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Engraved sword nameplates can now adorn Japanese houses, bring Arthurian style to the suburbs

Katy Kelly Feb 26, 2019
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If a simple metal nameplate isn’t eye-catching enough for your house, try one of these gigantic engraved swords for size.

Swords are back in a big way. You might argue they never really left – with the revival of medieval aesthetics and weaponry in video games and one happy couple even using a sword to cut their wedding cake, the allure of huge blades is one that won’t be going away any time soon.

And for the truly sword-obsessed, there’s a way to mark your devotion on your very house itself.

A nameplate, or hyosatsu, is a common enough sight in Japanese residential areas. As you walk past house after house, you’ll see the sunlight glint across squares of metal or wood emblazoned with the family name – usually in kanji, but often in Roman letters as well.

▼ A beautiful wooden hyosatsu of the surname Yamagishi.

ひさびさ作りました。
杉のハツリ表札
15cm×15cmhttps://t.co/XCqITgwnuv pic.twitter.com/5W0DYXyB9W

— 向井恭介 (@hatsurist) February 19, 2019

But you aren’t here to see classy geometric shapes with beautiful calligraphy on them. No, the fire in your veins demands something more intense. Thankfully there exists a company, Mino Craft, that’s willing to engrave your name in kanji and roman text onto a huge sword replica and have it serve as your hyosatsu instead.

Here it is in its natural habitat: a regular suburban neighborhood.

ようやく新居に伝説の聖剣（表札）が届いたから記念写真。
ちなみに個人宅での設置は全国初らしくてカタログに載るぽいw
てか思ったよりでけぇw pic.twitter.com/AB74ishwTh

— 社長 (@syatyou_eddie) February 22, 2019

“The Holy Sword (hyosatsu) that I ordered finally arrived at my new address, so I snapped a photo to commemorate it. I think mine was the first one to ever be installed in a private house, so they’re likely to post the photo in their catalog… Also, it’s way bigger than I thought it would be.”

The incongruity of the massive sword jutting out of a very serious and mature looking home makes for a great photo, so no wonder @syatyou_eddie took multiple shots. Commenters were delighted and immediately flexed their Photoshop skills:

▼ “Sorry, I looked at it and could only see a promotional ad for Dr*gon Qu*st so I made this. Sorry.”

すいません、どうしてもドラ〇エの広告にしか見えなかったので作ってみましたすいません(;´д｀) pic.twitter.com/RFbhuWmxbq

— shin (@takesinn_1989) February 22, 2019

Another commenter asked where his name was engraved, but @syatyou_eddie had apparently engaged in a little Photoshop manipulation of his own before uploading the photos – he edited the name off of the sword, but assured commenters that “in real life, it bears the name of a hero”.

▼ You can see some examples of engraved swords in the catalog, plus…other designs.

話題になってた聖剣表札カタログにあったんだけど魔王バージョンもあるんだよな…しかも２０万近くすんの……他にもいろんなのあって表札おもしろい pic.twitter.com/OjxZ3cS5kc

— くそみそ☀⛄🍑春コミ東７Ｖ１１ａ (@ksmsboon) February 22, 2019

One commenter asked @syatyou_eddie “aren’t you worried someone might take it out of the ground?” and he had this mighty response:

“Only a true hero can pull this sword out.”

For those of you wondering what all the fuss is about swords, and Japanese swords in particular, treat yourself to this primer. Sadly no matter how much of a sword supporter you are, you’ll have to move to Japan to enjoy the delight of a sword nameplate of your own: but at least you can always play the mobile game where they turn into sexy men across the globe.

Related: Mino Craft
Source: Twitter/@syatyou_eddie via Hachima Kikou
Featured image: Twitter/@syatyou_eddie