宗
alternative words: Goro Masamune, Goronyudo Masamune, Goro nyudo Masamune
keywords: art , craft , famous person , weapon
related topics: Kamakura period , Oda Nobunaga , Sengoku period , Japanese sword
related web sites: http://www.n-p-s.net/T_Masamune.htm
explanation: Sword smith of the late Kamakura period but few is known about him because sword smiths were not considered as established artists at that period. According to a source, he was a disciple of Kunimitsu and lived at Kamakura. His swords were also called Masamune and characterized by a wide blade and gorgeous wave motifs which would be highly appreciated by war lords of sengoku period such as Oda Nobunaga. Due to its oldness, only some examples have survived until now.

Mikasa

三笠戦艦三笠
alternative words: Battleship Mikasa, Commemorative ship Mikasa
keywords: weapon
related topics: Russo-Japanese war , Admiral Togo , Battle of Tsushima
related web sites: http://www.city.yokosuka.kanagawa.jp/speed/mypage/m-imajo/jlistown/townguide/folder/mikasa.html , http://www.mindspring.com/~photon/kongo/mikasa.html
explanation: Built by Vickers shipyard in England, November 8,1900, Mikasa was the flag ship of Japanese fleet during the battle of Japan sea on May 27, 1905 near Tsushima. Owing the following characteristics, displacement: 15,140 tons, speed: 18 knots, main armament: 4 x 30 cm, secondary armament: 14 x 15 cm, it was one of the most advanced battleships. After the treaty of Washington in 1922, it was disarmed and became a commemorative ship in 1926: it is now anchored at Yokoshuka harbor.

Muramasa

村正右衛門尉村正妖刀村正
alternative words: Uemonnojo Muramasa, Uemon no jo Muramasa, Cursed sword Muramasa
keywords: art , craft , famous person , weapon
related topics: Muromachi period , Tokugawa Ieyasu , Sengoku period , Japanese sword
related web sites: http://nabesan.stbbs.net/history/japanese/muramasa.html
explanation: Sword smith of the late Muromachi period in Mie prefecture. By studying the swords, it was shown that there should have existed 3 generations of sword smiths who carried the name of Muramasa. They were characterized by a similitude of motifs on the both side and very popular during Sengoku period because of their sharpness. They became cursed swords of Tokugawa family because both the grand farther and farther of Tokugawa Ieyasu would have been killed by Muramasa swords.
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