The Dull Sword

The Dull Sword (Japanese: なまくら刀, Hepburn: Namakura Gatana) is a Japanese animated short film produced by Jun'ichi Kōuchi in 1917. It was rediscovered by an antique shop employee in Osaka in March 2008.[2][3] This film is a 4-minute silent short that tells a story about a foolish rōnin's purchase of a dull-edged sword and subsequent attempts at tsujigiri. It was released on June 30, 1917, and is among the very earliest examples of anime.

The Dull Sword
なまくら刀
(Namakura Gatana)
GenreJidaigeki[1]
Created byJun'ichi Kōuchi
Anime film
StudioKobayashi Shokai Ltd.[1]
ReleasedJune 30, 1917
Runtime4 minutes[1]
Toy filmstrip of Namakura Gatana (なまくら刀), originally Hanawa Hekonai Meitō no Maki (塙凹内名刀之巻), a formerly lost film by Japanese animator Jun'ichi Kōuchi

Plot

Namakura Gatana (lit. 'dull-edged sword'; gatana is rendaku of katana) is a short comedic jidaigeki about a dim-witted self-appointed samurai and his worn-down sword which turns completely useless as he tries to fight even the weakest opponents. The samurai, trying to figure out why his old sword cannot cut anyone he strikes, tries desperately to attack random townspeople who defend themselves and knock him out.

References
  1. "The Dull Sword [the longest, digitally restored version]". National Film Archive of Japan. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  2. "Japan finds films by early "anime" pioneers". Reuters. March 26, 2008. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  3. Loo, Egan (March 27, 2008). "Two Nine-Decade-Old Anime Films Discovered (Updated)". Anime News Network. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
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