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Articles explaining tachi, katana, wakizashi, tanto, naginata and the geometry of the blade.
A guide to choosing martial arts practice swords and maintenance for iaido, kendo, and naginata training stages
The Osaka Campaign (1614-1615) revealed how siege warfare at Osaka Castle rendered traditionally favored long blades disadvantageous in confined spaces. Veteran warriors' practical experience fed back into the sword market, prompting sword makers to redesign their craft. Rather than simply shortening blades, they pursued a complete redesign philosophy to maintain cutting performance and durability. The resulting Edo-period uchigatana (打刀) form exemplifies how battlefield experience transformed sword design.
The mune (棟) is the ridge line on the back of a Japanese sword blade, classified into four main types: iori-mune (庵棟), maru-mune (丸棟), kaku-mune (角棟), and mitsu-mune (三ッ棟). The shape and finishing techniques of the mune reflect each sword-making school's technical traditions and preferences of the era, serving as key factors in dating swords and determining their attribution to specific smiths and schools. This article explores the practical aspects of appreciating and authenticating Japanese swords through careful observation of the mune.
Moroha-zukuri refers to Japanese sword blades sharpened on both edges. This article explores its structure, historical context from ancient warabite swords to Kamakura-period examples, and its place in Japanese blade typology.
Classification, battlefield use, and famous surviving examples of ōdachi and nodachi—Japanese swords with blades exceeding 90 cm, which flourished during the turbulent Nanbokuchō and Muromachi periods.
The ko-katana (小刀) is known as an accessory blade fitted into the kozuka (小柄) of sword furniture, but it existed as an independent blade long before that. This traces the diversity of blade length, tsukurikomi (造り込み), and applications, and its lineage as a sword.
The nagamaki is a type of Japanese sword featuring a long handle roughly equal in length to the blade. Used on battlefields from the Nanbokucho to Sengoku periods, this article explains its structure, use, and notable surviving examples.
Organizes the shapes of nakago-jiri (茎尻), the end of the tang, into types such as kurijiri (栗尻), kengyō (剣形), ichimonji (一文字), iriyamagata (入山形), and furisodekata (振袖形), and explains their significance as clues for observing the sword's profile and their relationship to era and school.
This article examines three distinctive tang (nakago/茎) shapes that depart from the typical contour: kiji-momo-gata (雉子股形), funazoko-gata (舟底形), and tanago-hara-gata (タナゴ腹形). It explains their characteristic profiles and their significance as indicators for determining period and school.
Exploring the Osoraku-zukuri (おそらく造り) form—where the yokote-suji (横手筋) descends near the blade's center and the kissaki (鋒) extends greatly—tracing the name's origin to Suruga Sukemune and highlighting key observations in tanto (短刀) and wakizashi (脇差).
Classification of the grooves carved into sword blades, called hi (樋), organized by their types—such as bo-hi, futasuji-hi, koshi-hi, and tsure-hi—and by the processing methods of the hi-jiri (樋尻), including kaki-nagashi and kaki-toshi.
Explains the form of u-no-kubi-zukuri (鵜の首造り), a construction technique where the spine-side material is stripped to create a constriction resembling a cormorant's neck, why it appears frequently in short swords and side swords of the Kamakura and Nanbokucho periods, and the points that distinguish it from kamuriottoshi-zukuri (冠落造り).
Organizes the structure of katakiriha-zukuri (片切刃造り), an asymmetric construction where one side is hirazukuri (平造り) or shinogi-zukuri (鎬造り) and the other side is kiriha-zukuri (切刃造り), the meaning of different cross-sections on each side, and key observation points.
An explanation of kanmuri-otoshi-zukuri (冠落造り), a tsukurikomi (造込み) where the mune (棟) meat of the upper half is chiseled away, the reasons it is common in tantō (短刀), tendencies seen in Yamato-den (大和伝) smiths of the Koto period, presented with comparisons to unokubi-zukuri (鵜の首造り).
Morphological characteristics of shobu zukuri (菖蒲造り)—a construction resembling iris leaves—distinctions from shinogi zukuri (鎬造り) and u-no-kubi zukuri (鵜の首造り), and stylistic trends in Bizen (備前) and Mino (美濃) blades from the Muromachi (室町) period, organized through observation points of the sword's form.
Classification by blade length. Tachi vs katana, wakizashi vs tanto boundaries, and how to choose.
An explanation of the types, forms, and ritual significance of votive swords (hōnōtō) created and dedicated to shrines and temples. Covering divine-body swords (goshintai-tō), tachi-form votive swords, and small votive swords, with detailed treatment of important extant examples and the history of votive practices.
An explanation of the formal characteristics, innovations in sword fittings, and temporal evolution of the bajō-zashi (馬上差し) used by mounted warriors for combat while mounted. Explores the design philosophy of the waist curve (腰反り) and how sword-drawing optimization was put into practice.
A comprehensive explanation of the characteristics of Kikuichimonji, which stands at the pinnacle of the Ichimonji School known as Emperor Go-Toba's court-appointed swordsmiths, methods for authenticating it, and the beauty of its surviving masterpieces.
A thorough examination of the historical positioning, morphological characteristics, comparison with hira-zukuri, and authentication points for distinguishing tanto with the distinctive cross-sectional structure of kirihazukuri (切刃造り).
The kissaki (blade tip) of Japanese swords changes dramatically according to period and school. This article explains the morphological characteristics of inokubi, o-kissaki, chu-kissaki, and ko-kissaki, and the historical context behind their emergence.
Naginata-gata wakizashi (薙刀形脇差) are short swords forged with naginata (薙刀) aesthetic, featuring kata-kirishinai-zukuri (片切刃造り) blade form, saki-zori (先反り) curvature, and long tang. Unlike naginata-naoshi (薙刀直し)—reworked naginata modified into short swords—these were designed as wakizashi originally. This article covers morphological differences, authentication methods to distinguish them, Edo-period custom orders for martial training and sentimental purposes, and their modern market evaluation.
Explores the characteristics of hamon (刃文) and jigane (地鉄) in naginata (薙刀) by comparing them with tantō (短刀) and tachi (太刀), and discusses both the polishing challenges unique to long blades that polishers face and the material appeal of old naginata.
Reading the types and meanings of carvings engraved on Japanese sword blades through the lens of spiritual history and religious iconography.
An explanation of the system of mythological swords, beginning with the Totsuka-no-Tsurugi (Ten-Fist Sword) that appears in Japan's founding myths. Covers the types, names, and mythological roles of major divine swords in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, archaeological and ritual connections to historical swords, and the long-term influence of mythological swords on the spirituality and design of Japanese swords.
Hantachi-koshirae (半太刀拵え) is a sword mounting style bridging formal tachi (太刀) and practical katana (打刀) traditions. Developed during the Muromachi to Azuchi-Momoyama periods as semi-formal wear for nobility and samurai, it balanced ancient court customs with practical utility. Surviving examples display refined metalwork and lacquer decoration. The article explores its structural features and contemporary scholarly evaluation.
An explanation of how samurai actually carried swords in battle during the Sengoku period, examining the relationship between kogusoku, koshigatana, uchigatana, and wakizashi.
A detailed explanation of sageo—the braided cord attached to Japanese sword scabbards—covering types, materials, color symbolism, and school-specific tying methods.
The zanbaatou (斬馬刀), a large sword supposedly designed to cut horses, occupies an ambiguous position between the nodachi (野太刀) and ōdachi (大太刀) in Japanese weaponry. This article examines structural characteristics including blade length, shallow sori (反り), and longer handle, documents its use in fourteenth-century warfare during the South-North Court period, and explores relationships between historical combat weapons and dedication swords (奉納刀) preserved in temples.
A detailed examination of the jintachi's physical characteristics, ceremonial significance, decorative mountings, and the masterpieces that survive to this day.
A comprehensive examination of sori (反り), the curvature types that define Japanese sword forms. Presents the expert authentication definitions of three principal categories—koshizori (腰反り), nakasori (中反り), and sakizori (先反り)—together with the historical periods and tactical contexts in which each developed, forging techniques for controlling sori, and the influence of sori variation on sword valuation. An in-depth exploration of the Japanese sword world through this singular, defining element.
Explains the role and production process of the shirasaya (plain wood scabbard) in tanto preservation, covering the shirasaya craftsman's skills from wood selection to finishing, the scientific basis for humidity and temperature management, practical maintenance with uchiko and choji oil, and a systematic overview of tanto preservation practices compared to museum long-term storage protocols.
A systematic examination of the wakizashi, the companion sword carried alongside the katana (uchigatana) by Edo-period samurai, covering its dimensional regulations, uses (indoor self-defense, seppuku, coup de grâce), the hierarchy of its mountings, regional characteristics of production, and modern valuation. Also discusses the cultural significance of the daisho (paired long and short swords).
A comparative analysis of three blade types closely related to the tanto—the kaiken, koshigatana, and yoroidoshi—examining differences in blade length, cross-section, mounting style, and function, and how each was positioned within samurai society.
The modern shinobi-gatana (ninja sword) image derives from 1960s television dramas, not historical Sengoku-period sources. The article questions whether characteristic features like suguha (straight blade, 直刃) and kaku-tsuba (square guard, 方形鍔) are historically documented. Ninja actually prioritized firearms, poisons, and concealed weapons; swords served as backup. They used ordinary tanto (short swords) and wakizashi, not specialized ninja blades. While the modern fictional image has value in popularizing Japanese sword culture globally, understanding the historical reality—that ninja carried common short swords—enriches sword history knowledge.
An examination of the metezashi, the short sword worn on the right (bow) side by mounted samurai during the Sengoku period, covering its structure, tactical role, relationship to the yundetezashi worn on the left side, blade morphology, surviving examples, and its place in contemporary sword collecting.
The kantotatchi (環頭大刀), a Kofun-period straight sword with a distinctive ring-shaped pommel, was transmitted from China via Korea around the 4th-5th century. Initially imported, kantotatchi began domestic production from the late 5th through 6th centuries, fostering Japanese metalworking techniques that became crucial to the development of the nihonto (日本刀).
Kirikane is a Buddhist decorative technique using ultra-thin metal foils cut and affixed to create patterns. Applied to sword fittings (tōsōgu) from the late Heian period, the technique flourished under the Gotō family, who combined kirikane with nunome zōgan (布目象嵌) on shakudō (赤銅) to embody the highest standards of samurai ceremonial culture. The tradition continues today in cultural restoration and contemporary sword craftsmanship.
Explores the structure and techniques of the jitte used in Edo-period arrest operations, the manufacturing history involving sword smiths, and its relationship to the modern sword industry.
The kusarigama (chain-sickle) is a distinctly Japanese composite weapon combining a sickle, chain, and counterweight. This article covers the weapon's structure and component nomenclature, fundamental usage techniques including fundō-uchi (分銲打ち) and karame-tori (絡め取り), existing schools such as Isshin-ryū (一心流), the historical authenticity of the legendary confrontation between Miyamoto Musashi (宮本武蔵) and Shishido Baikken (宍戸梅軒), the true nature of its association with ninja, and its legal status under the Firearms and Swords Possession Control Law—all presented from the perspective of a sword merchant.
A detailed examination of the kirihazukuri blade cross-section, covering its relationship to armor-piercing tanto and converted naginata, historical origins in the Nanbokucho period, technical characteristics including thickness and edge angle, and connoisseurship guidance for surviving examples.
The naginata features a curved blade mounted on a long shaft. This article explains its historical evolution, modern budo specifications, measurement standards, and appreciation points for sword collectors.
A detailed analysis of why the yari spear displaced the naginata halberd as the dominant infantry weapon during the transition to the Sengoku period.
Not samurai's long swords, but the Higo no Kami (肥後守) that ordinary people carried. This folding pocket knife from Miki, Hyogo Prefecture, represents the crystallization of Japan's everyday knife culture—a traditional product that craftsmen continue to hand-finish one by one, even today.
An explanation of the kacchudoshi, a specialized short blade designed to penetrate gaps in medieval Japanese armor, covering its unique blade geometry, materials, combat techniques, and how it differs from the yoroidoshi.
Shinken (真剣, real Japanese swords) and mock swords (mozōtō 模造刀), including training blades (iaito 居合刀), differ fundamentally in materials, manufacturing process, legal status, and value. Shinken are forged from tamahagane (玉鋼)—a high-carbon steel—through traditional tempering and require government registration to possess legally in Japan. Mock swords and training iaito are machine-molded from stainless or manganese steel, lacking authentic edges and the hamon (刃文) hardening line created in true forging. The article systematically compares their materials, manufacturing, cutting ability, price ranges from thousands to millions of yen, and legal requirements, then guides collectors, martial artists, and investors in choosing the appropriate type.
The daisho (大小二本差し) paired the uchigatana (打刀) with the wakizashi (脇差) to mark samurai status in Edo Japan. Beyond length, these swords differed in purpose, technique, and koshirae (拵え). The longer uchigatana served in combat and ritual; the shorter wakizashi enabled indoor defense. This guide explores their distinct roles and design characteristics through the Muromachi and Edo periods, offering insights for modern collectors.
An explanation of the rare 'Kogarasumaru-zukuri' blade form, which features a double-edged tip and single-edged body. Covers its origins, historical significance, surviving examples, and appraisal criteria.
A comprehensive explanation from the naginata's structure and nomenclature of each component, its origins in the Heian period, its establishment as a female martial art in the Edo period, to the modern competitive system of naginata-do. This article also introduces the blade shape, types by school, and evaluation criteria as an art object.
Explains the differences between the naginata (薙刀) and nagamaki (長巻) in blade shape, hilt proportions, and development period. Compares their evolution from the late Heian through the Sengoku period, their functional roles on the battlefield, and their modern positioning in martial arts and as artworks.
A comprehensive guide to Japanese metal weapons and arrest tools that complemented the sword: the tessen (iron war fan), jitte (the hook-armed truncheon carried by police officers), manriki-kusari, and tekko-kagi. Examines their structure, function, and role in Edo-period law enforcement from the perspective of Japanese sword culture.
