The Origin of Type 98 Japanese Military Sword and Its Role in Warfare: A Study of Officer Swords During Militarism Period
Introduction
During Japan's militaristic expansion in the 1930s, the Imperial Japanese Army widely adopted the standardized "Type 98 Military Sword." This weapon preserved traditional samurai sword craftsmanship while adapting to modern warfare needs, becoming a status symbol for Japanese officers during WWII. This article examines the Type 98's origins, manufacturing characteristics, distinctions between different officer ranks, and its actual use in the Second Sino-Japanese War and Pacific Theater.

Keywords: Type 98 Military Sword, Japanese military sword, WWII Japanese officer sword, Showa period sword, militarism weapons

I. Historical Origins of Type 98 Sword
Officially designated "Army Standard Military Sword (Type 98)," it entered production in 1938 (Showa 13). Its development reflected the Army's emphasis on bushido spirit and lessons from the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), where officers found Western-style sabers less practical in close combat than traditional Japanese swords.

The design blended traditional "katana" features with modern military requirements:

Western-style fittings to match uniforms

Traditional Japanese blade curvature and sharpness

Metal scabbards for battlefield durability

II. Sword Variations by Officer Rank
In Japan's militaristic hierarchy, officer swords symbolized status and position. Type 98 swords differed significantly in materials, decorations, and craftsmanship according to rank:

General Officers' Swords:

Traditionally forged tamahagane blades

Ornately engraved tsuba (guards)

Samegawa (ray skin) and silk-wrapped handles

Gold or silver-plated scabbards

Field Officers' Swords:

Machine-made modern steel blades

Simpler decorations

Standard ray skin handles

Plain metal scabbards

Company Officers' Swords:

Fully machine-produced

Minimal decorations

Imitation material handles

Utilitarian appearance

Keywords: Japanese general's sword, field officer sword, company grade officer sword, Showa period sword grades

III. Wartime Deployment of Type 98 Swords
During the Second Sino-Japanese War and Pacific War, Type 98 swords served multiple functions:

Command Functions:

Senior officers directing troops

Scabbard taps as signals

Sword raises indicating attack directions

Combat Functions:

Close-quarter fighting

Executing prisoners and civilians (documented in Nanjing Massacre etc.)

Vegetation clearing in jungle warfare

Symbolic Functions:

Embodied bushido spirit

Represented officer honor

Used in seppuku (ritual suicide)

Later-war production showed declining quality with cheaper steels and simplified processes, reflecting Japan's deteriorating war economy.

IV. Manufacturing and Craftsmanship
Type 98 production involved complex systems:

Traditionally Forged:

Handmade by master smiths

Folded steel construction

Custom-made for senior officers

Semi-machine-made:

Machine-formed blades

Hand heat-treatment

Majority of production

Fully Machine-made：

Assembly line production

Inferior quality

Dominant in late war

Major production sites included Tokyo and Osaka Arsenals, and Seki City. Approximately 300,000 Type 98 swords were produced during the war.

V. Notable Swords and Smiths
Certain Type 98 swords gained particular renown:

Gassan Sadakazu: Imperial smith for generals

Kurihara Hikosaburo: Renowned for sharpness

Navy Minister Yonai Mitsumasa's sword: Preserved at Yasukuni Shrine

General Yamashita Tomoyuki's sword: Captured as war trophy

These masterpieces often featured traditional "hamon" temper lines, combining utility with artistic merit.

VI. Postwar Fate and Collecting
After WWII, Allied authorities confiscated Japanese swords en masse:

Approximately 600,000 military swords seized

About 1/3 were traditionally-made valuables

Most destroyed or dumped at sea

Some kept as war trophies by Allied officers

Today, well-preserved Type 98 swords, especially masterworks, command high prices in international markets, with general-grade traditionally-forged examples fetching tens of thousands of dollars.

Conclusion
The Type 98 military sword, a peculiar product of Japanese militarism, carried both traditional sword-making artistry and functioned as a tool of aggressive warfare. Its history mirrors Japan's trajectory from imperial expansion to ultimate defeat. As historical artifacts, these swords remain silent witnesses to that contradictory and violent era.