Engineering Transactions, 60, 2, pp. 101–112, 2012
10.24423/engtrans.118.2012

Impact Behaviour of the Japanese Sword

Masashi DAIMARUYA
Muroran Institute of Technology, Mizumoto
Japan

Hidetoshi KOBAYASHI
Osaka University, Osaka
Japan

The Japanese sword is a weapon peculiar to Japan. The present study is concerned with the joint between tohshin (blade) and tsuka (hilt) of the Japanese sword. Only one mekugi- take (retaining peg made of bamboo) with about 5mm in diameter holds the tang in the hilt. However a slender mekugi might not be broken, even in the case of violent sword-fighting. This fact has been historically demonstrated in many battles by Japanese swords. In this study it is examined theoretically and experimentally from the viewpoint of impact engineering why a mekugi used in Tachi and Katana may not be broken. As a result, it is found that such a strong force as breaking a mekugi-take does not act on it, because of the location of mekugi- ana (a hole for mekugi ) in the tang, which has been made in the Japanese sword by following the traditional code of sword-smiths.
Keywords: impact force; impact response; Japanese sword; Tachi; joint of blade and hilt; mekugi-ana
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Copyright © Polish Academy of Sciences & Institute of Fundamental Technological Research (IPPT PAN).

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DOI: 10.24423/engtrans.118.2012