If you even mention katanas

Look forward to 20 minutes of pointless arguments about Japanese vs. European swordsmanship

Ugh

Euros nuked Japs

There is always at least one guy who used to do Kendo before he came to HEMA

so it doesnt matter

And always at least one autist who is a big Shadiversity fan or Skallagrim or similar

Who will snort and sneer and repeat all these memes "muh nippon steel"

And it goes on and on

did japs even have steel

I mean, all weapons are specialised. There is no perfect weapon. Katanas are good for cutting, shit against armor, which is the case for a lot of swords, but not as much for some. Like, I know some katana styles incorporate halfswording, but you couldn't use it like a spear.

Isnt Japan a mineral-less dump

ching chong pls gib metal

A katana is just a backsword you can grip with two hands

It's a sidearm

here have some fish

Hey guys

its a me

Weaboo Kempeitai is fucked

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/653803797646147585/676685637855739904/mike_pence.jpg

faygio

@Chawosaurian

Swords are mostly sidearms or for dueling/fighting at closed range. They aren't really battlefield weapons.

based

Nippon Steel was a low quality steel that required massive refinement to make suitable. Once the steel was refined though, it was just as good as Euro steel

zap

welp ye

Japan has some omega low quality iron

probably the lowest quality on Earth

Steel is Steel, its just a question of how much refinement it needs to get to that Steel level

Swords have the mystique and symbolism they do because they were the weapon used for self-defence for most of history

efficiency

thats why you had to fold japanese bullshit 200+ times

with good iron I can make 10 swords instead of 1 out of garbage iron

Every man once he was grown up would be expected to have and carry a sword

it was garbage and that was the only way to refine it

And to use that sword in defence of the law if he was called upon

Nippon style is fine but overrated. The intricate process of folding is actually to compensate for its many impurities. It's also not a unique forging process, similar methods are found in roman steel forging.

that makes swords difficult asf to acquire in large numbers

For example back in the day if you were being robbed or something you didn't call the police, you called for _help_

And it was expected that if you were a God-fearing man with any balls at all