Metezashi: The Equestrian Warrior's Right-Hand Dagger and Its Role in Mounted Combat

What is Mete-Zashi?

"Mete-zashi (mete-zashi)" refers to a short blade or wakizashi worn at the right hip (mete side) by a mounted samurai. "Mete" (mete) refers to the right hand that holds the reins—however, when drawing a bow, the left hand becomes the bow hand (yunde), so in the context of archery, "mete = right hand" is used.

Mounted samurai typically carried the following weapons while on horseback:

• Bow and arrows: Primary long-range weapons
• Tachi: Primary sword worn on the left hip with the blade facing downward
• Yunde-zashi: Short blade worn at the left hip (scabbard on the left side)
• Mete-zashi: Short blade worn at the right hip (scabbard on the right side)

This dual short-blade system functioned as a means of self-defense and finishing thrust when dismounted during battle, as well as an agile supplementary weapon for close combat while mounted.

Comparison of Mete-Zashi and Yunde-Zashi

Mete-zashi and yunde-zashi have mirror-image wearing positions.

Yunde-zashi (left side): Worn at the left hip like the tachi, but functions as a short blade. Positioned for easy drawing with the right hand as a supplementary weapon when using the tachi as the primary weapon.

Mete-zashi (right side): Worn at the right hip, allowing easy drawing with the left hand even when only the left hand is free (when the right hand holds a spear or bow). It also functioned as a last resort if the tachi or yunde-zashi were taken or broken.

This dual-blade carrying system is believed to have been established from the late Muromachi period through the Sengoku period as mounted warfare tactics became more refined.

Morphological Characteristics of Mete-Zashi

The following are notable morphological characteristics of blades specifically designed for use as mete-zashi:

Blade length: Most commonly around 1 shaku (approximately 30 cm) in short blade size. The length was designed with ease of handling and drawing while mounted in mind. While wakizashi-class blades (between 1 and 2 shaku) exist, short blades are considered the standard.

Construction (cross-section shape): Many blades tend to have sturdy construction emphasizing thrusting, such as yoroi-dōshi (armor-piercing) style. Hira-zukuri (flat construction) or kiri-ha-zukuri (cutting-edge construction) were commonly used.

Mountings (koshirae): To prevent the blade from falling out during vigorous movement on horseback, mountings often feature scabbard fastening mechanisms. Additionally, to prevent the hand from slipping when drawing, examples exist of tsuka (handles) wrapped with diamond-patterned samegawa (ray skin) or thick cord wrapping.

Tactical Role of Mete-Zashi

While historical sources directly showing how mete-zashi were used in actual battles are limited, their usage can be inferred from several documents and picture scrolls.

Self-defense after dismounting: When attacked with arrows or long spears while mounted and thrown from a horse, mete-zashi served as the first means of self-defense when there was no time to draw the tachi. Especially when wearing yoroi (armor), drawing the tachi was restricted, making immediate use of the short blade critical.

Finishing thrusts in kumiai (grappling): In "kumiai" (grappling) during battles, techniques were required to drive blades through gaps in armor. Short blade-class mete-zashi were ideal weapons for this finishing technique (todome-zashi).

Kubitōri (head-taking): Short blades were also used in "kubitōri" (head-taking) as proof of military accomplishment. Short blades were more suitable than large tachi for detailed work, and mete-zashi proved useful in this practical application as well.

Extant Examples of Mete-Zashi and Collecting Significance

While surviving blades explicitly inscribed as "mete-zashi" are rare, blades recorded as "mete-zashi" in transmission documents and similar records exist, though uncommon, in museums and private collections.

The following points should be noted when collecting and appreciating mete-zashi:

• The morphological category of mete-zashi was established in the late Muromachi through Sengoku period, so it does not strictly apply to earlier periods
• Blades are rarely inscribed with the term "mete-zashi," so identification is made based on morphological features, koshirae characteristics, and transmission records
• Mete-zashi and yunde-zashi sometimes were created and transmitted as "pairs" (itsui) due to the symmetrical nature of the equipment, and collecting them as complete pairs is considered ideal for study and appreciation

Modern Re-evaluation

With advances in research in fields such as "armor crafting" and "historical clothing" that aim to accurately recreate the equipment of Sengoku warlords, the existence of mete-zashi has been re-evaluated.

In historical cosplay, period festivals, and commemorative events at sites associated with Sengoku warlords, reproductions of the "complete mounted samurai equipment" including mete-zashi have become more common, and awareness among sword enthusiasts has increased. Additionally, collecting focused on the craftsmanship of scabbards and mountings as blade fittings is being undertaken, making mete-zashi a sword type with unique collection value as "an intersection of functional beauty and samurai culture."