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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.