Tachi versus katana in horseback fighting

[Chris Evans]

Hi Valjhun,

Originally Posted by Valjhun

This is not Meiji, but rather showa....

I'm following this debate with interest. It would be great to hear what Rich has to say.

No. That pic came out of F.J Norman's "The Fighting Man of Japan" published in 1905. Emperor Meiji died in 1912. The Showa era was from 1926 to 1989.

Norman was A Brit cavalryman who went to Japan in the 1870s to teach and previously served in India. He was probably the first occidental to seriously study their sword art. He considered the Japanese sword very good for unmounted usage - In that application, he thought it was better than the Euro equivalents, its shorter blade being less cumbersome, yet not lacking in reach because of its longer hilt. However, notwithstanding his admiration for the sword of the raising sun, he did think that both the weapon and its wielding could be improved. He also opined that on even flat ground, a top Western duelist probably could beat a Japanese swordsman, but only on such favourable ground.

Cheers
Chris