Shinkendo Japanese Swordsmanshi Kabutowari helmet splitting Article

KABUTOWARI

Helmet Splitting

On February 16, 1994 master swordsman and Shinkendo founder Obata Toshishiro Kaiso performed a rare, record setting helmet splitting test using a sword created in the ancient Japanese fashion by American swordsmith, Paul Champagne. The sword was only lightly polished and without a hilt save for a length of nylon rope tied around the tang. The helmet was an authentic 'Hineno' style kabuto, dating back between 1573-1602. Rather than requiring elaborate preparations like previous tester's, Obata Kaiso preferred to lay the helmet loosely on a tree stump to simulate a more realistic atmosphere. After the test, resulting in a 13 centimeter (4 sun, 3 bu) gash in the kabuto, the katana blade remained undamaged.

The following article appeared in the April edition of The International Shinkendo Federation Newsletter (Volume 1, Issue 2 1995).

Kaiso

Kabutowari
by Obata Toshishiro, Kaiso

"Instinctively, he
drew his sword
and instantly swung at the
phantom, beheading
it, at which time the

demon disappeared."

Ever since the use of weapons against armor, both swordsmith and armor maker have sought to surpass each others' work. The swordsmith's goal was to forge a blade that was sharp enough to go through armor, was lightweight, and, was strong enough to be unbreakable. The armor maker's goal was to design armor that could not be pierced by any weapon, and, would be lightweight and flexible enough to allow the wearer maximum mobility and speed in battle. The samurai hoped to procure the best of both, hence the practice of test cutting held great importance. Of especial value historically was kabutowari, helmet cutting tests, since not only could a helmet do more damage to a blade, but the attempt was more dangerous to the tester.

During the Kamakura Era, there were many famous swordsmiths (such as Masamune, Muramasa and Sadamune) producing excellent blades. Resultantly, stories and legends arose regarding a nihonto's ability to cut through not only stone, but demons as well! In the late 1500's, in the mountains of Bitchu Province (Okayama Prefecture), it had been rumored that there was a demon lurking who took the form of a grinning woman carrying a child. Late one night, Nakajima Kuridayu was startled by the appearance of this demon. Instinctively, he drew his sword and instantly swung at the phantom, beheading it, at which time the demon disappeared. The next day, Nakajima returned to view the scene in the daylight - and found two stone statues without their heads! The phantom never appeared again, and the sword that had cut through stone was thereafter named "Nikkari Aoe" The Grinning Aoe Blade.

Kotetsu Okisato and Yamada Asaemon

During the early Shinto period (early 1600's), a famous armor maker by the name of Kotetsu Okisato had become known especially for his solid helmets. However, at the age of 50 he decided that he would rather make swords to cut with, than helmets to be cut. At this he also excelled, causing Yamada Asaemon, public executioner and professional sword tester for Kotetsu, to highly praise his Kotetsu blade saying it was one of the sharpest he had ever used. Concurrently, the blades of swordsmith Kanefusa were also highly rated for sharpness. Towards the end of the Edo era (early 1800's) a swordsmith named Yamaura Minamoto no Kiyomaro, considered a genius of his time, developed strong, sharp yet beautiful blades. It is said that at the age of 42 he suffered a stroke and, realizing that he would never be able to make good swords again committed suicide. Kiyomaros' older brother Saneo was also his senior student, and Saneo's swords left the most records for test cutting on hard materials such as helmets, sword guards, antlers and wrought iron. Various stories and records of helmet cutting tests date from the Genji and Heike periods of the12th century Gempei Era, on to the present. In 1336, Ashikaga Takauji, after having once been defeated, decided that he must have a much better sword. To determine the sword's value, he ordered two suits of armor and a helmet to be made specifically for testing the blade. The suits, placed upright with one inside the other, were topped with the helmet in order to effect a realistic test. He had chosen a blade made by swordsmith Kanemitsu. Ashikaga Takauji was so pleased with the outcome that he then took Kanemitsu on to Kyushu with him. Later, Ashikaga, together with Yoshisada Nitta, went on to oust the Kamakura government. Ashikaga Takauji eventually became shogun. In the early 1600's, a certain sword tester by the name of Ito Banzaemon, had ordered several swords from swordsmith Hokinokami Nobutaka. Upon testing the blades on helmets however, he found that none were able to make a cut. Ito Banzaemon, in fury and frustration, fumed at the smith. "Either make a sword that could split the helmet...or commit suicide!" the swordsmith then laid a sheet of wet rice paper over the helmet and had Ito Banzaemon try again. This time the blade cut through, failing to glance off as had occurred before. In 1853, an exhaustive sword breaking test was conducted at Shinshu Matsushiro-han in Nagano prefecture under the rule of the Sanada family. The test was performed in the presence of three observers and four Ometsuke (official checkers). In this test, seven swordsmen were involved in the breaking of 12 swords to determine the strongest. It was the sword made by Yamaura Minamoto-no-Saneo that emerged champion. Of the 12 sequential articles that the blades were tested upon, the seventh was a helmet owned by Kahei. In this case, no gash was made in the helmet, rather the sword itself was bent by the blow. A sword made by Izumi-no-kami Kanesada had an inscription next to the signature which indicated the blade's success in helmet cutting. The blade, a 52.9 centimeter wakizashi, was owned by Saigo Takamori - one of the three famous revolutionists of the 1800's that were responsible for changing the Edo government to the Meiji government. Another blade of the same period shows a similar inscription, "Kabutowari", next to the signature. This blade was made by Izumi-no-kami Tadashige and was owned by the famous professional assassin, Tanaka Shinbei.
Post-Meiji Attempts
In 1886 (Meiji Era), a time when samurai no longer wore their swords in public, three swordsmen attempted to cut a Momonari style helmet in the presence of the Emperor Meiji at the Kioicho Mansion owned by Fushimi-no-Miya. The first swordsman was Yoshitada Ueda of the Kyoshin Meichi ryu - Yanai sword tradition. His cutting attempt rebounded from the helmet, causing him to lose his balance. The second swordsman was Sosuke Itsumi of the Tatsumi ryu iai sword tradition. His sword also rebounded from the helmet, causing him to lose his balance and fall. The third swordsman was Sakakibara Kenkichi of the Jikishinkage ryu, a previous "Shineitai Shihan" (the shogun's personal bodyguard). Using a large Dotanuki sword, Sakikibara swung his sword back over his head until the back of the sword touched his back. He then swung down upon the helmet causing the sword to be imbedded in the helmet. The resulting gash measured 10.58 cm. (3sun 5bu). One hundred years later in 1986, a swordsman named Terutaka Kawabata, an 8th Dan in kendo and holder of okuden menkyo in iaido, performed a helmet splitting test upon a modern replica of a Hineno style helmet. Using a sword made by swordsmith Yoshihara Yoshindo. Kawabata cut a gash measuring 12 cm. (nearly 4 sun).
Editor's Note:
On February 16th, 1994, another helmet cutting test was performed on this Hineno style black lacquer helmet (dated 1573-1602) shown above. The swordsman was Obata Toshishiro, professional sword tester for the late swordsmith Kobayashi Yasuhiro. Using a blade forged in the ancient Japanese fashion by Paul Champagne, an American self-taught sword maker, Obata cut a gash measuring 13 centimeters (4 sun, 3 bu). This is a record length cut, made all the more impressive in that there wasn't a testing hilt on the sword, so nylon rope was wrapped around the tang to provide a grip for testing.

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