![]() ![]() Of course, wakizashi also had one more important use. And kinder on a shorter blade when impeded by strong samurai armor. Let’s just say it was easier to behead an opponent with a shorter blade during a fight. Samurai carried wakizashi, which were shorter, but just as deadly, to defend themselves indoors or to finish off an injured enemy. The length of a katana blade made them very poor weapons for fighting in close quarters. Why exactly did samurai feel the need to carry more than one sword? It might be surprising given the durability and power of the katana, but the Japanese wakizashi sword was considered backup sword. (Prior to the Edo period, wakizashi could literally be any kind of short sword worn together with another sword.) The Purpose of the Wakizashi At this point in time, wakizashi also began to refer to the type of short sword described above. Of course, this worked out well for the samurai, as you will see below. Members of the privileged samurai warrior class were the only people permitted to carry long swords, such as katanas. Sword use was heavily regulated during the Edo Period in Japan, from around 1600 AD to 1870 AD, by the ruling Tokugawa Shogunate. Samurai began to favor the wakizashi over the older short sword known as the tanto TANTO 短刀 "short sword" learn more., which was also used for indoor fighting. Wakizashi were the perfect short sword for indoor combat. The longer blade of a katana, however, was not suited to fighting in close quarters, especially indoors. Wakizashi were made using the same methods as katana, which means they were created with a large cutting surface and with durable steel. The use of the Japanese wakizashi sword dates back to the 15th and 16th centuries. This means that the stylistic differences among different swordmakers for katanas carried over to the shorter, companion swords. Wakizashi were also generally created to match the katana of a samurai. While there definitely was also variation in styles and designs, these more often could be seen from one swordmaker to another. In comparison, o-wakizashi had shorter blades similar to another popular short sword, the tanto. Ko-wakizashi had longer blades similar to the length of a katana. Wakizashi swords varied in one major aspect – their length. Variation in Wakizashi Design Two Main Types of Wakizashi Sword These measurements are pretty reliable for original blades and high-class reproductions. Those between two and three shaku were usually katana. Swords between one and two shaku (from their sword guard to their tip) were usually classified as wakizashi. Once sword use and length regulation became popular among Japanese rulers, it became easier to distinguish between a katana and a wakizashi using the old Japanese unit of measurement known as a shaku (about 14 inches). A matched pair of katana and wakizashi together formed a daisho DAISHO 大小 "big and small" learn more., meaning “big-little.” Wearing a katana and a wakizashi together was an indication to others that the person was a samurai warrior. ![]() While nowadays you can find these short Japanese swords alone, during the time of the samurai they were usually worn together with a katana. ![]() The average length of a wakizashi was traditionally anywhere from 12 inches and 24 inches much later in their use blade lengths were heavily regulated. literally translates to “side-inserted sword.” This type of blade was most often worn as a companion to the more famous katana KATANA 刀 "sword" learn more. Wakizashi WAKIZASHI 脇差 or 脇指 "medium-length sword" learn more. Who knows what kind of tales might be hidden by these finely-made blades? Learn more about the wakizashi and you’ll see why having at least one of these gorgeous pieces in your collection is a must. The interesting history attached to wakizashi swords also makes them a great option for many sword collectors. These short swords accompanied samurai wherever they went, and came to play an important role in the culture and traditions of Japanese swordsmanship. The Japanese wakizashi sword, while less well-known than the popular Japanese katana, can be considered the true companion of the samurai SAMURAI 侍 "warrior serving a lord" learn more. ![]()
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