The Atsuta Factory & Military Swords

[Kiipu]

I found this interesting exchange between the United States Strategic Bombing Survey (USSBS) and the Atsuta Factory of Nagoya Arsenal about the production of military swords. The original translation was done by the USSBS and I have used [brackets] to insert kanji and to clarify the text. The swords being discussed appear to be officer swords and not Type 95s.

Question 4. In connection with factor (e) of question 1, and considering all of your main components:
(a) State what measures you took to overcome any component shortages, (that is, your attempts to find other sources of that component, or to use or obtain substitutes for that component, etc.). Also state the success of those measures.
(b) Give your opinion about the causes of any component shortages during the period Dec 44 through July 45 (that is, damage to factories, raw material shortages, etc.).

Answer #4. a. The production of military swords up to the end of 1944 was in the hands of manufacturers of the KANSAI sector (KAN CHIKU) [関地區] but because of lack of capacity in the production of dress accessories [外装部品], the output was at the level of 3500-4000 swords a month. Since production could not be increased, in the hope of standardizing and simplifying, it was planned to manufacture wooden scabbards and to simplify the form of dress accessories. Scabbards [鞘] were kept in continuous production at the WAJIMA factory [輪島製作所] in ISHIKAWA Prefecture [石川縣], and dress accessories were produced in the OSAKA [City] TOSHIGAWA Metal Foundry [利川金属製作所], the INUI ( TN ? 乾) Iron Works [乾鉄工所], and in NIIGATA [新潟], the KOBAYASHI Iron Works [小林鉄工所]. By having their finished products transferred to the KANSAI sector manufacturers, it was possible to turn out 8000-9000 swords a month.

Answer #4. b. The majority of factories manufacturing parts were in TOKYO and OSAKA, however in order to ensure smoothness in the supply of sufficient parts, it was urged that the actual raw materials be provided. The bottleneck in obtaining them was the extreme shortage of transportation. Particularly in 1945 hasty evacuations were carried out because of continuous air raids, and transportation difficulties were increasingly felt. The crisis was met by having subordinates carry the articles in their hands, working co-operatively.

An image of the Japanese source document is provided below.