ABSTRACT
In 2015, the online game Tōken Ranbu triggered extensive interest in Japanese swords, particularly among young women. The transmedia franchise that has developed around the game has induced contents tourism across Japan. This chapter describes how the game has created an enthusiastic fandom which travels great distances to see their favourite swords, does fundraising for the restoration of swords, and engages in disaster relief at ‘sacred sites’ housing swords. However, the national sentiments linked to swords and the negative associations of swords with twentieth century imperialism have given the franchise a measure of political sensitivity whenever connections emerge with twentieth century wars.
