Admiral Tōgō and a Japanese sword

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The figure of a battleship "Mikasa" enclosed bridge and Admiral Tōgō

The figure of the naval battle in the Sea of Japan (Tōjō painter)
The moment of slugger discharge of the top battleship "Mikasa." A column of water is an enemy's impact.

The figure of an imperial combined fleet flagship "Mikasa" enclosed bridge
just before the naval battle in the Sea of Japan is started on May 27, 1905.

The officer who has grasped the center of a picture and the Guntō to the left hand is admiral Heihachirō Tōgō, an imperial combined fleet commander in chief. The blade of this Guntō is "Ichimonji-Yoshifusa." Commander in Chief Tōgō did not move this position one step during the battle, being exposed to an artillery shell and water splash. Desperate hard fighting of the Japanese soldiers who meet the Baltic Fleet of mighty Russia finished it with the history of a naval battle in the world as the complete victory which does not look at an example. Japan was saved in the national life or death crisis by this victory. He wrote down the position of each soldiers on an enclosed bridge correctly
around 1:57 p.m. in front of the battle start which has taken down "Z signal flag" which finished transfer on each warship.
Z signal flag means "Existence of the country is in this battle. Therefore, make much more strenuous effort each one."
Behind, the Tojo painter describing this picture got each officer to take the posture at that time including General Togo, and did minute sketching of that composition. Moreover, he photographed that posture in the photograph, and as a result of going and inquiring to actual battle ocean space, he completed this great work. Although the opinion that it will add since it becomes in commemoration of two officers who were not present in the enclosed bridge at this time
came out, Captain Ichiji did not accept stubbornly as "if its record has an error, it is another, but worth of drawing is lost if such a thing is done."So much, this picture is which has put weight on the fact. Therefore, when going up to
the upper exposure enclosed bridge, the custom put an officer's Guntō, the dirk, and the dirk of the signal private on the lower enclosed bridge also during the battle.
Cutting down a desperate open sea game, the officer on an enclosed bridge is not carrying the Guntō for pride.
The reason is for producing an error, if iron approaches the big compass of the center of an enclosed bridge.
Therefore, when going up to the upper exposure enclosed bridge, the custom put an officer's Gunto, the dirk, and the dirk of the signal private on the lower enclosed bridge also during the battle.
However, Director Tōgō has grasped the Guntō tightly only one person in such a custom. It is manifestation of Director Tōgō's desperate preparedness. This Guntō is the Imperial properties by which the lower result was carried out to Admiral Tōgō on the "Mikasa" enclosed bridge in strategy off Lushun through His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince's (next Emperor Taishō) officer in attendance on His Majesty at the time of the naval battle of the Yellow Sea of the previous year of the naval battle of the Sea of Japan.
He taught and did the carrying of this blade to the saber mounting of the both-hands grip.
Ichimonji-Yoshifusa is the sword which Yoshifusa in front of 700 old years (Kenpo annual 1213 year) forged.
Emperor Go-toba brought the national noted swordsmith together in the detached building Imperial Palace of Minase, and
ordered the sword making. The sword making of the Emperor was carried out itself, and he stamped the chrysanthemum-crest on the Tachi. The collected swordsmith was allowed the Mei of "the character of Ichi." For the reason, "Ichimonji-Yoshifusa" is called. The Tachi which these swordsmiths forged from the background of the time when maintenance of arms is hurried was an excellent sword of the battle basis. Compared with a sword near ceremonial arms, an appreciation fine-arts sword,
etc. in future generations, it was a heterogeneous sword.

The military swords (Guntō) was unnecessary to the fleet decisive battle.
However, a short-distance gun game is a hand-to-hand combat of a fleet.
Therefore, Tōgō was not able to part with the Japanese sword of a samurai's soul.

In the modern warfare, the members of the armed forces encouraged soul by having a Guntō.
The members of the armed forces maintained firmly the himself's "the Yamato soul (loyalty and pride to a homeland)" by
having a Japanese sword.
Grasping the Japanese sword tightly, the figure of admiral Tōgō which risks its death on a national crisis gave a deep
impression on Japanese people.

The meaning of the Guntō is directly expressed to this sight.

1

The mounting of a saber "Yoshifusa" in which
admiral Heihachiro Tōgō (he is a marshal behind) did the carrying.

The mounting and blade of this saber Refer to naval Guntō "Yoshifusa."

Tōgō-jinja

　　　　　
　　　　Republica de Chile naval officers
who do courtesy worship of Tōgō-jinja →

　
All the officers are doing the carrying of the command-sabre. Courtesy worship of the navy of each country does not cease still now. It is a clear proof of "Admiral Tōgō" being venerated from the navy in the world.

"The figure of the Mikasa enclosed bridge", and "Yoshifusa mounting" photograph offer: "Tōgō society" Mr. Katsuma Nojiri.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　December 14, 2013　

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