Before learning Iaido, I thought that many of the contents on youtube shared were real and cool. After learning Iaido, I found that many videos were misleading and ridiculous. Shogo can be one of the few credible ones. Every introduction will have a reliable reference and principle.
The hilarious thing is that the longsword was also used for fashion and self defence more than battle because the longsword was a late medieval period sword.
The longsword was also not ineffective just like the katana wasn't, longsword was brought in when armour was well developed. You have very bad odds of defeating a fully armoured man if armed with a longsword because you have to strike very specific places which was no different from a Katana (they had armour too). But these are self defense weapons, and that means a lot of skills were developed for them because that's what a fighter would carry around. That's a big difference in meaning from fashion. And if they were useless on the battlefield they would not use them at all, not for hundreds of years, not everyone is decked out in armour.
The European broadsword/longsword was also not the primary battlefield weapon. Like with the katana in Japan, it was a backup weapon. The main weapons in medieval Europe were spears/polearms.
I was very surprised at how Shogo manages to keep this very calm and respectful poise, even though he's criticizing misinformation. I tend to get easily frustrated at people who propose to teach others but do it carelessly, based on surface-level knowledge. Shogo's kind and humble attitude really made me reflect.
Which is what saddens me. I love japanese culture but even tho I watched and read over 10.000 hours worth of history, mannerism, culture and everyday life, I feel like I would fail writing a book about it...
A sword is like a handgun. Yes, it's for walking around. Yes, it's partially a symbol of status or rank. No, it's not typically a primary battlefield weapon. But you have it there for when you need it.
@@AdamOwenBrowning I mean, police officers and the like tend to have revolvers with lanyards to signify their profession. And even some revolvers have engravings (which offer no tactical advantage whatsoever)
Depends on what kind of armor you are up against, I think. I am not sure how a katana would do against full plate armor and chainmail. Then, you rather need a weapon that can stab into the weak spots.
@@kadda1212 Using longswords against armor is far harder than one thinks. idk if I would even trust a longsword in that situation. I’d either want a specialized anti-armor sword like an estoc or simply use a dagger up close and grapple.
Just by reading that it was about "Samurai & Ninja Museum Kyoto Fans" I knew that Shogo will have a rough time, those guys had the enthusiasm but not the knowledge... 😅
It's also important that both "katana" and "longsword" are categories and neither tended to be the primary weapon type for full armies. Spears and other polearms were just easier most of the time.
Much of the mystique around tamahagane is a consequence of the Japanese islands being volcanic in nature with no iron ore deposits comparable with those of countries based on continents. The iron sands which were the traditional source of iron for so long required the bloomery process followed by much hammering and folding to get rid of the residual sand and slag. It was not suitable for the crucible method which can produce better steel with more control over alloying and carbon content more easily. If anything the quality of traditionally made katana is a testament to the extreme dedication of the ironmakers and swordsmiths to do the very best they could with what they had.
I think that title is a little bit...overpraised. but I understand if they really made that video. since they are the katana seller. only answers I could think about that title is... 1) katana don't jams. 2) katana don't run out of ammo. just like any melee weapons. such as knife, machete, axe, shovel. etc. so it's not that big deal. (plus it's still can blunt or break) 3) katana is lighter. 4) katana is more quiet. just like any melee weapons. anything than that... yeah, mg42 definitely superior.
Many so-called Japanese restaurants display replica katana, or daisho, and I always correct their display. EVERY ONE OF THEM displays edge-down, handle to right. They must all order them from the same catalog.
There is absolutely NO sword that doesn't get dented after fights. Some have stronger steels and get dented less, but then again, supersteels swords are not indestructible either.
This is factually inaccurate. Ever watched forged in fire? There have been plenty of weapons on that show that have gone through way more than any weapon would on a battlefield and come out with no damage whatsoever.
I study battojutsu for 6 years, and Shogos channel is one of the most correct and accurate channels in japanese historical/swordsplay terms what you can find on TH-cam. Thank you for your hard work Shogo, because internet is full of misconceptions and nonsenses about japanese and samurai history.
A question Shogo: if it was etiquette for Samurai to walk on the left to avoid bumping into another Samurai's scabbards... did this influence the decision for Japanese drivers to drive on the left too?
Yes, you are exactly right! Because this samurai rule formed a basis of traffic laws which then carried through into other vehicles, and eventually into cars. It's one factor as to why Britain and Japan drive on the same side :D I'm not Shogo-san but I hope you appreciate it :)
European swords were also vulnerable. They will lose their edge and get damaged in much the same way that a katana could be. At the end of the day, both are still sharpened steel. The edge will be brittle and if exposed to a head on collision with another steel edge, it will roll or get nicked. And Europeans swords were also used just as much for fashion as katana would be. Both are still battlefield weapons, only they weren't usally primary weapons but used as secondary weapons. Saying that a katana is not a battlefield weapon is like saying that a modern semi-automatic pistol isn't a battlefield weapon. Even though modern soldiers also train with and are equipped with pistols as a back-up weapon if their rifles run out of ammunition or they encounter a situation where the rifle is unsuitable (like in tight corners indoors where a longer rifle won't ve as agile, or when a soldier needs his other hand free to carry something)
I really like how realistic you are in your answers. Thanks for making this reacting vid. I more point on the metallurgy of folding steel. It was done in Europe too, it was done as a way to prevent impurities in the steel from building up in 1 area of the blade. This would obv. create a weak point that may break the blade. Folding the steel homogenizes the steel, spreading any impurities throughout the steel making sure a weakpoint isn't created.
Well when it comes to european swords, rapiers and sabres one must remember that especially in later times it was common with dress swords. That is a more decorated weapon used for example at court. Ie a for example General had a dress smord and one a bit more simple in style in the field.
In a way, medieval European steel is a lot more like tamahagane than what we think. There are manuscript and artefact evidence that longswords and arming swords may have hamon on them, although probably more subtle than katanas. Only in the late medieval period would we have swords of monosteel property.
If I remember, Europeans began to spring-tempering on a wide scale by the 17th century, but this didn't mean it was inherently better than a differential hardened blade.
The only katana that could probably reliably cut a human torso in half (and with a strong enough person wielding it) was the dōtanuki katana, and even then it would have to be really well-made so that it didn't get stuck halfway through. These blades are noticeably heavier than the katana that people nowadays like to swing around or display, and their aesthetics are nonexistent compared to even katana from the Edo period, let alone today.
When I thought about Samurai being cut but ended surviving, I wonder how their wounds are treated. When I did a lot of research about it, it was very difficult to find articles about it.
TikTok is a weapon against intellectuality 🤣 Cringe, but a generation is getting their knowledge about so many subjects from the lowest level entertainment.
Great video Shogo! Thank you! About the left-handed tópico, I can’t agree with you because if a person is left-handed it doesn’t mean he has more power, but more control and self-awareness with the left-hand! So be “forced” to a training made for right-handed would be a BIG adjust, not exactly an advantage!
I mean... The reason why everyone used the right side is bc most ppl under their right side over their left. That's why we call it a dominant hand/side for a reason.
They cut down the length of the Tsuka after the Menji restoration. Because its offensive bumping into each other. Thus, reducing the leverage & shortening the Kashira striking distance. There's a sword block where you contort to enable the back of the blade to Cam not block the Uke's blade. Of course, in battle, they'll get damaged. The habaki can stretch open the friction fit. No slam.
Sword chiping or dent or even break in battle is a common thing, only in movie and anime you gonna see a sword that doesnt chip/dent/break even after cutting a chunk of metal. The first video is obviously a biased opinion.
I dunno about a human torso. But I have seen katana beind used to slice dead pigs right through the middle. And it pretty much looked like butter to me. The katana is very sharp.
When it comes to notched eggs after training and battles. I was taught to avoid meeting egg to egg. And parry with the blunt parts of your for example sword or sobre, kind of shuffeling the other blade out of the way when not using a shield or buckler to parry with. But I have never trained with katanas, just european blades.
I'm gonna keep editing as I watch the video First video: For usage of swords in battle, Shogo explained it really well so I will not talk about that. The thing that hurted me mentally and physically is how he handles the sword. Third video: Shinto is not really a religion. Shinto is more like a way of life, it doesn't have specific teaching or gods to believe in. It doesn't even have the kanji 教
It took Shojo less than 5 minutes to discredit their whole video-that Uncle Rodger level of demolition😂😂. With the comparison of swords between Europe and Japan, it’s sort-of a moot point: the rapid development of firearms in both cultures dramatically changed how battles were fought (people are so wedded to the idea of samurai=just katana that they forget that by the end of the Sengoku period every samurai army had riflemen). Also, the channel is almost at 1.50 million subscribers so congratulations in advance.
Shogo, can you make a video on reputable Japanese guides/translators someone from America can hire, and a range of prices? I’d love to visit Japan but am worried I won’t have time to learn the language.
After you mentioned it in one of your videos, I have been curious- what do traditional katana smiths do to purify themselves before making a katana? Is it a period of fasting, is it a incense offering, what rituals and processes are typically involved?
I do recall when I saw that first video ye showed I was taken quite aback by it. While as ye said when it comes to the battlefield the swords were backup weapons, the idea that a katana was just for fashion and useless in a real fight was more than a little eyebrow raising. Though I think their description of a katana's weaknesses were a bit overblown, when ye train in a koryu ye learn the proper way to use the sword so as to work around them. If any of the people behind that channel had any actual experience I'd be very surprised. Edit: after digging around I guess that Sherlick guy trains ninpo with one of the x-kans. No idea what if anything the dude in the first video does.
I remembered seeing a few of these videos which would show up in my feed usually after watching your content... I actually reported them for containing misleading content a few times. Thank you for spreading awareness about this.
10:51 I study using the European longsword (I practice H.E.M.A. [Historical European Martial Arts]) and I've studied and researched the "longsword vs katana" debate and I have to agree with you: it doesn't matter. True, in some videos I researched I found guys were demonstrating with both swords facing each other and both certainly have their pros and cons, but in the end, they're SWORDS and they're both still AWESOME!!!
I think the other channel has some rather entertaining explanation of events or cultural things, in a fun way, this one is a bit more.... Precise, like if you REALLY want to learn about the culture
As a longsword enthusiast, I can say that I do not agree with the statement that "the katana is the best sword in the world" and that the debate between which sword is better is pointless (pun intended). If I got a chance to learn with the katana I'd leap at it. Also, the macuahuitl is an Aztec weapon lined with obsidian glass, which is, as far as I know, the sharpest thing we have access to.
the painful part of channels like that are the slight truths that what they often talk about are taken wildly out of context, i am no expert by any means but i have an intrest in weapons and warfare throughout history so i come across many people who claim to be experts but put out inacurate sometimes dangerous but almost allways bad information
So the same channel that says that katana are for fashion says the katana is the best sword in the world. I'm a fan boy of kenjutsu and katana and that channel is loaded with cringe.
Since you mentioned heaven in the video, I'd like to hear more about the most commen religious beliefs in Japan. I already watched some of the videos about differences in buddhism and shintoism (there's also christianity to some degree?) and that japanese people mainly consider themselves not being religious, but apart from that, there still are a lot of everyday behaviours that are rooted in religion, like the family shrines. My main question right now would be: what does the majority of Japan think does happen with their deceased ones, do they go to heaven? Do they stay to watch over their relatives? Do they become ghosts? Will they go through the circle of rebirth? I pretty much have heard of all of those cases before and I am a little confused what's the main belief, if there even is one that can be named the most common belief.
The content of the first video you comment on, especially the 'combat' shown, made my toes curl with embarrassment. Comparing the daily wearing of the Daisho with the longsword is ridiculous. A lighter court sword and similar would be the equivalent surely. Swords in Western Culture tend to be tools and not revered with the mysticism attached to the Japanese sword. I'm left-handed, though after many years of European sport fencing, (and winning bouts against superior epeeists and sabruers due to thus spoiling their fencing measure) I seem to have adapted to Iaido right-handed reasonably well, though one tends to over-swing in shomen, and of course my single-handed kesa and kiri are weaker.
The first video wants to make me cry it feels like something someone around me would think, and im not even a katana enthusiast it just seems obvious. 😂
My path/practice focuses on the importance of being able to use either hands with the katana, so that an injury to the right hand does not cripple the warrior in any way. Surely we cannot be the only path that has this view.
Here in Indonesia, when we do a western style wedding celebration we have wedding cake cutting. And what do we used most of the time nowadays? A replica katana Also, in the west folded steel is called damascus steel. Definitely not unique to Japan
One thing to add on the last point, I fenced in college with the epee’ and Sabre, fighting a left handed fencer was very difficult as you usually trained with another right handed fencer and were out of step. They on the other hand, having always faced right handed fencers were always in step with attacks and defense.
As cool as the katana is , give me a well made longsword any day. On the battlefield any sword (including European swords ) where your secondary back up weapon. Spear conquers all. Also that European sword he has looks horrible. On the steel, the steel used for a Katana was folded as it was a lower quality. Steel in other areas where much better, they had blast furnaces in the medieval period. You can sharpen anything to a super sharp edge, its edge retention that is important.
Japanese steel wasn't folded for being lower quality, but because it was just a global practice when it comes to pre-industrial smelting methods. Europe also folded their steel all the way up into the 19th century, since working with a mass of iron straight from the bloomery results in a crummy blade.
Hello!! I love your channel and enjoy every video and learned a lot about your culture. I only want to point out that in wicca is also used a sword for the wedding ritual
Can a katana slice through a boo piece with a judo suit around it? It is rugged, flexible and tough. The myth also goes that one cannot slice a silken veil wavering in the winds. Sultan Salah ad-Din did it in the book 'King Lionheart'.
Before learning Iaido, I thought that many of the contents on youtube shared were real and cool. After learning Iaido, I found that many videos were misleading and ridiculous. Shogo can be one of the few credible ones. Every introduction will have a reliable reference and principle.
😂 Shogo’s face when the blade is being held in his hand. The shock and horror.
His disappointment was immeasurable, and his day was ruined
@@Luffy-su1ho for at least 3 seconds, then Harumi came in
Haha
Would also be my face if someone non-chalantly step over a javanese bow
It was an iaito but still hurt to see
The hilarious thing is that the longsword was also used for fashion and self defence more than battle because the longsword was a late medieval period sword.
Late Medieval Period had guns right ?
@@joycechuah6398 kinda yeah. They started getting better guns but hadn't fully adopted them until a little later
The longsword was also not ineffective just like the katana wasn't, longsword was brought in when armour was well developed. You have very bad odds of defeating a fully armoured man if armed with a longsword because you have to strike very specific places which was no different from a Katana (they had armour too).
But these are self defense weapons, and that means a lot of skills were developed for them because that's what a fighter would carry around. That's a big difference in meaning from fashion. And if they were useless on the battlefield they would not use them at all, not for hundreds of years, not everyone is decked out in armour.
The European broadsword/longsword was also not the primary battlefield weapon. Like with the katana in Japan, it was a backup weapon. The main weapons in medieval Europe were spears/polearms.
I was very surprised at how Shogo manages to keep this very calm and respectful poise, even though he's criticizing misinformation. I tend to get easily frustrated at people who propose to teach others but do it carelessly, based on surface-level knowledge. Shogo's kind and humble attitude really made me reflect.
I also really like that about them. Shogo is so cool
No better way to learn properly and respectfully about katanas than from experienced Japanese trainers
Which is what saddens me. I love japanese culture but even tho I watched and read over 10.000 hours worth of history, mannerism, culture and everyday life, I feel like I would fail writing a book about it...
A sword is like a handgun. Yes, it's for walking around. Yes, it's partially a symbol of status or rank. No, it's not typically a primary battlefield weapon. But you have it there for when you need it.
a handgun is a symbol of status? It shouldn't, because your concealed carry should be on point!
@@AdamOwenBrowning i think that person is talking about the time when only army officers issued a handgun
@@AdamOwenBrowning Have you heard of BBQ gun(s)?
@@AdamOwenBrowning I mean, police officers and the like tend to have revolvers with lanyards to signify their profession. And even some revolvers have engravings (which offer no tactical advantage whatsoever)
I agree about not comparing the 2 swords against eachother. They are both amazing in their own way!
Exactly!!
and also using both you can see that with a katana or a longsword most combat movements are very similar (look at kenjutsu and HEMA for illustration)
I love both.
They’re cool and have an amazing background
Depends on what kind of armor you are up against, I think. I am not sure how a katana would do against full plate armor and chainmail. Then, you rather need a weapon that can stab into the weak spots.
@@kadda1212 Using longswords against armor is far harder than one thinks. idk if I would even trust a longsword in that situation. I’d either want a specialized anti-armor sword like an estoc or simply use a dagger up close and grapple.
Just by reading that it was about "Samurai & Ninja Museum Kyoto Fans" I knew that Shogo will have a rough time, those guys had the enthusiasm but not the knowledge... 😅
Less than 30 seconds in. And I'm like Oh no. It's one of those, "Katana is the best sword in the world" people. 🤦🏾♂️
Fr
Oh hey I like your pfp
Who are we talking about?
Shogo or the ones in the original video?
@@cartmaneric4042 the latter
@@Heresjonnyagain so the one who doesn’t wear the clothing properly?
I absolutely love Shogo’s smile. He looks so happy.
I am the happiest person on this planet… I have you guys supporting me😉
It's also important that both "katana" and "longsword" are categories and neither tended to be the primary weapon type for full armies. Spears and other polearms were just easier most of the time.
100% correct . Pointy stick > all .
@@andljoy pointy stick
Maybe halberds and hammers too cuz they penetrate through armor
@@namethefifth7315 stick with heavy metal block>plate mail
@@aurelian2668 long stick with axhead and tailpike>stick with heavy meatal block
Much of the mystique around tamahagane is a consequence of the Japanese islands being volcanic in nature with no iron ore deposits comparable with those of countries based on continents. The iron sands which were the traditional source of iron for so long required the bloomery process followed by much hammering and folding to get rid of the residual sand and slag. It was not suitable for the crucible method which can produce better steel with more control over alloying and carbon content more easily.
If anything the quality of traditionally made katana is a testament to the extreme dedication of the ironmakers and swordsmiths to do the very best they could with what they had.
Thank you, Shogo. These guys are an absolute joke, and they go against everything that you’re trying to teach.
Shogo, You are much nicer than I am when it comes to talking about Samurai and Ninja Museum Kyoto Fans!
Can’t wait for mini katana’s next video:
“Why the MG42 is inferior to the katana.”
I think that title is a little bit...overpraised.
but I understand if they really made that video. since they are the katana seller.
only answers I could think about that title is...
1) katana don't jams.
2) katana don't run out of ammo.
just like any melee weapons. such as knife, machete, axe, shovel. etc. so it's not that big deal.
(plus it's still can blunt or break)
3) katana is lighter.
4) katana is more quiet.
just like any melee weapons.
anything than that... yeah, mg42 definitely superior.
@@greentea1941
I have a counter Argument
BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRT
Many so-called Japanese restaurants display replica katana, or daisho, and I always correct their display. EVERY ONE OF THEM displays edge-down, handle to right. They must all order them from the same catalog.
There is absolutely NO sword that doesn't get dented after fights. Some have stronger steels and get dented less, but then again, supersteels swords are not indestructible either.
This is factually inaccurate. Ever watched forged in fire? There have been plenty of weapons on that show that have gone through way more than any weapon would on a battlefield and come out with no damage whatsoever.
I study battojutsu for 6 years, and Shogos channel is one of the most correct and accurate channels in japanese historical/swordsplay terms what you can find on TH-cam. Thank you for your hard work Shogo, because internet is full of misconceptions and nonsenses about japanese and samurai history.
A question Shogo: if it was etiquette for Samurai to walk on the left to avoid bumping into another Samurai's scabbards... did this influence the decision for Japanese drivers to drive on the left too?
Yes, you are exactly right! Because this samurai rule formed a basis of traffic laws which then carried through into other vehicles, and eventually into cars. It's one factor as to why Britain and Japan drive on the same side :D I'm not Shogo-san but I hope you appreciate it :)
This was also the reason the British travel on the left, most people are right handed so it was easier to draw a sword to defend oneself
@@AdamOwenBrowning source, or this is just speculation.
Also jousting on horseback, Knights would hold the lance in the right hand. @@robt2778
European swords were also vulnerable. They will lose their edge and get damaged in much the same way that a katana could be.
At the end of the day, both are still sharpened steel. The edge will be brittle and if exposed to a head on collision with another steel edge, it will roll or get nicked.
And Europeans swords were also used just as much for fashion as katana would be. Both are still battlefield weapons, only they weren't usally primary weapons but used as secondary weapons.
Saying that a katana is not a battlefield weapon is like saying that a modern semi-automatic pistol isn't a battlefield weapon. Even though modern soldiers also train with and are equipped with pistols as a back-up weapon if their rifles run out of ammunition or they encounter a situation where the rifle is unsuitable (like in tight corners indoors where a longer rifle won't ve as agile, or when a soldier needs his other hand free to carry something)
I really like how realistic you are in your answers. Thanks for making this reacting vid. I more point on the metallurgy of folding steel. It was done in Europe too, it was done as a way to prevent impurities in the steel from building up in 1 area of the blade. This would obv. create a weak point that may break the blade. Folding the steel homogenizes the steel, spreading any impurities throughout the steel making sure a weakpoint isn't created.
It's hard to set the record straight about misleading content without harming the creator's credibility, but it must be done.
Well when it comes to european swords, rapiers and sabres one must remember that especially in later times it was common with dress swords. That is a more decorated weapon used for example at court. Ie a for example General had a dress smord and one a bit more simple in style in the field.
Sabers wasn’t really a decorative piece. It was used in battle for cavalry charges up until the 1800s
That channel is literally the embodiment of the Japanophile's paradise.
All 100% reality based responses. So happy to see the truth put forth. Thank you Shogo!
In a way, medieval European steel is a lot more like tamahagane than what we think. There are manuscript and artefact evidence that longswords and arming swords may have hamon on them, although probably more subtle than katanas.
Only in the late medieval period would we have swords of monosteel property.
If I remember, Europeans began to spring-tempering on a wide scale by the 17th century, but this didn't mean it was inherently better than a differential hardened blade.
The only katana that could probably reliably cut a human torso in half (and with a strong enough person wielding it) was the dōtanuki katana, and even then it would have to be really well-made so that it didn't get stuck halfway through. These blades are noticeably heavier than the katana that people nowadays like to swing around or display, and their aesthetics are nonexistent compared to even katana from the Edo period, let alone today.
Your channel is the most informative. Thank you. You do a great job. 👍
When I thought about Samurai being cut but ended surviving, I wonder how their wounds are treated. When I did a lot of research about it, it was very difficult to find articles about it.
given the Kyoto manner of Speech I've never seen anyone say: well that's just B*! so gracefully 😂😎💋
TikTok is a weapon against intellectuality 🤣 Cringe, but a generation is getting their knowledge about so many subjects from the lowest level entertainment.
You have no idea how right you are. And this makes me sad and scared...
Muy buen video! Cómo todos los que subes. Saludos desde Chile 🇨🇱 ⚔️
Hermoso lugar!
Surprise, surprise, even European longswords got chipped and dented in battle. It's what happens to steel when you whack it on steel.
The reason why the steel was folded is to remove slag from it. The Europeans were also folding the steel for their swords 🤷🏻♂️
Shogo: I understand what he intends to say...
I hear: This man is a blithering eejit!
Great video Shogo! Thank you!
About the left-handed tópico, I can’t agree with you because if a person is left-handed it doesn’t mean he has more power, but more control and self-awareness with the left-hand! So be “forced” to a training made for right-handed would be a BIG adjust, not exactly an advantage!
I mean... The reason why everyone used the right side is bc most ppl under their right side over their left. That's why we call it a dominant hand/side for a reason.
They cut down the length of the Tsuka after the Menji restoration. Because its offensive bumping into each other. Thus, reducing the leverage & shortening the Kashira striking distance. There's a sword block where you contort to enable the back of the blade to Cam not block the Uke's blade. Of course, in battle, they'll get damaged. The habaki can stretch open the friction fit. No slam.
So glad you made a video on them Shogo.
I’m glad you say so😉
Sword chiping or dent or even break in battle is a common thing, only in movie and anime you gonna see a sword that doesnt chip/dent/break even after cutting a chunk of metal. The first video is obviously a biased opinion.
I dunno about a human torso. But I have seen katana beind used to slice dead pigs right through the middle. And it pretty much looked like butter to me. The katana is very sharp.
When it comes to notched eggs after training and battles. I was taught to avoid meeting egg to egg. And parry with the blunt parts of your for example sword or sobre, kind of shuffeling the other blade out of the way when not using a shield or buckler to parry with. But I have never trained with katanas, just european blades.
I understand what you're trying to say, but I believe you meant 'edge', not 'egg'.
I'm gonna keep editing as I watch the video
First video: For usage of swords in battle, Shogo explained it really well so I will not talk about that. The thing that hurted me mentally and physically is how he handles the sword.
Third video: Shinto is not really a religion. Shinto is more like a way of life, it doesn't have specific teaching or gods to believe in. It doesn't even have the kanji 教
It took Shojo less than 5 minutes to discredit their whole video-that Uncle Rodger level of demolition😂😂. With the comparison of swords between Europe and Japan, it’s sort-of a moot point: the rapid development of firearms in both cultures dramatically changed how battles were fought (people are so wedded to the idea of samurai=just katana that they forget that by the end of the Sengoku period every samurai army had riflemen).
Also, the channel is almost at 1.50 million subscribers so congratulations in advance.
Shogo, can you make a video on reputable Japanese guides/translators someone from America can hire, and a range of prices? I’d love to visit Japan but am worried I won’t have time to learn the language.
Plus ones who also know proper tradition and etiquette in different situations that may arise.
You are the reason I’m learning iaido
Wow thank you!!
as far as i have seen katana was a modernisation of tachi...but im not absolutely sure...
I once sliced the top of my toe in half.
....not by sword. I had an iron plate in my hall, and descided to cut corners... The doc flopped it back on.
sure if you hit a katana with another there will be damage...
Trainee watched too much samurai and ninja movies😂
After you mentioned it in one of your videos, I have been curious- what do traditional katana smiths do to purify themselves before making a katana? Is it a period of fasting, is it a incense offering, what rituals and processes are typically involved?
I do recall when I saw that first video ye showed I was taken quite aback by it. While as ye said when it comes to the battlefield the swords were backup weapons, the idea that a katana was just for fashion and useless in a real fight was more than a little eyebrow raising. Though I think their description of a katana's weaknesses were a bit overblown, when ye train in a koryu ye learn the proper way to use the sword so as to work around them. If any of the people behind that channel had any actual experience I'd be very surprised.
Edit: after digging around I guess that Sherlick guy trains ninpo with one of the x-kans. No idea what if anything the dude in the first video does.
Katana surviving so much emotional damage
I remembered seeing a few of these videos which would show up in my feed usually after watching your content... I actually reported them for containing misleading content a few times. Thank you for spreading awareness about this.
Shogo! I hope you also watch youtube channel called 'Weaponism'. Its about kendo but also battles with various weapons!
The Katana was in fact used in combat. If you want proof, spend a Saturday night in Hackney, London.
Love your videos do you by chance know the meaning of kakajumanokushidaisojin??
10:51 I study using the European longsword (I practice H.E.M.A. [Historical European Martial Arts]) and I've studied and researched the "longsword vs katana" debate and I have to agree with you: it doesn't matter. True, in some videos I researched I found guys were demonstrating with both swords facing each other and both certainly have their pros and cons, but in the end, they're SWORDS and they're both still AWESOME!!!
Can't compare swords cause it's different fighting style and Damascus steal from Demascus was pretty great
I think the other channel has some rather entertaining explanation of events or cultural things, in a fun way, this one is a bit more.... Precise, like if you REALLY want to learn about the culture
The Only sword that is better than a longsword and a katana is the Kriegsmesser. just joking its all sharp metal with different properties.
People in these types of videos are often very hyperbolic to incite comments and attention. Don’t worry about it too much Shogo!
As a longsword enthusiast, I can say that I do not agree with the statement that "the katana is the best sword in the world" and that the debate between which sword is better is pointless (pun intended). If I got a chance to learn with the katana I'd leap at it.
Also, the macuahuitl is an Aztec weapon lined with obsidian glass, which is, as far as I know, the sharpest thing we have access to.
the painful part of channels like that are the slight truths that what they often talk about are taken wildly out of context, i am no expert by any means but i have an intrest in weapons and warfare throughout history so i come across many people who claim to be experts but put out inacurate sometimes dangerous but almost allways bad information
So the same channel that says that katana are for fashion says the katana is the best sword in the world.
I'm a fan boy of kenjutsu and katana and that channel is loaded with cringe.
Wouldnt folding the steel so many times not only make it weaker, but pretty much be rendered back into iron?
17:04 is that a different style or is that something else entirely? Because with our style we don't have such kata
Any sword used at least once in battle will be dented and the edge compromised.
Swords are displayed they are worn, for example tachi are displayed with the cutting edge down
Since you mentioned heaven in the video, I'd like to hear more about the most commen religious beliefs in Japan. I already watched some of the videos about differences in buddhism and shintoism (there's also christianity to some degree?) and that japanese people mainly consider themselves not being religious, but apart from that, there still are a lot of everyday behaviours that are rooted in religion, like the family shrines. My main question right now would be: what does the majority of Japan think does happen with their deceased ones, do they go to heaven? Do they stay to watch over their relatives? Do they become ghosts? Will they go through the circle of rebirth? I pretty much have heard of all of those cases before and I am a little confused what's the main belief, if there even is one that can be named the most common belief.
🤣 yeah the other day i saw a video of theirs i laughed for like 10 minutes 😂
When you are left handed and have katana wery easy way to confiuse every lover of japanise culture
Look how they hold Katana. That proves how shallow they are. Katana is not a baseball bat.
Hi Shogo
I have seen these other you tube channels before . I have chosen not to watch them.
The content of the first video you comment on, especially the 'combat' shown, made my toes curl with embarrassment. Comparing the daily wearing of the Daisho with the longsword is ridiculous. A lighter court sword and similar would be the equivalent surely. Swords in Western Culture tend to be tools and not revered with the mysticism attached to the Japanese sword.
I'm left-handed, though after many years of European sport fencing, (and winning bouts against superior epeeists and sabruers due to thus spoiling their fencing measure) I seem to have adapted to Iaido right-handed reasonably well, though one tends to over-swing in shomen, and of course my single-handed kesa and kiri are weaker.
Everyone knows that the best sword is excalibur. But it's so hard to get. Oh... we're not talking about those kind of swords? Okay. XD
Shogo, takes the cake. Shogo's references are more reliable.
You put these other guys to shame!
Thanks Shogo for the extra information... I know some and learned more!
I saw these guys on my yt shorts and was like i wonder what shogo would think a out this 🤔
also there was that saying "its better not to draw" maybe in edo period
Swords are tools, there are many different variants based on what job it needs to do. Some are better than others, but imo there is no best sword
The first video wants to make me cry it feels like something someone around me would think, and im not even a katana enthusiast it just seems obvious. 😂
My path/practice focuses on the importance of being able to use either hands with the katana, so that an injury to the right hand does not cripple the warrior in any way. Surely we cannot be the only path that has this view.
Thanks for calling out some of my pet peeves, and the new info too. :)
Here in Indonesia, when we do a western style wedding celebration we have wedding cake cutting. And what do we used most of the time nowadays? A replica katana
Also, in the west folded steel is called damascus steel. Definitely not unique to Japan
So happy to see Shogo addressing this channel. I always considered these guys to be like dollar-store Shogo and now it's confirmed!
One thing to add on the last point, I fenced in college with the epee’ and Sabre, fighting a left handed fencer was very difficult as you usually trained with another right handed fencer and were out of step. They on the other hand, having always faced right handed fencers were always in step with attacks and defense.
As cool as the katana is , give me a well made longsword any day. On the battlefield any sword (including European swords ) where your secondary back up weapon. Spear conquers all.
Also that European sword he has looks horrible.
On the steel, the steel used for a Katana was folded as it was a lower quality. Steel in other areas where much better, they had blast furnaces in the medieval period.
You can sharpen anything to a super sharp edge, its edge retention that is important.
Japanese steel wasn't folded for being lower quality, but because it was just a global practice when it comes to pre-industrial smelting methods. Europe also folded their steel all the way up into the 19th century, since working with a mass of iron straight from the bloomery results in a crummy blade.
I'm glad I found your channel first as an iaido trainee myself 😅
I recently visited Seki City's Hamonoya Sanshu Seki Hamono Museum and they let me hammer the hot metal! If you haven't been, it was fun to do!
Hello!! I love your channel and enjoy every video and learned a lot about your culture. I only want to point out that in wicca is also used a sword for the wedding ritual
Dang, the whole left side, right side thing must have been rough for Miyamoto Musashi. Everyone must have thought he was ready for battle 24 7.
LMAO
I collect Nihonto. I love my Katanas and Naginata, but katana is not the best sword in the world.
Amazing I love Japanese culture❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️⚔️✌️
Near the end of this video, I suddenly wanted to see Shogo react to Kill Bill. 😅
Great and interesting video!
What was the weapon of choice at the Ikedaya incident (池田屋事件) in 1864? How about at the Akō incident (赤穂事件) in 1703?
Can a katana slice through a boo piece with a judo suit around it? It is rugged, flexible and tough. The myth also goes that one cannot slice a silken veil wavering in the winds. Sultan Salah ad-Din did it in the book 'King Lionheart'.
I learned a lot from Shogo videos, I love this chanel.
Domo arigato. 🤠