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wakizashi

File:脇差_Blade_and_Mounting_for_a_Short_Sword_(Wakizashi).jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

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The is one of the traditionally made Japanese swords (nihontō) worn by the samurai in feudal Japan. Its name refers to the practice of wearing it inserted through one's obi or sash at one's side, whereas the larger tachi sword was worn slung from a cord.

Key facts

Weapon.image
脇差 Blade and Mounting for a Short Sword (Wakizashi).jpg
Weapon.caption
Blade and mounting for a wakizashi. The blade was made by Soshu Fusamune. Blade, late 15th–early 16th century; mounting, 18th century. There were many different makers for the katana. The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Weapon.type
Sword
Weapon.sheath_type
Lacquered wood
Weapon.image_size
350
Weapon.origin
Japan
Weapon.is_bladed
yes
Weapon.production_date
Muromachi period (1336–1573) to present
Weapon.part_length
approx.
Weapon.blade_type
Curved, single-edged

via Wikipedia infobox

~4 min read

Encyclopedic overview

10 sections
Contents
  • History
  • Design
  • Variants
  • Usage
  • By samurai
  • By civilians
  • Gallery
  • See also
  • References
  • External links

The is one of the traditionally made Japanese swords (nihontō) worn by the samurai in feudal Japan. Its name refers to the practice of wearing it inserted through one's obi or sash at one's side, whereas the larger tachi sword was worn slung from a cord.

==History== thumb|Antique Japanese daishō, the traditional pairing of two Japanese swords which were the symbol of the samurai, showing the traditional Japanese sword cases ([[koshirae) and the difference in size between the katana (bottom) and the smaller wakizashi (top).]] thumb|Although the number of forged swords decreased in the Meiji period, many artistically excellent mountings were made. A wakizashi forged by Soshu Akihiro. [[Nanboku-chō period (top). Wakizashi mounting, Early Meiji period (bottom).]]

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “wakizashi” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.

Gallery (16)