Japan: Period 1938-1943 WW2 Officers Sword Surrendered to an Australian Officer in PNG, a fine example by a well-regarded maker. Japanese Army Officers Sword WW2 Period, Imperial Japanese Army officer Shingunto. Made by Asano Kanezane, signed & also stamped with his personal seal from the 1940s. Kanezane is one of the better documented swordsmiths of the Showa (WW II) Era. He was born Asano Shinichi on December 19th, 1910 in the city of Seki in Mino (Noshu) Province & was apprenticed to master swordsmith Kojima Kanemichi in 1923. In April of 1930, he became an independent swordsmith. He established a school of swordmaking in Seki City. He won numerous awards for sword making including the silver medal in the 1934 Fine Art Exhibition, the gold medal at the same exhibition in 1935 & gold medals in each successive exhibition from 1936 to 1941. He was ranked second sea (quasi national smith) in the 1941 newly made swords exhibition. In 1942 he received a Special Award at the last Fine Art Exhibition held prior to the end of the war. Overall Length: 94 cm Blade Length: 64.5cm