Japanese anime swords are often one of the most recognizable aspects of any given anime title. In fact they’re almost totally necessary for shounen anime. The sword often becomes just as recognizable as the hero or villain. Although plenty of anime swords are completely made up, many of them actually have roots in real swords of either Japanese or European origin.
List of Awesome Fictional Swords in Japanese Anime
For just about every famous anime there is an equally famous sword. The heroes of shounen anime, in particular, are usually known for their cool swords. Take a look at these ten examples of famous Japanese anime swords and the titles they belong to:
- Murasame (Akame ga Kill!)
This sword is wielded by the titular heroine and can kill with barely a touch, due to its poisoned blade. In Japanese historical myths, the Murasame is paired with the Masamune as two magical blades, but the Murasame is cursed. - Kurikara (Ao no Exorcist)
This is a katana held by the hero Rin Okumura to keep his demon powers sealed away. It also functions as a demon slayer. - Tessaiga (Inuyasha)
One of the most famous Japanese anime swords, this sword is used by the titular hero. Tessaiga starts out as a rather worn katana before transforming into a huge sword with the addition of demonic power. Sword transformation is a very common trope in anime; this is one of the finest examples of this fascinating idea. - Toyako Bokuto (Gintama)
This is actually a sword purportedly made from ancient alien wood – but it cuts even more powerfully than a metal sword. Wooden swords are actually used regularly in Japan for training; except for the material, these swords look exactly like katana. The name for them is bokkenBOKKEN 木剣 "wooden sword" learn more..., which uses the kanji for wood and sword, so it’s literally “wood sword”. Bokken have been quite capable of becoming lethal weapons themselves when used by experts. - Double-edged Tsurugi (Samurai Champloo)
This sword was carried by the character Mugen and had both a curved blade and a two-pronged hilt. It was based on a combination of a katana and an Okinawan sai sword. The special hilt allowed Mugen to break the swords of opponents by catching them between the hilt and the sword. - Sakabato, the reverse-blade sword (Rurouni Kenshin)
This is one of the most famous Japanese anime swords. The hero, Kenshin, was well known for his desire to avoid bloodshed by using this sword. - Mugen (D.Gray-Man)
Carried by one of the main characters, this sword appeared as a standard katana, but naturally also had various demon-slaying powers. - Wado Ichimonji (One Piece)
This is a straight blade sword, in contrast to the typical curved blade of a katana. Straight blade swords had various names depending on the period. - Zanpakuto (Bleach)
This sword is one of the many anime variations of a zanbato sword, or horse-slayer. It is oversized with a single cutting edge. - Tenrou (Samurai Deeper Kyo)
In anime, this sword is one of the true demon blades forged by swordsmith Muramasa. It is an odachiODACHI 大太刀 "large tachi sword" learn more..., which was a Japanese great sword. The Western equivalent would be a longsword or claymore.
The Historical Basis for Japanese Anime Swords
As you can see, quite a few fictional Japanese anime swords have a basis in real historical swords. Generally, various liberties are taken by artists and writers in making the swords really stand out.
Some blades appear quite often in different anime. For example, the Murasame and Masamune appear in several titles. These swords are a bit of reality and myth colliding; they represent darkness and light. The legend goes that the blade made by Masamune would let leaves in a river flow around it, while the Murasame blade would attract and cut the leaves. Usually, when the Masamune appears in an anime, it’s powerful and righteous while the Murasame is usually cursed, wantonly destructive and evil.
The horse killer sword zanbato also appears often in anime. In addition to being the basis of the Bleach sword, it also appears in Rurouni Kenshin as Sagara Sanosuke’s main weapon. Another appearance is in Inuyasha, as a sword wielded by a villain named Bankotsu.
The bokken, or wooden sword, also appears in anime besides Gintama, such as in Rurouni Kenshin by the main female character Kaoru. However, it’s important to realize that there’s a difference between a bokken and shinaiSHINAI 竹刀 "bamboo sword" learn more..., which is a flexible bamboo practice sword. (The multitalented Kaoru also uses this type of sword.)
Even the ridiculously long swords in anime actually have a historical basis. Not just those zanbato swords but also the odachi sword, as evidenced by the aforementioned Samurai Deeper Kyo character. Odachi required a lot of skill to make, so they are quite a bit rarer in real life than other types of Japanese swords.
Early Examples of Swords in Anime
Even the earliest anime often featured swords. One of the oldest known anime titles is Namakura Gatana, or “blunt sword”. The sword in this one was pretty much the exact opposite of the super powerful swords you see in modern anime: It had a dull edge, and the samuraiSAMURAI 侍 "warrior serving a lord" learn more... using it was unable to fight even extremely weak opponents.
Special Powers of Various Japanese Anime Swords
Anime swords are ultimately – whatever the details – never boring. Even if they have a historical basis, many of them also have some kind of magical power that may or may not depend on the user.
Most of the swords mentioned on this page have some kind of special power that sets them apart. The Murasame in Akame ga Kill! is extremely poisonous and thus kills with a mere scratch. However, that’s not its only power. The user can cut themselves with the sword, and if they survive their strength and speed are increased.
Inuyasha‘s Tessaiga sword has a number of special attacks that can be used against foes. For example, the Backlash Wave takes an enemy’s power and sends it back at them. In D.Gray-Man, the character Kanda’s katana is made from the magical power of “innocence” and thus can increase its own strength. Kyo’s sword Tenrou in Samurai Deeper Kyo also has special attacks that apparently originate from the sword, which is considered to be alive with an embedded wolf spirit.
A few of the swords mentioned don’t really have any magical powers per se, depending instead on the supreme skill of the user. For example, Kenshin’s sword is only powerful because of his own ability. It’s generally accepted that no one else can use a sword like that to any great effect. Kenshin has a number of special attacks that he uses, similar to the aforementioned Kyo, but they originate from him and not the sword.
Why Swords Are So Popular in Anime (Spoiler: Because They’re Cool)
Japanese anime swords tend to garner as much interest as the heroes that wield them. Why are they so popular?
In simple truth, the answer to this question probably doesn’t go much beyond “swords are cool.” Animators design the most famous anime swords to be unique and flashy, and many of them also have the special powers mentioned above. That alone is enough for them to garner so much attention from fans of anime (and of swords in general).
Bladed weapons are also often used as a plot device for the hero. For example, in order to become more powerful the hero has to learn how to properly use his sword. This idea is heavily employed in Inuyasha as he gains more and more powerful sword attacks through the course of the show.
In Samurai Deeper Kyo, the hero has to master the wolf spirit that lives inside the sword. Another trope is that the hero himself gets more powerful and is then given a sword as a reward, or he is able to find a secret sword and gain power. Concepts like these are often so entwined into the anime plot that it’s impossible to separate them.
Pick Your Favorite Anime Sword
There are many swords to choose from when selecting your own personal favorite anime sword. What kind of special powers do you like best – or do you prefer none? What look or historical basis interests you the most? You may even consider how cool the name is. It’s up to you; like actual swords that collectors buy and display, a favorite anime sword should suit your own unique personality and tastes.