Why “Pillow Katana” Doesn’t Hurt Sleeping with #Shorts

*The content is based on personal studies and experience
There is no intention of denying other theories and cultural aspects

Since ancient times, katana were not just weapons, but were dedicated to the gods as ritual objects. So Japanese people believed that the katana had spiritual power and therefore could ward off evil spirits.

There is even a scene in a story (The Tale of Genji) that was written over a thousand years ago, where the main character feels the presence of an evil spirit and draws out his sword.

The custom of believing in this power has remained even today and is known as the 枕刀 Pillow Katana.

It is said to have originated from katana being placed on the chest of warriors who died on the battlefield, or from samurai keeping a katana nearby when they went to bed.

Nowadays, a Makura-gatana is a sword placed on the futon bed where the passed ones are laid to rest, or on the coffin to keep evil spirits away from the deceased.

In general, the company conducting the funeral prepares a short katana, but sometimes the deceased's beloved sword or the guardian sword (given to him/her at the time of their birth) is used in the funeral as a Makura-gatana.

So please don’t worry. The real pillows the passed ones sleep on are nice and fluffy.

▼Who is Shogo? What is this channel about?▼

▼Related videos in this channel▼
-5 Real KATANA Recommended by Kyoto's Most Famous Shop
-How Samurai Trained Physically & Mentally Through Katana Training and Zen Meditation
-How Difficult is it to Swing a Katana in Samurai Armor?

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I will be using the profit I gain from this channel at restaurants, hotels, and cultural facilities in Kyoto to introduce them. The more you watch the videos on this channel, Kyoto and Japan will become a more exciting place, and you can support your own and others’ dreams in the future even more.

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Not only will I be covering the topics in this main channel, but also some topics that you will only be able to enjoy in the sub-channel, like answering questions I receive, and my opinions towards some of the comments.

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♪Music♪
おとわび
トーマス大森音楽工房
ぽるぽるMusic

♪Sound effects♪
効果音ラボ

♪Pictures♪
かわいいフリー素材屋 いらすとや

#samuraikatana #samuraisword #pillowkatana #makuragatana #samuraiculture

[madmanthepope]

I would have assumed that a samurai should always be ready and sleep with their sword, thus the name pillow katana. But this is much more of an interesting concept.

[dimasakbar]

Imagine if US have Pillow Gun culture on deathbed/funeral.
Gotta throw those future archeologist for a loop.

[alucard]

In India, some cultures also have the tradition of keeping a blade of sorts (in our family's case a short sickle) under our pillows when we sleep to ward off bad dreams and spirits.
It's a dying tradition though, because only my grandmother currently does this in our house, and my parents told us not to do it from an early age because "we might hurt ourselves in sleep".

[voice-boyo]

So your telling me, when a grandma dies her soul grabs the katana and just starts wailing on some demon?

[secondbest]

Love your videos….simple, precise, yet powerful.

[LetsaskShogo]

*The content is based on personal studies and experience
There is no intention of denying other theories and cultural aspects

Since ancient times, katana were not just weapons, but were dedicated to the gods as ritual objects. So Japanese people believed that the katana had spiritual power and therefore could ward off evil spirits.

There is even a scene in a story (The Tale of Genji) that was written over a thousand years ago, where the main character feels the presence of an evil spirit and draws out his sword.

The custom of believing in this power has remained even today and is known as the 枕刀 Pillow Katana.

It is said to have originated from katana being placed on the chest of warriors who died on the battlefield, or from samurai keeping a katana nearby when they went to bed.

Nowadays, a Makura-gatana is a sword placed on the futon bed where the passed ones are laid to rest, or on the coffin to keep evil spirits away from the deceased.

In general, the company conducting the funeral prepares a short katana, but sometimes the deceased's beloved sword or the guardian sword (given to him/her at the time of their birth) is used in the funeral as a Makura-gatana.

So please don’t worry. The real pillows the passed ones sleep on are nice and fluffy.

[friendlyarsenic]

I love this channel so much, my mother immigrated from Japan and I love that you’re going into the fine parts of samurai history, thank you so much

[NghLrd]

Thank you for teaching mall ninja weebs and European sword enthusiasts about Japanese weaponry

[antique]

Ngl, that one image just then of that tiny lil’ baby katana is adorable and I now want one

[Hardly-zh]

In America we put a desert eagle on the tombstones with a picture of chris Kyle to ward of the British and middle eastern spirits

[AdamBlade]

But the question is, can you actually sleep well on a katana?

[kyliemoore]

I hear "the katana has spiritual powers" and think of this😂.

Everybody is gangster till your priest draws his Katana. "I said the spirit of christ compels you!!"

[rickmcricky]

Would the modern day equivalent of this be laying my glock on my coffin so the spirits don’t catch me lacking?

[NumB_]

"Hey friend! Wanna do a pillow fight??"
"Yeah sure"
Their last words

[Prince-kpzq]

Warriors in the middle of a battlefield with katana on their chest must've lived life with no regrets

[LetsaskShogo]

▼Who is Shogo? What is this channel about?▼

▼Related videos in this channel▼
-5 Real KATANA Recommended by Kyoto's Most Famous Shop
-How Samurai Trained Physically & Mentally Through Katana Training and Zen Meditation
-How Difficult is it to Swing a Katana in Samurai Armor?

▼MY DREAM▼

“To make every Japan lovers’ dream come true, by making Japan a more secure, comfortable, and safer place for everyone to visit, study, and live in”

I will be using the profit I gain from this channel at restaurants, hotels, and cultural facilities in Kyoto to introduce them. The more you watch the videos on this channel, Kyoto and Japan will become a more exciting place, and you can support your own and others’ dreams in the future even more.

▼Join our Membership▼

●Membership benefits
-Limited behind-the-scene videos
-Weekly live stream
-Priority reply to comments

Every single yen we earn from this membership, we will be donating to groups of people who are fighting to solve social problems in Japan, the Japanese schools where foreign students can study, or use it to spread the works of people working with traditional culture in Japan to preserve the arts they are doing.

▼[Sub-channel] “Shogo’s Podcast”▼
Please subscribe!!

The perfect channel to learn about Japanese culture and history in your spare time, during your walk to school or work, and when you are cooking or doing house chores.

Not only will I be covering the topics in this main channel, but also some topics that you will only be able to enjoy in the sub-channel, like answering questions I receive, and my opinions towards some of the comments.

▼[Listen to the real voices of the Japanese] "Voices from Japan series"▼

▼[Places recommended to visit in Kyoto] "Kyoto Hidden Gems" series▼

▼Instagram▼
*Please ask me questions through the DM here!（⚠️I do not use e-mail）

[OfficiallyDrippy]

Basically giving the dead a weapon to protect themselves from evil spirits 😭😭

[chickenmann]

If my coffin isnt decorated with a heavy katana, I ain't dying.

[Danae]

That is the cutest/ kawaii tiny katana . I want...

[warlord]

The vikings had a similar custom with their belongings but warriors were sent to the after life with not only their weapons but also with horses dogs and in longships the reason for this was to help the warrior enter valhalla and to have their animal companions to stay with them in the after life.