ing skills the Jômon people developed, it was not until later periods that
techniques were developed for the use of iron swords.
Early contacts with the continent in the Yayoi period (ca. third cen-
tury B.C.–third century A.D.) resulted in the introduction and importation
of straight double-edged Chinese swords made of bronze. From the few re-
maining bronze swords most commonly found in tombs, it is clear that the
quality of these swords was rather poor. Bronze swords were used to indi-
cate the status of their holders as well as to serve in their capacity as
weapons, or for religious purposes. It is interesting to note that bronze
swords were shaped differently according to their function. For example,
swords designed for fighting were more massive and crude, while those
marking the status of its bearer were carefully crafted and designed. Fur-
thermore, the number of battlefield bronze swords found in archaeological
sites far exceeds the number of swords of the aristocracy. Based on this ev-
idence, combined with what is known from early Chinese records of Japan,
it is clear that swords and spears were used extensively in warfare associ-
ated with the consolidation of power of the Yamato king.
With improvements in metallurgy, most importantly iron casting, iron
blades replaced the unsatisfactory bronze swords. The Kofun period590 Swordsmanship, Japanese
Nakamura Taizaburo in a scene from the 1979 Japanese film Eternal Budô.(Courtesy of Nakamura Taizaburo)