Types of Japanese Swords

If you are new to buying Japanese swords, you will usually come across a variety of technicalities and hard words for quite similar swords. And of course, you’ll probably think “they’re all the same” at first.

Reading below you can find the characteristics of each Japanese sword, how they differ from each other and what their uses were during history.

While all these technicalities and names may seem threatening at first, once you learn them, it’ll be easier for you to decide what you want. And that will make the whole experience worth the while.

Why just having the classic Katana sword? There are several types of Japanese Samurai swords that may be better for you, or in addition

Here they go:

Katana

Katana is the most precise and lethal hand forged sword ever created over the centuries. Their use was exclusive to Samurai; hence they became known as Samurai swords as well. Although, in reality, they fall into the category of a saber.

It is a complex piece; the result of a deep armament baggage. And it is a symbol of beauty, effort, and delicacy, while being terrifyingly effective on the battlefield.

Unsurprisingly, it is considered one of the best weapons in medieval history —and also one of the most beloved and respected.

They say that the human being is in constant movement. And there is nothing that moves him more than war.

To reach the degree of precision required for the construction of the Katana, it took years of evolution and innovation in hand weapons designs of Asia.

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History of the Katana

Katana is the most precise and lethal hand forged sword ever created over the centuries. Their use was exclusive to Samurai; hence they became known as Samurai swords as well. Although, in reality, they fall into the category of a saber.

It is a complex piece; the result of a deep armament baggage. And it is a symbol of beauty, effort, and delicacy, while being terrifyingly effective on the battlefield.

Unsurprisingly, it is considered one of the best weapons in medieval history —and also one of the most beloved and respected.

They say that the human being is in constant movement. And there is nothing that moves him more than war.

To reach the degree of precision required for the construction of the Katana, it took years of evolution and innovation in hand weapons designs of Asia.

Katana Characteristics

It is estimated that a Katana weighs between 1.1 and 1.3kg, and the length of its blade varies from 60 to 73cm, with a total length of about 100-110cm —not for nothing is considered a two-handed weapon, even though some Samurai used it in only with one hand.

It has a complex handle made up of different materials, among which can be usually found ray skin, silk, copper, metal, wood, and more.

Everything in its design is done to maximize its power and absorb as much as possible the impact of strong blows.

With the birth of the new Katana sword a new type of combat was also born. Before, the most common was to carry the Tachi with the edge down, like a conventional sword.

However, the Katana began to be carried with the edge up, which allowed a skilled warrior to draw and attack in one move. This is one of the qualities that make the Katana a unique weapon of its kind.

Due to the curved shape of its blade and its single edge, the Katana is fundamentally oriented to the cut rather than the stab.

Its unique curvature is due to changes in the steel as it is cooled in a water with special salts.

A good handmade Katana will have an excellent balance between the blade and the handle, which will allow its carrier to maneuver with it without problems. One thing that can help this is the bohi, which reduces the weight on the blade and gives the carrier more control.

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Symbol of Honor

The Katana, besides being a lethal weapon, is also a symbol of honor. The warrior who carried it not only had to be skillful, but also had to protect his honor at all costs. Even if that meant his death.

Thus, Samurai did not fear the steel of the rival. Their greatest fear was to disappoint those they protected, and thus be dishonored. Only a true Samurai, who did not fear death, was in a position to carry a Katana proudly.

So much so, that it is assumed that Samurai and Katana maintain a deep bond on a spiritual level. The Katana is his very soul. The warrior takes it with him wherever he goes and keeps it close to him all the time, treating it with respect and care.

Throughout history, the Katana has always been the Samurai’s most precious and valued good. Wearing a Katana sword meant belonging to an elite made up only of the best warriors.

Each Samurai sword represented its owner; it was his seal of distinction. And for this reason, the style and symbolism of the sword was very important: from the design of the tsuba to the engravings that ran through the handle.

To have a Katana was to carry in one’s hands a part of oneself, and therefore everything in it should speak of its warrior.

After all, it is a lifelong companion, it is the difference between life and death.

Katana Swordsmith

Formerly, the blacksmiths chosen for the creation of the Samurai Katana sword began their creation process by praying. In order to reach this position, they had to spend at least ten years as apprentices before they could finally become masters of Katana forging.

A perfect Katana is believed to be the result of the blacksmith’s spiritual work. Only a true metal alchemist would be able to transmute his own spirit into the steel of the sword, achieving an unprecedented sword.

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Enforcing the Law in Feudal Japan

The Katana swords were often used to unload the full weight of the law on the necks of those who broke it.

Assailants, murderers, and all kinds of offenders found their destiny on the edge of these Samurai swords. Due to its precision and effectiveness in punishing criminals, the Katana also received the nickname of hand guillotine.

The Japanese Katana – A Work of Art

In addition to its unquestionable effectiveness in combat, the Katana blade is also longed for by many as a work of art. Its elegant curved shape, as well as the different treatments that can be done on steel such as folding or clay tempering, make it an attractive and beautiful weapon.

The structure of the Samurai Katana allows it to concentrate the force of the blow on the curved surface that comes into contact with the object. Also, the design of its handle also makes it possible to be drawn fluently, much faster than a conventional sword.

Because it is not as curved as other sabers such as the scimitar, it is still perfectly capable of being used to deliver damaging stabs against the opponent.

Its design is the perfect combination between a common saber and a sword; not much of one or the other.

For this very reason to give an accurate blow with a Katana often also implies that the blade slips over the target, so that not only does it damage thanks to the impact, but also cuts —the western swords, on the other hand, usually depend much more on the force of the impact, since they were not so much intended to cut.

Ko Katana

The Ko Katana usually refers to a smaller blade Katana, often with a similar blade size as the Wakizashi sword, yet with a full handle length of a Japanese Katana.

The Ko Katana can be referred to as Chisa Katana. some say it was used by merchants who were allowed to carry the Wakizashi but not the Katana, yet still wanted to have the ability for two handed grip.

O Katana

The name O Katana translates to a large or long Katana, Often the O Katana blade length is between 76-90 centimeters.

The O Katana is a bit longer with comparison to the standard size katana, it allows the wielder for extended reach while having adequate mass and still being able to maneuver.

Wakizashi

The Wakizashi is the companion and Auxiliary sword for the Katana. It has a blade with the same design as the Katana but considerably smaller. It also tends to have a thinner edge, so it is capable of hurting more severely a target without armor.

Samurai often carried both weapons together; Katana and Wakizashi, naming their combination daisho (long and short). A good warrior would be able to use both at once if the situation warranted it.

From the beginning, the Wakizashi was conceived as a defense weapon for Samurai in situations where they did not have their Katana. For this very reason it was widely used in interiors, such as houses and castles. A warrior could be asked to deliver his Katana in a formal place, but often he could keep his trusted Wakizashi.

Precisely, the custom of carrying it with a thinner edge comes from this indoor use. It is ideal in situations where the Samurai’s opponents do not have armor, but mere clothing.

Wakizashi were so important to Samurai that even they slept with them near the pillow, ready for any irruption, be it ninja or from other opponents.

Having a shorter, more manageable blade, these swords were also able to move more freely in places where any attack of a normal Katana would be hindered by the structures, ceiling, or furniture of the place, which greatly restricted its movement.

Also, because of its small size, it was used by many Ninja instead of the mystical Ninjato.

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O Wakizashi and Ko Wakizashi

For a sword to be a Wakizashi and not a Katana it should have a blade length of between 30 and 60 cm. Within this range two categories are distinguished depending on the size of the blade.

The term o-Wakizashi is used for when the blade is almost the length of a Katana sword. while the term of ko-Wakizashi, is used for a Tanto size blade sometimes with the same handle size as a standard Wakizashi.

Daisho

The use of a Katana and a Wakizashi together is known as daisho, although the same term is also used for the earlier combinations consisting of Tachi and Tanto.

When used like this, the Wakizashi used to play the role of replacing the Katana in case it was damaged or lost in combat. However, great Samurai were trained to use both at the same time, using the short sword for defense and the long sword for attack.

Wakizashi and Seppuku

Wakizashi also has an enormous symbolic and spiritual weight in Japanese history, as it was the weapon of choice for carrying out the Seppuku ceremony. This consisted in the suicide of the Samurai disemboweling himself with his own sword, enduring extreme pain while cutting his stomach open.

It was often accompanied by the writing of a poem before the act was carried out. This is because the first to perform the ceremony was a poet.

Tanto

The Tanto started as a straight dagger that used to be worn by Samurai along with their Tachi. At first it was an attack weapon, during the Nara period, but over time it evolved to become more ornamental.

At that time, Japan was in a period of rebellions and conspiracies that threatened the health of the Fujiwara family.

The solution was to create a new class of warriors who would dedicate their lives to protecting them, as well as other noble families. At the end of this period these men would become known as those who serve: Samurai.

Initially the Tanto blade was created to work along with Tachi sword and functioned as a weapon intended to be used indoors, where the long sword had no function. In these situations, thanks to its short-range strength, it became an ideal weapon.

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The Tanto Blade

The Tanto, with its straight form, was designed to be used primarily as a stabbing weapon, but is also perfect for cutting or even as a survival weapon.

Thanks to its more robust structure and the fact that it concentrates all the force of the blows on its tip, it is also capable of penetrating even hard objects such as armor.

There is an enormous variety in designs of Japanese Tanto; from modifications in the curvature to a double edge. For this reason, they have also acquired enormous value as pieces of admiration.

Today, however, the Tanto that predominates is the one that resembles to a miniature Ninjato.

Tanto Size

The blade of a Tanto usually varies between 15 and 30cm, although there are cases of some Tantos that have exceeded this rule, such as the nanboku-cho, which had up to 40 cm.

The craftsmen experimented with a variety of possibilities and forms for the Tanto, but these would never know the action, because with the arrival of the new swords these weapons would acquire a more symbolic value.

Nowadays the Tanto are demanded as functional knives and, many times, they are acquired together with a Katana and a Wakizashi as a full Samurai sword set.

Ninjato

Unlike the Katana sword, the Ninjato is a completely straight weapon. Not only does it have no curvature, but it is also considerably smaller than the Samurai sword.

For this very reason, it was not intended as an open combat weapon, but for closed environments, where swords and quick blows were far more effective than the large displays of a two-handed sword such as the Katana.

Another advantage of its design is that it can be used in reverse grip —that is, holding it upside down—. It is speculated that ninjas would have used two Ninjatos at the same time; that of one hand to attack, and that of the other to defend themselves or for extremely close combat.

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Ninjato Characteristics

Usually, a Ninjato should weigh less than one kilogram, and its blade should be between 48 and 60 centimeters. (although due to high demand we have set our standard size Ninjato to be similar to a Katana size)

Ninjato usually have square tsubas, rather than the round tsubas commonly used in Katana swords. While there is much speculation about this, it is believed that this form could have been useful for shinobis when climbing walls in a technique that consisted of using them as a kind of step to extend their range and, once up, recover the weapon by pulling a rope.

Ninja Swords Fighting Techniques

The ninja would have had a variety of combat techniques to use the Ninjato with maximum efficiency. Although these have been lost in time, today there are schools of ninjutsu that aim to recover this old style of fighting.

The ninjutsu composes all the strategies and tactics of non-conventional war, guerrilla, and espionage supposedly practiced by the ninjas, also known as shinobi.

These were assassins, scouts, and spies who were hired by daimyos. Despite being cold-blooded assassins, their main objective was espionage (something of vital importance in an age plagued with betrayals and conspiracies), and secondly scouting.

The Japanese Ninja

Despite being well trained and equipped for the fight, they avoided confrontation at all costs through stealth and deception, which even allowed them to escape from situations in which long opposition groups chased them.
Ninjutsu also involves techniques of information gathering, interrogation, camouflage, and misdirection.

Those who practiced it had to be able to move with agility in all kinds of terrain, so they also learned their own version of parkour. And they combined this with excellent techniques of disguise, escape, archery and medicine. Everything necessary to minimize the close fight, where they could be exposed.

In addition to owning a Ninjato, it is speculated that the shinobi also carried a variety of sophisticated gadgets for the time. Some better known and accepted, such as shuriken or ninja stars, nunchaku, grab hooks, and kunai. Others were a little more debated, such as the use of special sheaths in their Ninjatos that allowed them to breathe underwater, hear distant conversations, or carry various chemical compounds to blind their rivals.

Tachi

The Tachi is one of the main precursors of the Katana, being more curved than this and with a slightly longer blade. This made it a very good weapon on the battlefield, but terrible in confined spaces.

At first, Tachi was born as a cavalry weapon to cut off foot soldiers. The length of its blade gave a greater reach to warriors on horseback, while its curved shape led to a more powerful attack, taking advantage of the animal’s wild impulse.

On the ground, however, it also remained a terribly effective weapon, although its use was more complicated than when used on horseback.

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The blade of a Tachi measures about 73cm, the same as a long Katana.

Precisely because of the latter, what distinguishes the Tachi from the Katana is not its length, but its curvature.

Being initially thought as a saber for cavalry, it possesses a greater curvature along the whole blade than the Katana.

This same form makes it not as easy to draw as the Katana, so it’s a sword designed to be drawn before combat and not in combat itself.

The Tachi, instead of being carried with the blade up, like the Katana, is carried with the blade down.

Not only for reasons of etiquette, but also for the comfort of the warrior at the time of combat.

Unlike Katana, Tachi is not very suitable for stabbing. Quite the opposite.

It focuses much more on sharp and loaded blows, so it requires wider movements, and so the result of these is even more devastating.

It will be slower than the Katana, but if used well it can give stronger blows.

For this very reason it is a weapon that works best in very open spaces, where nothing can hinder it and its bearer should not worry about harming any ally.

Japanese Tachi Sword

Having been born before the Katana, Tachi is a weapon reminiscent of an earlier era in Japanese history. It is believed that this Samurai sword was in use during the Koto period (900 to 1596).

Swords are not always signed, but at one time it was easy to distinguish a Katana from a Tachi by its signature (Mei).

If the sword had to be carried with the edge down so that its signature could be read, it was a Tachi, whereas otherwise it was a Katana.

Nodachi

Unlike Tachi, which had been conceived as a weapon for cavalry soldiers, Nodachi was conceived as a weapon for infantry soldiers against cavalry, so it could be considered the opponent by nature of Tachi.

The name Nodachi is often translated as “field sword”, which some may call as Odachi, which translated as “great sword”, it was said that the Nodachi was able to cut a man and his horse in one stroke.

The Nodachi is a very large sword which the measurements can differ greatly, for a sword to be called a Nodachi, it must have minimum 90cm blade length, but some Nodachi sword throughout history have reached over 2 meter in blade length.

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The Nodachi Sword

The Nodachi sword has a considerably larger blade than the Tachi, as the warrior needed a greater range if he wanted to reach a rider on horseback and knock him down.

Although this would not always be necessary, since it could also be used to cut directly the legs of the animal while this gallop, putting his rider in a very disadvantageous situation, if not die of the impact.

The Nodachi is a main weapon. That is why, while whoever carried a Katana also could carry a Wakizashi, whoever carried a Nodachi had only this one.

Due to the enormous size of its blade and its subsequent weight, the Nodachi was reserved for specifically strong men, capable of wielding it without problem.

For this reason, it was also a rarer weapon to see on the battlefield. Weapons such as the Nagamaki were more common for the same purpose as they did not require as much effort.

Nodachi as a Symbol

During peacetime, the Nodachi was worn on the back as a status symbol, unlike most Japanese swords, that were worn on the belt.

While the Nodachi was more difficult to wield because of its weight, the colossal size of its blade could make it a truly devastating weapon in the hands of a warrior who could swing it proficiently.

The blade of a Nodachi sword can measure no less than 90 cm (3 shaku), while its handle usually measures between 32-45 cm.

Due to the enormous weight of its blade, it is not surprising that it was said that this sword was capable of splitting a warrior and his horse in one stroke.

The main advantage of the Nodachi against conventional swords is that its blows are much more powerful, so that someone who possesses another sword cannot simply block one of its blows, has to dodge it or otherwise deflect it.

A failed strike with a Nodachi can put a serious predicament on its bearer if he is not skillful enough to recover from it instantly. Here the strength of the wearer and his ability to wield it becomes important.

If we could compare it to something, we could say that Nodachi is the war hammer of Japanese swords, in the way that using it implies a great risk of exposure, but that a successful strike is really destructive.

Nodachi could also be used to train warriors. So, having learned to efficiently handle such a huge weapon, once they had a more conventional weapon in their hands, they would feel it simply like a long feather.

Nodachi

Sasaki Kojiro

However, there would be some warriors who would never let go of their Nodachi. Such is the example of swordsman Sasaki Kojiro, who, refusing to use smaller weapons, was known for his exploits with the long Nodachi sword. Eventually he would open a martial arts school and end up calling his Nodachi “the stick to wash and dry”.

Thanks to good training, he was able to use this weapon just as a normal Samurai would use a Katana, dealing quick and precise blows with it. He had even developed a special strike for his Nodachi called “the swallow technique”.

Nagamaki

The Nagamaki is a Japanese weapon that could be considered a hybrid between a Katana and a spear.

It is a blade usually the size of a Katana but with a handle a length of 2/3 to the blade. Its name can be translated literally as long wrapping.

Throughout history, Nagamaki didn’t have a consensus on its design.

There are cases, for example, where the handle was even longer, or that could be coupled with another stick to create something like a naginata.

The same applies to the blade, which sometimes was more curved and sometimes straighter.

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Nagamaki VS Cavalry

Like the Nodachi, the Nagamaki was born as an anti-cavalry weapon. However, unlike the Nodachi, this weapon has the balance point closer to the hands of its holder, making it much easier to wield.

That also makes it unable to hit as hard as the Nodachi, which has most of its weight on the blade.

Another advantage of the Nagamaki is that, having a longer handle, it can also be used for defense, to deflect attacks or protect against a rival too close.

Even to fight two opponents at the same time. And if the warrior saw himself against a horse, he would be in a better position to go out of range and injure the extremities of the animal, or reach the very rider.

Custom Handmade Nagamaki 225cm in total length,

Nagamaki Sword Combat Techniques

The Nagamaki has a variety of combat techniques that take full advantage of having a longer handle. Some of these techniques include hits with the handle, spinning the Nagamaki, or holding it in different ways to adapt to situations.

The most common way to use a Nagamaki is for the warrior to hold the weapon in front of him in a fixed position, just as he would hold a Katana.

His right hand is as close to the blade as possible, while his left hand is much closer to the base, to help him maneuver and recover from the blows.

If held in the center, however, it can be used to deflect an opponent’s attack with the blade while hitting with the handle in a single movement. Or to stop a blade attack while tripping the opponent with the other side of the weapon.

Nagamaki in Battle

Its versatile design allows it to adapt to a variety of situations, and its effectiveness in battle depends purely on the skill of its bearer rather than its strength.

Although in combat it can be used in a similar way to a Katana, the Samurai can also take advantage of long distances and wide places to use it as a spear.

In this way, its bearer is able to give strong blows while keeping a safe distance from the opponent’s blade, using Sojutsu techniques.

The efficiency of the Nagamaki on the battlefield and the possibility of being used without requiring exceptional strength led the well-known warlord Oda Nobunaga to arm his soldiers with this weapon. In his ranks, the Nagamaki proved to be truly effective.

Shirasaya

More than a type of sword, the Shirasya is a type of mount that is usually used to store the blade when it is not planned to be used for long periods of time.

You can also buy custom made Shirasaya swords in order to exhibit them.

Its name can be translated as white sheath, and it is a pure wood structure designed to preserve the blades intact, as within a common saya they could transpire and the blade could be damaged after a while.

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Shirasaya Construction

The Shirasaya has two central parts: the scabbard on one side and the handle on the other.

The Shirasayas can come in different sizes and measures, depending on the blade they are intended to hold. Thus, the most common thing for a Samurai is to have a kake with 3 pieces of Shirasaya on it; one with a Katana blade, the other with a Wakizashi blade, and the other with a Tanto blade.

Not for Combat

The Shirasaya is not designed to be used in combat, since its absence of tsuba, as well as Samegawa like a Koshirae handle made up of ray skin skin with ito wrap, presents serious difficulties compared to a real Katana.

If a Shirasaya were wielded, it could easily slip out of the hands of its wearer and fly away. In the same way the blade of the rival would not have inconvenient in meeting the hand of the Samurai, since it does not have hand guard.

No, the Shirasaya is not made for combat. The Shirasaya has two main functions.

Preserving the Samurai Sword

On the one hand, it is excellent for preserving the blade of the Samurai’s weapon, because the pure wood of its saya does not perspire, and, being totally closed, it does not let the air come into contact with the sword.

On the other hand, due to its simplicity and elegance, it is a really beautiful exhibition piece. When it is sheathed, it looks like a single wooden staff. Although the most common thing is to show it half-drawn.

Shirasaya Katana

Shirasaya Wakizashi

Shirasaya Tanto

Shirasaya for Modern Day Collectors

Shirasaya swords are especially popular among collectors, as they are the ideal complement for those who consider Katana to be works of art. They are usually exhibited in houses, as a symbol of power and elegance, or in dojos.

Another advantage of the Shirasaya is that the austerity of its design highlights the beauty of the blade.

Thus, it is not surprising that it is often used to show blades with hamon that have gone through a hadori polish, or those whose metal has been folded several times to display the hada.

The Shirasaya is usually made with wood, traditionally honoki, but today they are also built with bamboo or other types of visually appealing woods. The exterior is polished and remains undecorated, although it is common practice to write famous phrases or quotes on it.

Once you’ve found the sword or weapon you like best, it’s time to think about the use you intend to give it, because depending on this you will need your sword to complete certain requirements.