Considering Ninninger is already starting to come to an end and the first episode sort of took a bit of Shinkenger's first episode, I might write on ninjatos and katanas. I would admit in the past, I was confused between the difference of a ninjato and a samurai sword until I did some more research on the matter. If anybody has anything to add, just comment.
The ninjato
The type of swords used by the Kakurangers, Hurricangers and lately Ninningers are examples of the Ninjato or Ninjaken. It has this description that it has a straight-edged compared to the samurai. In history, these swords were used in a stabbing motion which required more stealth to get closer to the victims. What was interesting was that they were usually shorter while the scabbards were usually longer was for other reasons than combat. These swords could be used to be shoved into the earth or a wall all the way to its hilt to reach higher. The scabbards also carried other weapons like poisons and other smaller weapons. In Hurricanger, the scabbards can be used as a rifle so did the producers decide to take the idea of scabbards with hidden tricks to a new level? For Ninninger, their use of their ninja swords were also used to unleash various tricks in the battlefield.
The katana or samurai sword
In the past, it took even months to make even one samurai sword. Each sword was designed and custom-made for an individual samurai which may explain the different colored disks that came along with the Shinkenmarus and the weapons they turn into. The samurai swords were also symbols of status and position. According to Doctor Man in Bioman episode 30, the skills of making a samurai sword are passed through from generation to generation. Considering the Shinkengers has had up to 18 generations of samurai warriors and blacksmiths, so at least 18 generations of samurai swordmaking skills were passed as far as Shinkenger's continuity is concerned.
The use of Japanese steel
Tamahagane is the metal used in making Japanese swords. Because they are forged over lower heat charcoal fire then there is less impurities. In making a Japanese sword, there is the use of both the shingane (softer steel) to make the sword flexible and the use of the kawane to make the sword razor sharp. Folding and pounding are done to remove impurities making a sturdy sword. The shingane is then placed in between two pieces of tamahagane or a folded tamahagane as part of the forging process. Using both types of metal keeps the sword both flexible and sharp. It's a meticulous process that requires a lot of folding and hammering before the sword can be done.
If you want to know why the ninjatos had a straight edge, it was because of the usage of low-carbon steel. Back then, commoners in Japan had no access to high-carbon steel so they used the alternative. As a result of the forging process, the ninjatos had a straight edge instead of a curved edge. Meanwhile, samurai swords were made from high-carbon material which resulted to the swords having a curved edge when it's cooled down at two different temperatures.
The common predecessor of both swords
You might think the sword above is a Ninjato but that's actually a Tang Dynasty Sword. Here are details about this single edged sword from the Tang Dynasty. Before 987, the Japanese swords are straight chokuto together with every unusual shape. The technology of using folded steel and single edged swords were brought from China during the Tang Dynasty around the early 10th century. So both swords were innovated concepts born from one of the single-edged sword used by Tang Dynasty warriors.
References:
Japanese Swordmaking Process.
http://www.samuraisword.com/REFERENCE/making/japanse_swordmaking_process.htm
Knowledge for a Samurai
http://www.sleepingsamurai.com/knowledge/
The Differences Between Samurai and Ninja Swords.
http://www.excaliburbrothers.com/eb/samurai-ninja-differences.htm
The ninjato
The type of swords used by the Kakurangers, Hurricangers and lately Ninningers are examples of the Ninjato or Ninjaken. It has this description that it has a straight-edged compared to the samurai. In history, these swords were used in a stabbing motion which required more stealth to get closer to the victims. What was interesting was that they were usually shorter while the scabbards were usually longer was for other reasons than combat. These swords could be used to be shoved into the earth or a wall all the way to its hilt to reach higher. The scabbards also carried other weapons like poisons and other smaller weapons. In Hurricanger, the scabbards can be used as a rifle so did the producers decide to take the idea of scabbards with hidden tricks to a new level? For Ninninger, their use of their ninja swords were also used to unleash various tricks in the battlefield.
The katana or samurai sword
In the past, it took even months to make even one samurai sword. Each sword was designed and custom-made for an individual samurai which may explain the different colored disks that came along with the Shinkenmarus and the weapons they turn into. The samurai swords were also symbols of status and position. According to Doctor Man in Bioman episode 30, the skills of making a samurai sword are passed through from generation to generation. Considering the Shinkengers has had up to 18 generations of samurai warriors and blacksmiths, so at least 18 generations of samurai swordmaking skills were passed as far as Shinkenger's continuity is concerned.
The use of Japanese steel
Tamahagane is the metal used in making Japanese swords. Because they are forged over lower heat charcoal fire then there is less impurities. In making a Japanese sword, there is the use of both the shingane (softer steel) to make the sword flexible and the use of the kawane to make the sword razor sharp. Folding and pounding are done to remove impurities making a sturdy sword. The shingane is then placed in between two pieces of tamahagane or a folded tamahagane as part of the forging process. Using both types of metal keeps the sword both flexible and sharp. It's a meticulous process that requires a lot of folding and hammering before the sword can be done.
If you want to know why the ninjatos had a straight edge, it was because of the usage of low-carbon steel. Back then, commoners in Japan had no access to high-carbon steel so they used the alternative. As a result of the forging process, the ninjatos had a straight edge instead of a curved edge. Meanwhile, samurai swords were made from high-carbon material which resulted to the swords having a curved edge when it's cooled down at two different temperatures.
The common predecessor of both swords
You might think the sword above is a Ninjato but that's actually a Tang Dynasty Sword. Here are details about this single edged sword from the Tang Dynasty. Before 987, the Japanese swords are straight chokuto together with every unusual shape. The technology of using folded steel and single edged swords were brought from China during the Tang Dynasty around the early 10th century. So both swords were innovated concepts born from one of the single-edged sword used by Tang Dynasty warriors.
References:
Japanese Swordmaking Process.
http://www.samuraisword.com/REFERENCE/making/japanse_swordmaking_process.htm
Knowledge for a Samurai
http://www.sleepingsamurai.com/knowledge/
The Differences Between Samurai and Ninja Swords.
http://www.excaliburbrothers.com/eb/samurai-ninja-differences.htm
Sentai and Nijatos, both Kakurangers
ReplyDeleteand Hurricanegers did it better in design then the Ninninger's flimsy weak looking swords!!!!
But one thing for sure, the art of Kendo and Kenjitsu has been mostly a Red skill. It was started by Vul Eagle II, eventually characters such as Dyna Red, Red Mask, Red Falcon, Red Five, Oh Red, and Shinken Red practice the art to refine their skills!!!!
A Ninja sword was the most prized possession of the Ninjas which they used as their primary weapon. A Ninja sword is known to have a straight blade with a square guard. This is the most renowned and widely known description of a Ninja sword and even the Ninja swords that are available in market nowadays also have the same design.
ReplyDeleteEarly ninjutsu books in the West said the ninja couldn't get their hands on well-crafted swords like the samurai, so they had to make their own that turned out straight. This is wrong. Ninjutsu also known as ninja sword is the short straight sword with a square guard.
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