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I'm "chilling" out on vacation in Osaka at the moment, and despite the humidity and heat I'm having a blast so far in Japan. Before I return home however, I plan on buying a Japanese sword set so I can sit at home and show off my samurai spirit to anybody who might enter the door.
I therefore submit this question to you; Have anybody any recommendations when it comes to buying such a set? I'd prefer a rack containing 2-3 swords, and then of course as cheap as possible. I've seen quite a few sets in the different shops around the country I've been in so far, but I'm still not exactly sure of which to buy from. Price ranges are usually between 12k-20k 円 in the ones I've been to, so what can be seen as cheap or expensive? Do the cheaper ones have a significantly lesser quality compared to the more expensive ones? To me they seem identical.
I might also add that I'm staying in a hotel in Osaka right now, but I've already spent 10 days in Tokyo, and I'm gonna be traveling around a lot with the bullet train in the next week or so.
Btw, it's a fucking sauna here.
 
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I doubt that you get a decent sword for 20000 Yen. Let alone 3. That's like 200 Dollars.
So since you're getting mass produced swords for tourists anyways, you should probably stick to the cheaper ones.
Are you sure that you are even allowed to enter your country with these?
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Osaka27154 Posts
I live in Osaka.
Anything in your price range is simply a tourist gift. Can I be honest? If you want something genuine, go to minami Osaka and buy a real quality hocho, or kitchen knife. It will be more impressive and much better quality than what you are looking at right now, and is also usable.
You also won't run into problems with customs on the way home, and it is something you can travel with easily.
Let me know if you want some advice if you choose to go this route (which is what I suggest all my visitors to do).
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I bought a daisho worth a couple hundred dollars a few years ago. I don't have any experience with the genuine quality ones (that are like tens of thousands of dollars), but I will say it's probably not worth it unless you're using it for decoration or something - even then it really depends. Slashing things (by things I mean objects and not anything living, obviously) doesn't really work well but if you stab it'll definitely destroy something (prob in the same manner as a kitchen knife, so think of it that way). If you start attacking stuff you're going to chip your blade and it's going to have scratches and look ugly.
My katana is also impractical and heavy, the wakizashi is a lot more convenient.
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I don't know what TO buy but I not what NOT to buy. My brother was stationed in Japan for the Navy for a little while and he bought a sword. He thought it was cool shit and when he came home with it (he had it shipped to our Dad's house), my dad opened it up and looked at it. My dad ins't an expert swords dealer or anything, but he knows enough. The sword my brother bought was made of aluminium and the cheapest plastic you could find. My brother payed about $250 for it T_T Basicaly, make sure you don't buy something that is made of aluminium. If you buy a cheap sword, make sure it looks and feels real lol When you do get a sword though, post pics ^_^
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If you buy one of those tourist swords be very careful with it. When you chop things with it, parts might shatter off and the broken bits that fly around might injure you.
edit:You could buy a real training catana made of japanese oak, ebony or whatever, it will be much tougher then the alu ones. Depending on wood and quality it may cost about 60$ perhabs?
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my only suggestion is that if you really want to buy a real sword... find a japanese friend/expert. or else, if you're white (or obviously not japanese), it will be impossible to find a legit sword, because all they'll try to do is rip you off, and overprice you like crazy for any real ones. I'm not being racist, this happens in any country, especially those with lots of tourists.
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Thanks for all responses, any information about this is highly appreciated!
Spinesheath; I probably should go for the cheapest one I could find indeed, but is there really no difference between a 10k sword set and a 20k sword set?
I'm really not looking for anything "useful" when it comes to a sword set, I'm more into in looking and feeling cool. I was half aware that the ones I posted about in the same price range is really just tourist swords, but I just want a sword that's though enough so that it won't for example break on the way home or when it's handled a bit rough (and by that I mean not hitting anything in particular). In addition, every sword I've seen so far have also been blunt, and I've got no plans on sharpening them for the sake of usage.
TLDR; I'm not really planning on using them, just show them off every now and then.
On June 27 2010 21:03 Manifesto7 wrote:
I live in Osaka.
Anything in your price range is simply a tourist gift. Can I be honest? If you want something genuine, go to minami Osaka and buy a real quality hocho, or kitchen knife. It will be more impressive and much better quality than what you are looking at right now, and is also usable.
You also won't run into problems with customs on the way home, and it is something you can travel with easily.
Let me know if you want some advice if you choose to go this route (which is what I suggest all my visitors to do).
When it comes to a quality kitchen knife; Yes it probably is a good call in the long run, but I guess right now I've really got my mind set on some kind of Japanese sword. I'm also still in school, and I haven't got my own apartment, so let's just say my priorities are different. (Or maybe I'm just in that age :p )
The customs in Norway do not have a problem with swords apparently, so that shouldn't be a problem. It probably is a bit of a drag to carry, but I will measure carefully and see if I can cramp something in my suitcase before I leave.
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There's really nothing good about wallhangers. You can't use them for anything. Their quality is terrible and they break really easily. You can't actually use this in any practical way even for practicing, which you won't do since you don't know anything about them in the first place, and even as decorations there will always be someone that actually knows something about the subject, look at them, and probably end up taking you much less seriously afterwards. There's just so little merit in buying these kind of weapons if you don't have any clue about them, particularly in the case of buying wallhangers to show off.
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On June 27 2010 23:21 VarmVaffel wrote:
Spinesheath; I probably should go for the cheapest one I could find indeed, but is there really no difference between a 10k sword set and a 20k sword set?
I don't really know much about those sword sets (just that $200 is way too cheap for a quality sword), but since they are tourist gifts: Price and quality probably aren't related in any way with these. You'll have to take a close look and judge yourself, the price won't help you.
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there are huge differences between a high price sword and a low price sword
mainly, the lower end dont have a full tang (the part of the blade that goes into the handle) because of the "rat tail tang" these lower end swords have u cannot expect to use them at all... if by showing off u mean having them on a stand on a shelf then ur good to go, but if u want to do any particular swings with it, dont get a lower end sword... as the tang might not hold the blade in place and u dont want a blade flying off ur handle and doing god knows what damage to who or what.
a full tang sword can remove the handle, i suggest requesting to see the tang before purchase to ensure u dont get ripped off in buying a cheap sword masquerading as "complete" sword
most higher quality swords are nowadays made with carbon steel i believe while cheaper blades have aluminum or stainless steel, on my decoration(because thats all a lower end sword is) it's actually stamped on the blade stainless steel so u can check for quality there
EDIT
here is a pic of a rat tail tang
http://home.comcast.net/~mubai/wallhanger11.jpg
usually this is glued to the handle which is probably just cheap plastic
this is a full tang
http://www.trueswords.com/images/katana_parts_tang.jpg
as u can see there is a HUGE difference
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or if you're cheapo just go buy one of those super cheap sword sets which are meant only to be put on display. i don't think you're going to need some legit folded carbon based sword with full tang or whatever if you just want an ornamental piece.
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Find Hattori Hanzo and pretend you can't speak Japanese.
+ Show Spoiler +sorry, I don't actually know anything about the matter
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Osaka27154 Posts
Well, if you do get a sword I strongly suggest finding a place that will ship it to your home. I don't think there is an easy way to carry a sword around on the bullet train for a week. There are many ornamental sets that are designed for display use that you can pick up cheap. There is basically no difference between 10 or 20k imo. Good luck!
Still though, I think a kitchen knife like this is a lot more authentic than a toy sword. :p
![[image loading]](http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/8881/20090207095514s.jpg)
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I have a friend that is working towards being a chef and he says that his mentor goes crazy over those hand-made knives. Most of them are owned by families that have done it for generations and they are apparently quite respected by chefs all over the world.
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Those kitchen knives look pretty impressive lol. I want ooonnneeee
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First you should find a master to train you - then the sword will find you.
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Austin10833 Posts
Go with the knife. A few years ago I got one of those cheapo swords (on st. mark's in NY, not in Japan) and whenever we would get drunk at my place we'd have some sort of sword contest. The most popular one was holding the sword like a javelin and chucking it into this white stucco wall we had in the living room. Sometimes there were posters or little targets, sometimes it was to see who could get it to sink in the deepest. We ended up filing the holes with toothpaste before we left so that we could get our security deposit back, but honestly we were really lucky no one died.
Surprisingly, more people were injured during our drunk nerf hoop slam dunk contests.
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Thanks for the a bit deeper insight in how swords are bad or not, I didn't know anything about the technical aspect with the full tang and whatnot until now.
A toy sword is probably what I'll go for, but since so many of you insist that I should buy a kitchen knife, how cheap can I get one? I'm not planning to spend a very huge amount of money on this stuff, but maybe I'll see a smaller kitchen knife through if the price is right.
So Manifesto, as you seem to know the most about this, where in Minami should I go to get such an excellent knife?
Btw, BroOd's story didn't put me off buying such a sword at all. :p
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Osaka27154 Posts
The best place is Doguya Suji.
Directions: http://www.doguyasuji.or.jp/multilang/english.htm
It is right by Den Den Town, the electronics district, outside Namba station. Here is the Google Map link:
View Larger Map
Even if you don't end up buying one, the street is really amazing, as there are like 50 shops that service the thousands of restaurants in the area. It is a very cool place to poke around for a bit, and it is close to den den town too.
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On June 28 2010 08:45 BroOd wrote:
Go with the knife. A few years ago I got one of those cheapo swords (on st. mark's in NY, not in Japan) and whenever we would get drunk at my place we'd have some sort of sword contest. The most popular one was holding the sword like a javelin and chucking it into this white stucco wall we had in the living room. Sometimes there were posters or little targets, sometimes it was to see who could get it to sink in the deepest. We ended up filing the holes with toothpaste before we left so that we could get our security deposit back, but honestly we were really lucky no one died.
Surprisingly, more people were injured during our drunk nerf hoop slam dunk contests.
You actually are really lucky. Those cheapo swords are known to just collapse around the handle when played around with. They don't have a proper tang and the fittings are laughable. They can hurt you really bad.
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Austin10833 Posts
On June 28 2010 11:54 koreasilver wrote:Show nested quote +On June 28 2010 08:45 BroOd wrote:
Go with the knife. A few years ago I got one of those cheapo swords (on st. mark's in NY, not in Japan) and whenever we would get drunk at my place we'd have some sort of sword contest. The most popular one was holding the sword like a javelin and chucking it into this white stucco wall we had in the living room. Sometimes there were posters or little targets, sometimes it was to see who could get it to sink in the deepest. We ended up filing the holes with toothpaste before we left so that we could get our security deposit back, but honestly we were really lucky no one died.
Surprisingly, more people were injured during our drunk nerf hoop slam dunk contests. You actually are really lucky. Those cheapo swords are known to just collapse around the handle when played around with. They don't have a proper tang and the fittings are laughable. They can hurt you really bad.
Oh trust me, I know we were super lucky. The blade actually did pop out of handle at one point, and it was one of those flimsy metal bars instead of a tang. This didn't change one key fact though:
Drunk ninja fears nothing.
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I'm getting really fed up with the cheaper kitchen knife's so thinking of buying some very good quality knifes.
Manifesto what is the price range for a good knife? One that will last the rest of my life and stays sharp (is it even possible to sharpen them like you do with a cheap kitchen knife without ruining the cutting edge?).
And is it possible to buy one online?
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Osaka27154 Posts
Anywhere from 50 bucks for a regular kitchen knife that we use at my house (which you can sharpen) up to 1000 - 10000+ for something a master would use. I don't know where to get one by mail, but I am sure there is a website out there somewhere that does it.
I am going up to the city next Wednesday so I can take some pictures for you if you like. That might make a cool blog. OP will you still be around?
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Thanks a lot for the google map and instructions. I was planning on going there today, but as I am traveling with three other buddies, we ended up not having time for the visit to that particular street after all. (We have set ourselves kind of a tight schedule for this Japan tour to see everything worth seeing before we go.)
I will stick around for a little less then a week from now, so please feel free to take pictures if you feel it's not too much of a bother! If I see a good offer I will surely take it, and as you say, it will make a good blog in general.
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EPT
