Archaeologists Find ‘Richly Decorated’ Japanese Weapon Amidst WWII Rubble

A “richly decorated” weapon from Edo-era Japan was discovered in Germany amidst a pile of rubble within a cellar damaged during World War II, according to a statement from the Museum of Prehistory and Early History of the Berlin State Museums and a report by Live Science.

Archaeologists uncovered the sword during an excavation of Molkenmarkt, the largest square in Berlin. They initially believed it to be a military saber, but upon closer inspection, they deduced that it was a wakizashi from the Edo period (1603 to 1868). The museum added that the blade itself may be even older and date back as far as the 16th century. Scientists believe it was brought to Germany sometime in the 1800s as part of a diplomatic mission.

"Who could have imagined that at a time when Japan was isolated and hardly any European travelers came to the country, such a long-used and richly decorated weapon would end up here in Berlin?" Matthias Wemhoff, the museum’s director, marveled.

The sword was discovered in the winter of 2022 by archaeologists working with the Berlin State Office for Monuments to excavate the cellars of residential and commercial buildings in Molkenmarkt. The area was “reduced to rubble” during the war, and in the 1960s was paved over with modernized streets and intersections.

Archaeologists uncovered a plethora of artifacts in addition to the wakizashi, such as bridles, stirrups, curbs, and harnesses for horses which had been discarded near the war’s end. However, the sword stood out as a particularly luxurious and uncommon discovery.

Wakizashi were also known as “backup swords.” They were carried and worn at all times by samurai as an additional weapon in case they needed to do battle in a small room or in close proximity to their target which might restrict their handling of a larger katana.

In the nearly two years since its discovery, scientists have meticulously restored the sword. Through their efforts, they determined that it "was once reserved for dignitaries as a status-related weapon," Wemhoff explained.

Wemhoff is unsure exactly how the weapon ended up in Germany, but he does have a few theories. "Perhaps the sword was a gift from the Takenouchi Mission in 1862 or the Iwakura Mission, which followed eleven years later, of Japanese ambassadors who visited Europe and the rest of the Western world to build relationships and gather impressions," he posited. "The spatial proximity of the Molkenmarkt with its surrounding aristocratic palaces to the Berlin Palace suggests this."