shinai

thumb|300px|A shinai made of bamboo

A is a Japanese sword typically made of bamboo used for practice and competition in kendō. Shinai are also used in other martial arts, but may be styled differently from kendō shinai, and represented with different characters. The light, soft wood used in a shinai distinguishes it from other wooden swords such as a bokuto (木刀), usually called a bokken (木剣) outside Japan, which is generally made of heavier, sturdier wood.