![]() On occasions the sword may also be used to commit Seppuku, or ritual suicide, which lead to the title ‘Honor Blade’. The Wakizashi could be used as a backup weapon, or in some circumstances could be wielded in the warriors off-hand, if the Samurai was skilled enough to use two swords at the same time. The katana was often called the sword or the long sword and the wakizashi the companion sword. When worn together the pair of swords were called daishō, which translates literally as “large and small”. The wakizashi was usually worn together with the katana by the samurai or swordsmen of feudal Japan. It is similar to but shorter than a katana, and usually shorter than the kodachi (“small sword”). The wakizashi (name meaning is “side insertion”) is a traditional Japanese sword with a shōtō blade between 30 and 60 centimetres (12 and 24 in), with an average of 50 cm (20 in). Overall length of our normal size katana is about 40.9 inch (104 cm), nagasa length is about 27.8 inch (70.5 cm). During the early 16th century, average length was much closer to 60 cm (23.6 inches), but late in the 16th century, it was again approximately 73 cm (28.7 in). In the late 14th and early 15th centuries, katana blades tended to be between 70 and 73 cm (27.6 and 28.7 inches) in length. The length of the katana’s blade varied considerably during the course of its history. The Katana was unique as it was traditionally worn with the edge facing upwards, allowing the wearer to draw the sword and strike there opponent in a single stroke. It’s thought the sword came to fruition due to changes to the battlefield environment, which required warriors to be more responsive and faster. The Katana began its life around 1392-1573, during the Muromachi period. The blade has long been associated the Samurai class of feudal Japan, it’s instantly recognisable for many due to its appearance in pop culture and it’s synonymous with Japanese swords. Most Katana will have a square or round hand guard and the handle will be long enough to accommodate two hands. The katana sword is characterized by its distinctive appearance: a curved, slender, single edged blade, circular or squared guard, and long grip to accommodate two hands. Katana is a type of Japanese sword (nihontō), also commonly referred to as a “ samurai sword”. Some of the more commonly known types of Japanese swords are the katana, wakizashi, tanto, odachi, and tachi, while the most commonly known type of Japanese sword is the Shinogi-Zukuri katana, which is a single-edged and usually curved longsword traditionally worn by samurai from the 15th century onwards. Japanese swords are still commonly seen today. Uchigatana (打刀): A development from the tachi in the 15th century.Usually one-edged, but some were double-edged, though asymmetrical. The blade is traditionally single or double edged and can range in length between 15 and 30 cm. ![]()
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