A bokken (木剣, bok(u), "wood", and ken, "sword") (or a bokutō 木刀, as they are instead called in Japan) is a Japanese wooden sword used for training. It is usually the size and shape of a katana, but is sometimes shaped like other swords, such as the wakizashi and tantō. Some ornamental bokken are decorated with mother-of-pearl work and elaborate carvings.
Bokken should not be confused with shinai, practice swords made of flexible bamboo.
Bokken were designed to lessen the damage caused by fighting with real swords and were used for the training of samurai warriors in feudal Japan. Bokken eventually became lethal weapons themselves in the hands of trained experts.
Miyamoto Musashi, a kenjutsu master, was renowned for fighting fully armed foes with only one or two bokken. In a famous legend, he defeated Sasaki Kojiro with a bokken he had carved from an oar while traveling on a boat to the predetermined island for the duel.
Itsumo yori sukoshi toomawari shite aruita kaerimichi
Natsukashii fuyu no nioi ni futoashi ga tomaru
Osanai koro kokoro ni ukabe teta yume
Kanaeta kazu dake yubiori kaunto shite mo
Shiroi tame iki...
Kigatsukeba hoshin to jounetsu no hazama
Utsurou kisetsu ni yudaneru hodo
Kasumu ano koro omoiegaita mirai
"Demo, korede ii" tte kokoro ga iu
Miraizu wo nazoru kawari ni
Te ni shita ima wo daite
Susunde de yuku dake I SEE ME
Nakushita mono, tsukanda mono
Kakenuketa hibi wo
Asu e tsumuide yuku
Kono nigami ga watashi no michishirube
Shingou machi de futo omoikaeshita kotoba wa
Watashirashi-sa o mamoru katedatta no ka naa
Kasena no ka naa
Kotae nado imi no nai kotoba asobi
Demo toikakete sagashite ashiato nokosu
Hie kitta te nigirishimete
"Demo, korede ii" tte kokoro ga iu
Miraizu wo nazoru kawari ni
Te ni shita ima wo daite
Susunde de yuku dake I SEE ME
Nakushita mono, tsukanda mono
Kakenuketa hibi wo
Asu e tsumuide yuku
Kono nigami ga watashi no michishirube
Furui yume ni se wo mukete hitomi tojirunara
Watashi, hontou ni kanaetakatta no?
Natsukashii itami ga kono mune no naka de uzuita toshite mo
Obutsukanai hibi no +wake ni wa dekinai
(I will never can let go, let it go, let it go)
Keep on keepin' on I'll keep it on
Tooi fuukei ni
I SEE ME... I SEE ME
"Demo, korede ii" tte kokoro ga iu
Miraizu wo nazoru kawari ni
Te ni shita ima wo daite
Susunde de yuku dake I SEE ME
Nakushita mono, tsukanda mono
Kakenuketa hibi wo
Asu e tsumuide yuku