Until June, the Nara Prefecture Art Museum (Nara City) will host an exhibition of swords associated with the local region. Several larger exhibitions are being planned.
Through their fascination with swords, I hope it will give them an opportunity to take a closer look at other traditional arts and crafts as well,” said Wakako Matsumura, chief curator at the Kasuga Taisha Shrine.Īn employee at Yakushiji Temple said, “If the trend brings more young people to temples, hopefully they can also find interest in Buddhism and the Japanese culture.” “It’s heartening to see young people interested.
Museums, shrines, and temples hold high expectations for the keen eyes and aesthetic sense of the women behind the firmly-rooted trend. I think the trend might last for a while since so many young people seem interested.” The unusual and mysterious beauty is probably what resonates with the female sensibility. He analyzed the current trend, saying: “A sword shines like a mirror. Kunihira Kawachi, 76, is a master sword craftsman who works in Higashi Yoshinomura (Nara Prefecture) and teaches at Kansai University (Suita City, Osaka), where he is also an alumnus. Shrines, Temples, Museums Hope for Ripple Effect Swords have an extraordinary beauty to them.” It’s interesting to think about their history and how they ended up where they are today.”Ī female college student, 19, also from Kyoto, pointed out: “The trend helped to increase opportunities for us to actually to see them in real life. Even with a new sword, you can get a sense of the unbroken history behind Japanese swords.”Īyaka Oono, 30, from Kyoto, who saw the exclusive show at Yakushiji Temple, said: “I like the stories behind the swords.
Rui Kashihara, 27, from Owari-Asahi City of Aichi Prefecture, explained: “There is something pure about the blade of a sword. The hamon (patterns on a sword blade) are so beautiful.” The good-looking characters made the game popular with young women, triggering their interest in the art of swords, and eventually leading to the crowding of exhibitions with female fans.Ī female office worker, 30, from Kobe who visited the Kasuga Taisha Shrine exhibition said admiringly: “My interest in swords was influenced by an online game, and I started studying books on the appreciation of the craft. The game anthropomorphizes legendary swords and depicts them as attractive young male characters called touken danshi (sword men) who battle and defeat evil. However, an online game called Touken Ranbu-ONLINE (abbreviation: TouRabu) is credited for accelerating the trend of increasingly young female enthusiasts in recent years. Often applauded as the soul of the samurai, Japanese swords have long been favored by middle-aged men. Mesmerized by the shiny blades on display, some women stood in front of them, captivated and unable to step away. Also showcased were a number of other mouth-watering swords which are registered as national treasures or important cultural properties.īoth venues were packed with predominantly female audiences. It featured a Ko-hoki style sword, one of the earliest Japanese curved swords made in the late Heian Period, which was displayed for the first time 80 years after its discovery in a treasure house in 1939. Titled Legendary Sword Masterpieces, it commemorated the 1,250th anniversary of the construction of the main shrine. The exclusive two-day exhibition was a huge success, with more than 3,500 people flocking to the venue.Īnother exhibition took place at the Kasuga Taisha Shrine museum until March 26. The commotion was caused by some famous Japanese swords, including the Okurikara Hiromitsu, displayed at the special exhibition during the Uwasano Katana Ten III (Exhibition of Whispered Swords III) held at the temple’s Shuhoukan (treasure museum) with special cooperation from the Nihontou Hakubutsu Gijyutsu Kenkyu Foundation. On February 24 the Yakushiji Temple premises was enveloped with vibes that were out of the ordinary. So, what is it about Japanese swords that fascinate these women? With the trend, the touken joshi are deepening their knowledge and brushing up their eye for the craft. Both have been uniformly flooded with female visitors. The popularity is supported by young women known as touken joshi (sword girls with a passion for swords).Įxhibitions showcasing valuable swords are being curated all over Japan, including at Kasuga Taisha Shrine and Yakushiji Temple in Nara city. If the enemy character has 10 or less Life, the enemy character loses -10 Life.Three years ago, Touken Ranbu, an online game with personified legendary sword characters, kindled the Japanese sword trend, but the craze is even bigger today.
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