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The wakizashi has a blade between 30 and 60 cm (12 and 24 in) in length. [1] Wakizashi close to the length of a katana are called ō-wakizashi and wakizashi closer to tantō length are called ko-wakizashi. [1] Wakizashi are not necessarily just a smaller version of the katana; they could be forged differently and have a different cross-section. [5]
The style most commonly seen in "samurai" movies is called buke-zukuri, with the katana (and wakizashi, if also present) carried edge up, with the sheath thrust through the obi (sash). The sword would be carried in a sheath and tucked into the samurai's belt. Originally, they would carry the sword with the blade turned down.
Historically, there is no evidence for the existence of this "katana-like short sword legendarily used by ninja" before the 20th century. [12] Instead, the designs demonstrated by alleged replicas may be based on the design of wakizashi or chokutō swords or the swords associated with ashigaru—common infantrymen with no "ninja" aspects. [1]
kōgai (笄) – a skewer for the owner's hair-do, carried in a pocket of the scabbards of katana and wakizashi on the side opposite of the kozuka. [33] [34] kogatana (小刀) – any knife, particularly a small utility knife carried in a pocket of the scabbards of katana and wakizashi. ko-itame-hada (小板目肌) – see itame-hada. [35]
The katana belongs to the nihontō family of swords, and is distinguished by a blade length (nagasa) of more than 2 shaku, approximately 60 cm (24 in). [9] Katana can also be known as dai or daitō among Western sword enthusiasts, although daitō is a generic name for any Japanese long sword, literally meaning "big sword". [10]
In general, katana has a cross-sectional shape of shinogizukuri, similar to tachi, but it is shorter than tachi and its blade curve is gentle. Wakizashi and tantō are shorter swords than tachi and katana, and these swords are often forged in the cross-sectional shape of hira-zukuri or kiriha-zukuri. [27]
The Japanese katana, wakizashi and tantō are carried by some infantry and officers in Japan and other parts of Asia and the kukri is the official melee weapon for Nepal. Other swords in use today are the sabre , the scimitar , the shortsword and the machete .
Historically, katana (刀) were one of the traditionally made Japanese swords (日本刀, nihontō) [48] [49] that were used by the samurai of feudal Japan. [50] Modern versions of the katana are sometimes made using non-traditional materials and methods.