Japanese Army Officer's Sword and Scabbard

Japanese Army Officer's shin-gunto sword and scabbard. The hilt is a late Second World War type lacquered binding with blackened iron fushi kashira mountings, cherry blossom menuki and a plain oval disc tsuba. The scabbard button clip on the fushi is silver. The blade is plain with a straight harmon pattern edge and has a brass habaki. The scabbard is painted light brown and has blackened iron fittings to match the hilt. There is a single loose suspension ring on a band 80 mm from the throat.

This sword was taken from a Japanese officer who was the overseeer of the Prisoner of War mine working parties in Japan, by Sergeant A Thomas, East Surrey Regiment at the end of hostilities. In an interview with Sgt Thomas he reported that the Japanese Officer, who was apparently a brutal man, was executed with this sword. Sgt Thomas was captured in Singapore and spent three and a half years in captivity. He worked on the Burma Thailand railway prior to being sent to Japan.