Surrender Tags

[IJASWORDS]

At wars end, Japanese swords were surrendered with the promise that the sword would be returned to the owner at some time in the future. Of course this never happened, and many swords souvenired were taken with surrender tags attached. 

Tags took many forms, and it would be historically interesting to see what exists today. 

My contribution is a piece of silk cloth torn into a strip, written on and tied onto the hanger ring.  

Would be great to see other examples, and translations if possible. 

[BANGBANGSAN]

Neil

Thanks for sharing, here is what's on your tag 

支隊本部 Detachment Headquarter

陸軍曹長 Army NCO officer

赤城竹千代 ?Akashiro Take Chiyo ?

Not very sure about the name since it's too blurry.

[David Flynn]

As I understand it,  they were in the Hope, of having them returned.   I've never heard about a promise of return.

[Dave R]

As for why it was done.....

[Bazza]

I have read (somewhwere!) that General MacArthur ordered all swords confiscated as they were symbols of Japan's Militarism that had to be crushed...

 

BaZZa.

[sbf]

I have read (somewhwere!) that General MacArthur ordered all swords confiscated as they were symbols of Japan's Militarism that had to be crushed...

 

BaZZa.

 

 

Swords in Japan were required to be turned over to the occupying forces because they were weapons. Didn't matter if it was a gunto or a National Treasure.

 

Steve

[Bruce Pennington]

There is a fantastic collection of WWII documents concerning sword confiscation and classification of National Treasure swords in the NMB Articles section. Around pages 22,23, there is a letter detailing the sequence of events starting with the Japanese govt order allowing the National Treasure swords to be kept and not surrendered. I've attached it. It shows that this happened within 5 weeks of the surrender (3 weeks from the official signing). I couldn't find one that addressed the topic here, but it is a fascinating read, with letters of complaints and several examples of police stations mishandling swords, failing to document them, etc.

 

Page 2 of the records shows a puzzling order issued by the 25th Infantry HQ, Dec '45, claiming the Supreme Commander had rescinded the authorization for Japanese retention, and possession of even National Treasure swords and they were to be turned in! This caused quite a stir (an unfortunately some lost swords) until it was cleared up by the attached letter.

 

Fascinating look into the messiness of the day-to-day events.

 

The entire compliation is found here: http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/forum/57-nt-and-iao-list-and-sword-documents-by-us-gov-1945-1950/