Dad brought back what we have learned is, we think, a Nipponese Naval officer's sword from the 1930's. There is no heroic story to go with it. Dad didn't get to Nippon until 1947. He was too young by a couple years to be in WWII but did suffer through Korea for 16 months. I knew that and asked him where and how he got it. To a little boy whose Dad was his hero the answer was a bit of a let down but, didn't change anything. He told me he bought it in a pawn shop in Yokohama. It resides in my gun safe and will go to my oldest son.