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

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.

Plot

Namakura Gatana (lit. 'dull-edged sword'; gatana is rendaku of katana) is a short comedic jidaigeki about a dim-witted self-appointed samurai.He gets fooled and buys a dull sword from a merchant. 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. 1 2 3 "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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