ABSTRACT
Kendō (Japanese swordsmanship) is seen as symbols of history and national pride, and as parts of the indigenous culture embodying national narratives in Japan. This chapter provides an overview of the special position held by the kendō, changes in that position, and the relationship of kendō with the wars in the nineteenth and twentieth century. Why did the government encourage kendō even after the collapse of the Tokugawa Shogunate and the abolition of the samurai class in 1868? How did kendō develop in opposition to Western sport that were gaining interest among the populace? This chapter aims to examine these key subjects in a historical context.
