The wakizashi is a Japanese short-sword and relative of the infamous katana. While not as well-known as the katana, the wakizashi is a blade rich in history and was only wielded alongside the katana by the samurai class back in feudal Japan.

The wakizashi is a sword equally renowned for its beauty, and craftsmanship as well as its terrifyingly sharp edge designed to cut straight through any enemies that dared face it, with a tip sharp enough to run armored enemies straight through.

The wakizashi was popular amongst the samurai as an indoor weapon, as longer swords such as katana and tachi are far too long and inconvenient for close up combat. Meanwhile, a dagger or tantō are far too small to be effective in a dual. Making the wakizashi ideal.

The wakizashi came into the samurai world as early as the 15th century in feudal Japan and was the most common secondary sword only able to be worn by the elite class of Japan’s society – the samurai.

While the blade itself at first glance appears to be nothing more than a smaller version of the renowned katana, they are in fact 2 different blades entirely. On top of their purpose and the status they brought by owning one, they could be forged differently as well.

Sword making has been a practice in Japan for centuries, and the classification of a sword is significant to the time it was created. The wakizashi is a member of the Kotō otherwise known as old swords. These were forged between 900–1596.

The wakizashi is a unique sword, though having many similar relatives when compared to other nihontō. Though a secondary sword a skilled samurai could be just as threatening with a wakizashi as he was with a katana. Interested in more about this amazing sword?

Keep reading.

What is the Wakizashi Made of?

The strong material used to make a wakizashi swords is high carbon steel. Usually, 1045 steel, 1065 steel, or 1095 steel. The process of Japanese swordsmithing is a skill that has been passed down for centuries and is considered very sacred.

The Wakizashi is may look like simply a piece of metal, but there are many crucial steps that must be completed over the course of days or even weeks to create these flawless blades.

Wakizashi (and katana alike) are forged with high carbon steel known as Tamahagane, or jewel steel. A substance created through iron sand that is used specifically for the practice of Japanese swordsmithing and production of a few miscellaneous tools.

Japan has been renowned for centuries for it’s sword making skills, involving a process that melts down and folds the steel over itself over and over and constantly forging and re-forging in order to eliminate any impurities in the steel to ensure the end result is perfect.

This constant folding of steel not only helps thicken the layers to strengthen the sword’s edge and overall durability but adds to the beauty of the steel once the sword is allowed to cool in a faster way.

The blade is forged through this constant folding of soft steel and hard steel that can create over 1 million individual layers of steel in the blade. The blade is then clay-tempered in order to cool at a different rate than the rest of the sword.

This part of the hardening process is what creates the hamon of the blade. Hamon literally translates to blade pattern, which is visible and adds a remarkable beauty to the blade. This pattern is unique to each hand-made sword, thus making every sword unique.

Once the blade has been forged the sword needs to be properly assembled. The sword has a habaki which is a small piece of metal that has 2 main functions: locking in the blades guard, known as a tsuba, and helping the sword lock into its saya or scabbard.

The tsuba itself not only serves to add beauty to the sword and has artistic aesthetic features, but protects the user’s hand, crucial for a wakizashi which is a single-handed weapon.

The tsuba is placed in between two small plates meant to tighten or loosen the blades fitting. Usually made of bronze or iron known as the seppa. The seppa can also be silver or gold to add a more elegant look to the blade, increasing its beauty.

The tsuba is then connected to the tsuka, or the handle of the blade by the fuchi — a small metal plate that signifies the end of the starting point of the wrapping that is put around the handle. Usually matching with the kashira on the very end of the handle.

The handle is secured and kept tight with the help of the menuki which also helps to ensure that the blade will be fixed in its position and keeps it tight and secure in it’s place and is covered with Ito wrap to make wielding the sword more comfortable.

The wakizashi – like the katana, is an incredibly complicated sword to make and has countless components that need to all come together in perfect harmony in order to forge the perfect sword.

How Long is a Wakizashi Sword?

The range of length of the wakizashi sword can vary based upon whom the sword was forged. The range of the blade of the wakizashi is between 1 to 2 feet in length or 30-60 centimeters.

There are varying types of wakizashi, such as the ō-wakizashi which was similar in length to the katana. Alternatively, there was the kō-wakizashi which was similar in size to the tantō.

What is the Purpose of a Wakizashi?

The wakizashi goes back as far as the 15th century and was primarily used as a secondary weapon for the samurai. In the event, a samurai had been disarmed or his katana broke, the wakizashi was available to be used as a backup.

In addition, the wakizashi was utilized for close-quarters combat and in situations where a long sword would be less advantageous. It was also used to finish off a fallen enemy by beheading him.

On occasion, it was the weapon of choice to use in the practice of ceremonial suicide, also known as seppuku.

The wakizashi was also symbolic to a samurai. Wakizashi was never carried alone, as it was part of the Daishō, which literally translates to big-little, indicating the difference of the length of the katana and wakizashi – which was always carried as a pair.

As a part of the samurai class, one must show that they are truly part of the elite, and this was usually displayed with vast amounts of symbolism. Daishō being a large part of it. Such was the way of life for a samurai in feudal Japan.

Therefore, daishō was extremely important to samurai and they were required to carry 2 weapons on them at all times. One long sword, which were always the primary weapon, and one short sword that were to be used as a backup.

When it comes to daishō, the wakizashi was not the only option for a samurai to use as a secondary weapon. There was also the tantō blade, a smaller version of a wakizashi. The different pairings of swords were significant to the time period in Japan’s history.

What is the Difference Between Wakizashi & Kodachi?

To understand the differences between the wakizashi and the kodachi, one must first know what a kodachi even is in the first place. A kodachi is a smaller version of a tachi, another type of nihontō, or a traditional Japanese samurai sword.

The kodachi blade resembles that of its larger cousin, the tachi, which was a legendary blade known for its large curve.

Kodachi are handled in a similar fashion to that of a wakizashi but are mounted differently than the wakizashi. Moreover, the kodachi is a blade that must always be under 60 centimeters in length to be considered a kodachi, while a wakizashi can be 60 centimeters.

The wakizashi has a lot more freedom and room for variation in its length and design, meanwhile if the length of a kodachi deviates by more than a centimeter it will not be considered a true kodachi.

These historical blades differ in more than just appearance, as they are known for their usages in completely different time periods. The kodachi emerged as early as the 10th century and was used as a primary sword, rather than a secondary sword.

The reason for this being that 60 centimeters was considered too long to be a short sword, so it was able to be the shortest long-sword and was usually paired with a tantō dagger.

A samurai wielding a kodachi and tantō would be at a disadvantage facing an opponent wielding a katana and wakizashi, due to the larger length of both, the katana and wakizashi in comparison to the kodachi and tantō.

The kodachi were also made for any given samurai, while the wakizashi was specifically constructed for their individual wielder. Taking into account the wielder’s height, weight, and even if they were right or left-handed.

Needless to say, the wakizashi was a much more personalized weapon when it was in use back in feudal Japan.

What is the Difference Between the Wakizashi & Katana?

The katana and the wakizashi are both very similar blades in many ways, but also have several differences – especially regarding how they were viewed by the nobleman and samurai alike.

It is said that when a samurai was to be born, a katana was brought into the room to honor his welcome into the world. When the samurai died, his sword was put alongside with him. It was believed that even in death the katana could help a swordsman protect his nobleman.

These swords were so magnificent that they were viewed as being just as important as the samurai who wielded them. This however, was an unheard level of praise and glory for the wakizashi, mainly seen as nothing more than the katana’s shadow.

Like the kodachi and wakizashi, the katana and wakizashi have many similarities but also are quite different. The katana has several more obvious differences, such as length – the blade of a katana is generally over 60 centimeters in length.

It is important to note that the katana is a two-handed weapon, therefore further increasing the size of the overall sword. On average, a katana as a whole is about 100-110 centimeters. Meanwhile, wakizashi were shorter due to being single-handed.

On top of being the larger sword, the katana is also the older sword. There are reports dating back to the Kamakura period in feudal Japan, which was between 1185-1333 CE about the existence of the katana. The katana was designed in this period specifically to adapt to an ongoing threat to Japan at the time, which was enemies with stronger armor.

Unlike the tachi and kodachi, the katana and wakizashi model after one another with their modest curvature in the blade, while the tachi and kodachi had a significant amount of curvature.

The katana and the wakizashi were carried on the waist of the samurai, with the blade side facing up so that they could be used to strike an opponent with the same motion used to draw their blade.

However, the katana would always be on top, as it was the primary weapon and used in almost all combat situations, as opposed to the wakizashi, seen as a last resort for a samurai who was no longer able to use their katana.

The katana was a symbol of power, integrity, honor, and skill, and the wakizashi was seen almost as being used only by samurai who failed to finish their opponent with their main weapon.

What is the Difference Between Wakizashi & Tanto?

The tantō is the smallest level of nihontō, being about 7 inches in length or 20 centimeters. Technically speaking, a nihontō with a blade longer than 15 centimeters and under 30 centimeters could be considered a tantō.

Unlike the wakizashi, which is clearly a short sword, nowhere near small enough to be considered anything less — the tantō is more of a dagger. Though it functions much like a wakizashi, being that it is a secondary weapon used for close-quarter combat.  

A huge difference between the tantō and the wakizashi is that not only the samurai class could wield them. While swords like katana, wakizashi, tachi, and other long swords and most short swords were strictly for samurai, tantō could be wielded by anyone.

While technically a sword, the tantō was used as a knife. In combat, it could be used for swift assassinations, or surprise attacks since it was easy to conceal due to its small size. An advantage that larger weapons like the wakizashi and katana don’t have.

Furthermore, being small and light in weight, one could slash and stab relentlessly at a great speed and inflict severe, if not fatal injuries with ease. As the katana and wakizashi are well known for their sharpness, the tantō – while small – is certainly no ordinary blade.

Another difference between the 2 blades would be their pairing. As mentioned before all samurai carried 2 blades with them at all times when they were in active duty. However, these were not fixed pairings.

Traditionally, wakizashi were placed together with katana, while tantō were placed with tachi.

This was to have a form of balance – as the art of being a samurai was not only based on physical strength and skills with a sword — but had a lot of spiritual and mental implications embedded in its philosophies.

The wakizashi and katana were similar in size and made an elegant pair, meanwhile the tachi — long and curved, and the tantō — small and much straighter, balanced each other out.

While the tantō may be the smaller blade, it’s the older blade when compared to the wakizashi. There is evidence that tantō have been used as far back as the Heian period which was between 794-1185 CE.

While uncommon, tantō could also be a literal double-edged sword. Mostly all nihontō were single edged, with a sharp blade for slicing, and a strong dull side for defense, but the tantō is an exception. Though rare, certain tantō have 2 asymmetrical bladed sides.

What Is The Best Wakizashi Swords?

#	Preview	Product	Rating	Price
1		JIHPEN sword, Black Katana Wakizashi Tanto Set,Full Tang Samurai Sword,Sharp,Spring Steel Blade with...	No ratings yet	$69.99	Check Today's Price on Amazon
2		MURASAME Wakizashi Sword T10 Steel Clay Tempered Real Hamon High Qualitty Handmade Very Sharp	No ratings yet	$189.99	Check Today's Price on Amazon
3		JIHPEN sword, Black Katana Wakizashi Tanto Set,Full Tang Samurai Sword,Sharp,Spring Steel Blade with...	No ratings yet	$59.99	Check Today's Price on Amazon

Last update on 2025-11-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Final Words

In conclusion, the wakizashi is often overshadowed by the katana and may not be as well known as other swords such as the tachi, tantō, uchigatana, etc. But this sword has been a part of Japanese culture and history for centuries and was a necessary weapon to the samurai.

What it lacks for in size is more than made up for by its striking beauty, razor-sharp edge, fascinating history, and the effort put forth to create such a weapon in the first place. A weapon that continues to be a beautiful part of Japanese culture, and a reminder of Japan’s rich history.

Japanese swords were the privilege of only the most skilled and honoured Japanese warriors. Not everyone had the chance to handle a samurai sword. Those who did were honourable personalities with immense fighting skills and a premium reputation as a fighter.

The primary role of these Japanese swords was for fighting, although they go beyond just being military swords. They are works of art, created and crafted by only the most skilful craftsmen and swordsmiths. Even today, Japanese swords are produced by craftsmen with decades of experience and expertise when it comes to samurai swords.

Almost everyone knows about the katana, but there are many more types of Japanese swords. There’s the odachi sword, Tachi sword, ninja sword, and a whole host of other models that not many people know of.

In this article, I’ve gathered together 20 types of Japanese swords that are not as known to the general public. These are real pieces of art, but at their core, they are fighting swords (most of them) with a unique design – something we simply don’t see in the West.

Not two types of Japanese swords are the same – they vary in shape, size, type of handle, grain structure, building materials, and the grain tempered on the edge of the sword.

Sit back and relax. Observe the beauty of the variety that comes with Japanese swords.

1. Odachi

Odachi, or Nodachi sword, as it’s sometimes called, was a samurai sword that was one of the more traditional swords used by the samurais on a battlefield.

The odachi sword is a big, two-handed sword that was mainly used against cavalry in open-field battles. As they were too big to be sheathed on one’s waist, they were either sheathed on one’s back, or they were carried in hand or held by a helper.

The word odachi, or Nodachi, translates to the “great sword”, and is an equivalent to the longsword from the West. However, the production of these samurai blades was much more complex. Due to their length (90cm, or 35.8 inches), the regular heat treatment was harder due to the length of the blade. And because the blade was curved, it required a skilled swordsmith to produce an odachi sword.

If you would like to read more about Odachi Sword, click here.

2. Tachi

The Tachi sword was a predecessor to the katana, one of the most famous Japanese sword. They share many similarities, although there are some vital differences between the two.

Firstly, a Tachi sword is longer and curvier. Authentic Tachi swords stem from the Koto period (from 900-1596). After that, katanas started becoming more prevalent. These two types of blades were separated from each other by the signature on the tang.

The production of the blade was a complicated one. It had to be made in a set amount of time and from the correct materials. It also had to follow specific instructions as to how the blade should look. Namely, a Tachi sword had a blade of around 70-80 cm (27-31 inches), was longer than a katana, had a bigger curve, and was also thinner.

3. Katana

When we think of Japanese swords, most of us think of a katana sword. That’s because they are historically and traditionally one of the most common swords used by the samurais. And katanas only became a popular choice during the Shinto period (1596-1780), although they were already in use earlier.

A katana was meant to be held by two hands and were a popular choice for close combat. Usually, they were smaller than the Tachi swords, although they were still quite substantial. They were about 60-70 cm (27-28 inches) in size. The blades were curved, although not as much as the Tachi blades.

Traditional katanas were slightly different from modern katanas. They were larger, longer, and more substantial. And katanas held up all the way until today. During WW2, they were a preferred weapon of choice of the fighters. For a brief period after WW2, katanas were banned, although they began to be produced after 1953 again.

Katanas are made from Japanese steel called Tamahagane, which is folded several times to create a sturdy blade. The older the steel is, the better the blade will be, but it will also cost more. But it’s the curving procedure that makes a katana a marvel.

You Can Check Our Popular articles about Katana Here

4. Wakizashi

The wakizashi sword was a sword that complemented the katana, or another longer sword. Many warriors carried the wakizashi sword in addition to the katana, as it was a more lightweight, shorter sword that could be wielded by just one arm.

Wakizashi swords are between 30-60cm (12-24 inches) in size – the average size of the sword is about 50cm. The pairing of a katana and a wakizashi sword was called Daisho – translating roughly to “big-little”. However, we must not think of this type of sword as just the smaller version of a katana.

They usually had very specific and unique production processes. They were slightly thicker than katanas, and if the production was unique, it was also slightly less curved. Many of these swords also had unique patterns on the edge of the sword.

5. Shin Gunto

The shin Gunto sword was a part of the Gunto sword family. The word shin Gunto translates to “new military sword”, and they were mainly used by the Imperial Japanese Army between 1935 and 1945. It was to complement the usual weapons that were used during WW2, such as guns and pistols.

These swords were styled after the original Gunto swords from the 12^th and 13^th centuries. They were only worn by officers, who used to wear this sword according to their status in the military. Generals wore brown-red and gold shin Gunto, while officers mainly wore brown or brown-red swords.

Various subtypes of the shin Gunto were produced over the years. The Type 94 Shin Gunto were the first models from 1934, although the Type 95 swords were produced already the next year. Type 98 Shin Gunto swords started production in 1938. These Japanese swords were often seen with Japanese troops, especially generals, during WW2.

6. Tanto

The tanto swords were used by Japanese samurais when the combat went close and personal. These swords were double-edged short swords – usually, the size of these blades was between 15-30cm (6-12 inches). They were made before the new tactical knives were designed after WW2. And we can still see tanto swords today.

The primary role of a tanto was for self-defense. They were much like knives, although they were far more complex to make than regular knives. There are 12 different blades that can be mounted on the tanto sword. Since the 10^th century, tanto swords were one of the primary swords that samurais used for personal self-defense, and for when combat became intense, close-quarters.

7. Ninja

Ninja swords were swords that were used by shinobi, or ninjas. Ninjas were covert agents of medieval Japan, and they became somewhat of a cult figure in Japan. They even had their own blades.

Ninja swords were relatively different from katanas. Firstly, they had straight blades, and they were also slightly shorter. The length of ninja swords was about 48cm (19 inches). They were thick and made for unusual forms of combat. Additionally, they were not as complicated to create as katanas, for example, as they had straight blades without curves.

The main purpose of a ninja sword was for stabbing, unlike curved blades which were made to cut instead of stab. And they were also smaller because ninjas were also more agile, as they often climbed and moved around swiftly, so the sword had to be inconspicuous.

8. Uchigatana

Uchigatana was the descendant of a Tachi sword. They started to be produced between the 14^th and 16^th centuries, and they were mainly used by samurais. The sizes of the blades varied between 60 and 70cm (from 24 inches), and the primary strategy to use these swords was to produce swift, cutting strikes.

These strikes were to be smooth, and just one swing was enough to do substantial damage. That’s slightly different from Tachi swords, which were to be used continually. As it was thin, it could be used single-handedly, and they were also more lightweight.

9. Tsurugi

The Tsurugi swords were something of a mythological blade. In Japanese mythology, Tsurugi blades were used as the “sword of the gods”, however, they were started to be produced during the Edo period. These swords were large, two-handed swords that were only used by imperial classes.

A Tsurugi sword was a large, long sword ranging in sizes between 90 to 100cm (35-39 inches); the handle itself was 8 inches long. It was also not usually curved – instead, it had a straight blade, made for big, striking blows. According to legends, the first Tsurugi blades were made from stone, although they were later made from bronze and iron.

In many ways, Tsurugi swords were similar to the Chinese Jian sword, which was a long broadsword.

10. Chokuto

Chokuto swords were ancient swords, made until the 9^th century. They were one-edged swords with a straight blade. The primary role of Chokuto swords was for stabbing, and they were used by foot soldiers who wore these swords on their waists.

These swords are among the earliest swords from Japanese history. Some sources track it back to some of the Chinese swords from the time, although other sources say that it was developed independently. The main difference, however, was in the tempering – in the Japanese swordsmith industry, the tempering was durable and more sturdy.

11. Kodachi

Kodachi literally translates to “Little Tachi”, or “Small Tachi”. They were made in the style of Tachi swords, although they were much shorter. Usually, they would not exceed the size of 60cm (23 inches). Kodachi swords complemented the katana sword, but they are not to be confused with the wakizashi sword.

The primary role of the wakizashi was to complement the katana, but kodachi swords could still be used on their own. It’s stuck somewhere in between a dagger and a sword, although they were considered primary short swords.

In many ways, they resemble short swords that come from the West, although the styling was very different, including the curve of the sword, and its primary use.

12. Ninjato

The Ninjato was a ninja sword, although it was slightly longer than the usual ninja swords. They were straight blade swords, and they were used for stabbing primarily. Shinobis, or ninjas, used these swords for their covert operations.

An interesting fact is that samurai classes considered the activities of a ninja as something that’s below them. That’s why they had a relatively poor opinion of the Ninjato sword, and they almost never used one.

Ninja swords are a very popular occurrence nowadays. We can see these swords practically everywhere, especially in popular culture. Movies and anime often show Ninjato swords as these deadly weapons, although there is still a common misconception that ninjas used curved blades. Shinobis usually used Ninjato, which were straight blades, and very different from katanas.

13. Nagamaki

The Nagamaki sword was one of the traditional Japanese swords used by samurais. The unique feature of the Nagamaki sword was the extra-long handle which was usually as long as the blade itself. This made it perfect for two-handed usage where the right hand was always closer to the blade than the left. It was a sword that was commonly used against cavalry.

A usual Nagamaki was usually 54 inches long, where the handle was as long as the blade. This means that the handle is about 26-27 inches, while the blade itself is 25-27 inches long. The main, distinct feature of this blade is its handle.

In many ways, it was similar to a katana’s handle, although far sturdier and usually decorated with colors. Brown and red were a common occurrence.

14. Zanbato

Zanbato swords stem all the way back to the 3^rd century BC. They are originally based on Chinese Zhanmadao swords, which were anti-cavalry swords. And Zanbato swords were made for specifically this usage – against cavalries.

The literal translation of Zanbato is “horse-slaying sword”, or “horse-chopping saber”. These swords are a rare find nowadays, although they are a very popular figure in many modern interpretations, such as anime and manga.

They loosely resemble a Nagamaki sword, although there were some distinct features that made the Zanbato sword unique. The handle was quite long – about 15 inches, and the blade was usually thicker and larger than with most blades. That made it a sword for cutting horses.

15. Daisho

Daisho represents a combination of two different swords being used simultaneously. Samurais often used or carried two different swords: in addition to a katana or daito (long sword), they also carried a shoto (short sword), such as a wakizashi. And this combination proved to be a deadly one, as samurais constantly interchanged between the two swords.

But these swords were not just two random swords used in combination. These two swords were carefully chosen by the samurai, and they were usually crafted by the same swordsmith. This means that these two swords had a matched set of fittings, and they were relatively similar in appearance.

A samurai would carry the long sword on his back or in his hands, while he would have the short sword around his waist. Daisho became popular during the Muromachi period (14^th and 15^th century), when samurais started acknowledging that long swords were not appropriate for close-quarters combat, and they needed a smaller, shorter blade to allow them to win a battle in close quarters.

16. Yoroi-Doshi

A Yoroi-Doshi was a type of tanto (knife) that was used specifically for piercing through armour.

The direct translation of Yoroi-Doshi is “armour piercer”, which tells us about the capability of this sword to shred through armour, even a thicker one.

These were short swords, or knives – they ranged in sizes between 20cm to 22cm, although some swords could be as short as 15cm (6 inches). The Yoroi-Doshi were very sharp and they had a very pointy end, allowing it to go through armour and injure the opponent with just a stab. It has a thick blade, which made it especially effective against thicker armours.

This blade started growing in popularity during the Sengoku period (14^th and 15^th centuries) when the first chainmail and steel armours were being introduced. Yoroi-Doshi was usually worn inside the belt on the back or on one’s waist, which allowed the samurais to wield the sword quickly and protect themselves from armoured opponents.

17. Kaiken

The Kaiken sword, or the knife, was a very small blade that was primarily used for self-protection in very closed areas, where the usual katanas and wakizashi swords were inconvenient. But, in addition to that, the Kaiken was a bit of a status symbol – only the highest classes were allowed to own one.

They were carried by both men and women, and they were tucked into the pocket of a kimono. Women only started to carry a Kaiken with them when they married as a means of self-protection. An interesting fact about the Kaiken knives is that they were often used for ritual suicide by cutting one’s neck veins.

The Kaiken blades were very small. Usually, they did not reach a size of 30 cm, and they were somewhere between 20-25 cm long (8-10 inches) long. There was plenty of space for customizability of Kaiken – the higher echelons of Japanese culture were allowed to have their own colors and distinct features that made the Kaiken unique.

18. Bokken

Bokken swords were primarily used as practice swords, or even as decorative pieces. They were wooden swords, so they were not used in combat. However, they were mostly a tool that samurais used for practice. Normally, they were katana-shaped, although many bokken swords were also smaller, such as wakizashi blades.

The size of a bokken depended on the type of training that a samurai required. If they wanted to practice close-quarter combat, they used smaller bokken swords. If they wanted some katana practice, they chose a katana-shaped bokken. And one of the primary uses of a bokken blade was also for teaching younger samurais to properly handle the sword.

Today, we still see a bokken in aikido or other martial arts where it acts as a practice weapon. Injuries can still happen, although these swords are made to simulate the usage of a katana without significant injuries.

19. Shinai

Shinai is another practice blade, used primarily in kendo. Today, shinai swords are used for competition in kendo, and they are also often used for practice. They are made from bamboo. The first practice swords from bamboo were made in the 16^th century when they wanted to simulate real-life combat without harming.

Injuries still occurred, which is why the design of a shinai sword changed so much throughout the years. Smoked bamboo is commonly used, or a sort of bamboo that’s soaked in resin. It’s made of several components: the tsuka (handle), tsuba (collar), take, Naka-Yui, and Mono-Uchi. Today, plastic is often used for the handle and some parts, although the majority is still made from bamboo.

Shinai swords should be maintained frequently. This includes regular inspections for tears, fractures, and regular oiling. All this can extend the lifetime of the sword. Additionally, it can prevent injuries and the need to create or buy new shinai swords.

20. Kyu-Gunto

We’ve already talked about the Shin-Gunto, which was also called the “new military sword”. Kyu-Gunto, on the other hand, is also called the “old military sword”. It was the first standard sword used by the Japanese military. The first general that instructed the use of Kyu-Gunto was Murata Tsuneyoshi from the 19^th century.

At first, these swords were made to represent the usual samurai swords, although they were still very much different. After a while, these old military swords started to look more and more like the European and American military swords. Today, they make an excellent collection of anyone’s ancient sword repertoire.

Because they were mass-produced, they lost a bit on the quality of the samurai swords. However, that changed in 1935, when Kyu-Gunto swords went out of fashion and Shin-Gunto swords were the standard sword for the military. Since then, Kyu-Gunto swords represent a valuable piece of antique.