French sword instructor, Ichigaya Military Academy, Japan, 1874 Size: 203 x 260 mm After the Meiji Revolution, the Japanese government rearmed the army in the opean way, including the use of bladed weapons. In 1872, French instructors were invited. One of the missions given to the French was to create a unified sword training program for the Japanese army. In order to disseminate this new method, the French advisors first trained twelve Japanese non-commissioned officers, who in turn were to help teach the techniques to a wider audience. Training in Japanese kenjutsu was strictly forbidden.