The Dull Sword

The Dull Sword
Namakura Gatana
なまくら刀
(Namakura Gatana)
GenreJidaigeki
Created byJun'ichi Kōuchi
Anime film
StudioKobayashi Shokai Ltd.
ReleasedJune 30, 1917
Runtime4 minutes

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. 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.