Kenjutsu Weapons
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Katana
see main article Katana
Katana is the word for "sword" in the Japanese language. It is also used specifically for a type of Japanese backsword or longsword. It is characterized by a curved, single-edged sword traditionally used by the samurai. Pronounced [kah-tah-nah] in the kun'yomi (Japanese reading) of the kanji 刀, the on'yomi (Chinese language reading) is tō.
Bokken
see main article Bokken
A bokken is a wooden Japanese sword, usually the size and shape of a katana, but can be made to replicate any type of sword. Other common shapes are wakizashi and tantō. They are also known as bokutō (木刀, "wooden sword"), which is also the usual term in Japan.
These should not be confused with shinai, the bamboo sword used in kendo.
Tanto
see main article tanto
A tanto is a common Japanese knife or dagger with a usually single or sometimes double sided blade length of about 15–30 cm (6"–12"). There is a disputed saying about the tantō, wakizashi, and katana stating that they are "the same sword in different lengths." The tantō differs from the others as it was designed primarily as a stabbing instrument, but the edge can be used to slash as well.
Wakizashi
see main article wakizashi
A wakizashi is a traditional Japanese sword with a shōtō blade between 30 and 60 cm, with an average of 50 cm (between 12 and 24 inches), similar to but shorter than a katana and sometimes longer than the kodachi. The wakizashi was usually worn together with the katana by the samurai of feudal Japan. When worn together the pair of swords were called daishō, which translates literally as "large and small"; dai or large for katana, and shō for wakizashi. The katana was often called the sword or the long sword and the wakizashi the companion sword.
Kodachi
see main article kodachi
A kodachi (小太刀) literally translates into "small or short tachi"; this Japanese sword was too short to be considered a long sword but too long to be a dagger. Because of its size, it could be drawn and swung extremely quickly. Thus it could be used as something of a shield, while using a form of hand to hand combat to attack. Since this sword was shorter than 2 shaku (about 2 ft.) in length, it did not exceed the blade length limits of non-samurai during the Edo period and could be worn by merchants.
Odachi
see main article odachi
The odachi has been used in various ways, but generally it was utilized as a ceremonial object. The odachi is mark of a swordsmith's skill and because of this, it was usually offered to the gods by placing it on a shrine as a sign of gratitude. Some ōdachi are too long for practical use. And because of their enormous size. they cannot be used in a battle but it is said that they could have been used as a symbol of an army, such as flags and spears.
