Where can i buy a REAL Japanese Katana and also where can I find a Kaishakunin for hire?

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alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
Originally posted by: nanyangview
sepukku is very painful but it does not last 30 minutes. It last only a few second until you give the kaishakunin the signal to lop off your head using a katana.

if you are using a second, yeah then it's quick....however you are right in the fact that sepukku always uses a second, without one and suffering that falls under jumonji giri....I think the last documented one was by General Nogi....he cut himself horizontally across the groin, did the vertical groin to sterum cut, and the final horizontal cut below his rib cage. He then buttoned his shirt and then suffered it out until he bled out....

If you didn't have a 'second' then disembowelment can last hours or possibly a day or two.
 

Michael

Elite member
Nov 19, 1999
5,435
234
106
You'll have to wait quite a while for pics from me. My wife closed off my computer room to set something up for my Xmas present and that's where the wire for my digital camera is.

Michael
 

kage69

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
30,803
46,085
136
you are using a second, yeah then it's quick....however you are right in the fact that sepukku always uses a second, without one and suffering that falls under jumonji giri....I think the last documented one was by General Nogi....he cut himself horizontally across the groin, did the vertical groin to sterum cut, and the final horizontal cut below his rib cage. He then buttoned his shirt and then suffered it out until he bled out....

Actually, since Nogi Marusuke got all sentimental over Meiji's death, it would be called oibara. I wasn't aware of the extra cut, but wouldn't doubt it as he was one of the more conservative, fanatical generals of the time.
 

mooojojojo

Senior member
Jul 15, 2002
774
0
0
Originally posted by: Michael
You'll have to wait quite a while for pics from me. My wife closed off my computer room to set something up for my Xmas present and that's where the wire for my digital camera is.

Michael
Hah. If this is indeed true - ask her to get you the cable herself. :) And if she has sealed it for Christmas that means that you'll be able to get the cable in a couple of days. So that's not so long.. I can wait. ;)
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
Originally posted by: kage69
you are using a second, yeah then it's quick....however you are right in the fact that sepukku always uses a second, without one and suffering that falls under jumonji giri....I think the last documented one was by General Nogi....he cut himself horizontally across the groin, did the vertical groin to sterum cut, and the final horizontal cut below his rib cage. He then buttoned his shirt and then suffered it out until he bled out....

Actually, since Nogi Marusuke got all sentimental over Meiji's death, it would be called oibara. I wasn't aware of the extra cut, but wouldn't doubt it as he was one of the more conservative, fanatical generals of the time.

well yes and no. I was referred to the act, you are referring to the reason.

Self-Seppuku is the jumonji giri part

oibara is along with one's Lord.

junshi is following one's Lord.

Oibara and junshi are sort of synonyms....to most there is no difference.

Meiji was already dead at the time of Nogi's suicide.

However you are correcting me with details already in an article I posted.

There is three cuts actually to fully commit seppuku:
1) The lower ab/groin left to right and then sharply upwards cut.
2) The plunging deep into the groin and up to the sternum cut.
3) The upper ab/below the rib cage left to right cut.

The only time your 'second' should kill you is when you submit or he sees pain....

Å
 

TheBoyBlunder

Diamond Member
Apr 25, 2003
5,742
1
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Originally posted by: mooojojojo
Originally posted by: TheBoyBlunder
Originally posted by: mooojojojo
Originally posted by: TheBoyBlunder
Originally posted by: Walleye
Originally posted by: hjo3
Ach, ten posts and no Kill Bill references? What's ATOT coming to?
never seen kill bill.

have no intention to.
You're not missing much...
Will have to disagree with you there.
What's your favorite movie?
That's a tough one...I don't really have a #1 favorite, I have several:
The Matrix, Amelie, Dr. Strangelove, Pulp Fiction, Tora Tora Tora, American Beauty or the Shawshank Redemption.
You're right - it's hard to pick one single movie as a favorite. :)
But this is interesting - you like Pulp Fiction, but don't like Kill Bill?

Kill Bill was violent to the point of absurdity. Pulp Fiction, though violent, still had an interesting enough story to keep my interest.
 

kage69

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
30,803
46,085
136
well yes and no. I was referred to the act, you are referring to the reason.

I was actually quoting an article I read about this back in the day, and I believe it cited the Hagakure for the definition of what he did. I never said he did it with or before the Emporer; his act was one of mourning, but also a kind of omage to what he saw Meiji and himself as. Oibara was used as the term because it specificaly applies to one's feudal lord. Oibara and junshi are indeed kind of synonyms, but oibara could be considered more appropriate given the people involved. After a further look, I believe Nogi himself would have described his actions as sakibara. Whatever, it's all traditionalist hairsplitting in the end.

I also kinda misread what you previsouly wrote and thought you added an addition cut, which is what I was refering too. My bad.
 

Gyrene

Banned
Jun 6, 2002
2,841
0
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Originally posted by: dtyn
Originally posted by: mooojojojo
Bump for pics from dtyn and Michael.

Give me a few minutes to get my digicam and snaps some pics, and I'll post them.

Ok, took alot more than a few minutes because I couldn't find my damn digicam. Anyway, here are some pics.
 

AndrewR

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
11,157
0
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Originally posted by: alkemyst
Originally posted by: mooojojojo
Originally posted by: alkemyst
http://nippon.to.free.fr/Tameshigiri.htm will show you the 18 cuts, unfortunately the rankings are wrong.
Å
Actually the site says "Les coupes ne sont pas classées dans l'ordre de difficulté" which means "The hits are not ordered by difficulty". So it's not that they are wrong, it's just that they're not rankings at all. :) Anyway... I don't know what the purpose of this post is.

Well you understand french I also understood what the french translated too...however send some idiot there and he will make up a story how the cut through all 4 fingers is the most difficult and why. Also I circumvent translator police that would tell me my translation is not 'literally' right ...

My post was in reply to the other person saying Kesa was the most difficult cut (it's the longest I believe though). The difficulty on the Kesa is less since it is a more 'natural' vertical slice, unlike the hip cut where you are on a horizontal plane. Also the hips are solid bone and the upper body is mainly thin plates and narrow ribs...a child can snap a collar bone with a well placed chop.

Å

Actually, I question your definition of a "natural" slice because it would seem to me, physiologically speaking, that a horizontal stroke, much like a baseball swing which can use the hips and legs for power, would be stronger than a stroke which relies solely on arms and shoulders in an overhead motion. We need a medical examiner to answer this. :)
 

mooojojojo

Senior member
Jul 15, 2002
774
0
0
dtyn, sorry but those pics are not good, I don't see anything on them :(. I'm sure you can take better ones. ;) Try without the flash, or try taking the picture from a larger distance. Btw - I suppose this is not the wooden katana - but the 'real' one (sorry, don't know what's it called). Why is the blade chipped and rusty? Or is it just how I'm seeing it?
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
Originally posted by: AndrewR
Actually, I question your definition of a "natural" slice because it would seem to me, physiologically speaking, that a horizontal stroke, much like a baseball swing which can use the hips and legs for power, would be stronger than a stroke which relies solely on arms and shoulders in an overhead motion. We need a medical examiner to answer this. :)

A Katana is not only 'swung' it is drawn. In regards to the horizontal strike to the hips....that is a low cut, as opposed to a horizontal head strike which is much easier. However, the bone structure is what makes the hips very hard to cut clean through in a single strike.


Å
 

Gyrene

Banned
Jun 6, 2002
2,841
0
0
Originally posted by: mooojojojo
dtyn, sorry but those pics are not good, I don't see anything on them :(. I'm sure you can take better ones. ;) Try without the flash, or try taking the picture from a larger distance. Btw - I suppose this is not the wooden katana - but the 'real' one (sorry, don't know what's it called). Why is the blade chipped and rusty? Or is it just how I'm seeing it?

It's chipped because it is actually used, and striking against another sword sometimes leaves chinks. The rust must be a reflection of something, because there is no rust on the sword I'm looking at.
 

mooojojojo

Senior member
Jul 15, 2002
774
0
0
Originally posted by: dtyn
Originally posted by: mooojojojo
dtyn, sorry but those pics are not good, I don't see anything on them :(. I'm sure you can take better ones. ;) Try without the flash, or try taking the picture from a larger distance. Btw - I suppose this is not the wooden katana - but the 'real' one (sorry, don't know what's it called). Why is the blade chipped and rusty? Or is it just how I'm seeing it?
It's chipped because it is actually used, and striking against another sword sometimes leaves chinks. The rust must be a reflection of something, because there is no rust on the sword I'm looking at.
Oh my. So you actually use the real katana in practice? Or maybe you're a dark city warrior who fights the baddies for justice during the night in the streets? ;) Anyway - I suppose it's the practice thing. But what if you hurt the partner, or he hurts you? I think it would be a pretty major wound too.
 

THELAIR

Golden Member
Oct 9, 1999
1,493
0
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ive seen one swords shop in asakusa Tokyo where they had all manners of blades. However, there were no price tags, which probably means either they were just for display or very expensive.

It would be interesting to seek out and find a Japanese blacksmith in my time here in Japan.
 

RandalLovelace

Junior Member
Dec 27, 2003
17
0
0
What no mention of BladeRunner in that list....

As far as your wanting a sword....

He's right you don't deserve it.

And Beer is not spiritual guidance.

And you can buy Japanese swords, here in the US, However most of them are WW2 or newer...

You will pay a minimum of $5000.00 for a hand folded sword.

If you want a good sword of high quality craftsmanship, made in the old tradition, you will have to go to Japan and find the swordsmith, you will be able to buy a sword from him, but there is a catch, Japan is really touchy about letting them out of the country. It will cost you more than the flight there to get the sword shipped. This will be in the form of Bribe money to the customs agents....if they'll take it, if not you lose your sword and spend a loooooong time in Japanese Prison.

The real trick is to find a US military person about to be shipped to Japan, they can carry the sword home for you with no problems.

_Just a note, this is how my brother as able to obtain his swords_ But he spent the years training.