$2,500.00
Japanese Army General Sword -PRESENTATION! -WW2 Samurai -Generals Grade Kyu Gunto -ID’d!
Details
An historic Presentation sword to Japanese Field Marshall and twice-elected Prime Minister Aritomo Yamagata.
Yamagata led the new modern Japanese Army in their defeat of the Satsuma Rebellion led by samurai Saigo Takamori of Satsuma in 1877 (as detailed in the movie The Last Samurai).
This sword is a U.S. model 1852 Navy Sword modified for Presentation by the United States to Field Marshall Yamagata. This sword is published on pages 246 & 247 of Jim Dawson's Swords of Imperial Japan 1868-1945--a Cyclopedia.
The sword is etched on the blade 'T.A. Yamagata'. A quick historical search of Aritomo Yamagata shows that he was born Tatsunosuke Yamagata. He changed his name to Aritomo Yamagata at the start of the Meiji Restoration. Thus the 'T. (Tatsunosuke) A. (Aritomo) Yamagata' inscription.
Yamagata held innumerous positions of the highest levels--both in the Japanese Military and in the Japanese Government. Among his many positions:
--Chief of the General Staff of the Imperial Japanese Army for three different terms. 1878-1882, 1884-1885, and 1904-1905.
--Awarded the level of Field Marshall in 1898, also referred to as Gensui or Gensui Prince (5-Star General).
--Served two terms as the Prime Minister of Empire of Japan. 1889-1891, and 1898-1900.
--President of the Japanese Privy Council for three terms. 1893, 1905-1909, and 1909-1922.
--Acting War Minister and Commanding General during the First Sino-Japanese War.
--Commanding General of the Japanese First Army, Russo-Japanese War.
Also, among his most notable achievements:
--Yamagata succeeded in urging Emperor Meiji to write the Imperial Rescript to Soldiers and Sailors in 1882. This document was the moral code of the Imperial Japanese Army & Navy until Japan's defeat in World War 2.
--As noted above, Yamagata led the new modern Japanese Army in their defeat of the Satsuma Rebellion led by samurai Saigo Takamori of Satsuma (as detailed in the movie The Last Samurai).
This historic sword is in exceptional condition. Some of the original gold gilt is still present on the blade. There is no scabbard as the original leather scabbard with brass fittings (assuming it had one) did not survive the last 146 years.
| Specific Name | Specific Value |
|---|---|
| Period | 1877 - 1922 A.D. |
| Country | Japan |
Japanese Army General Sword -PRESENTATION! -WW2 Samurai -Generals Grade Kyu Gunto -ID’d!
Details