The katana is the most famous type of samurai sword, but there are other styles. Samurai also carried a wakizashi and tanto, and were skilled in using various weapons. Traditional blacksmithing is still practiced in Japan, but buying a katana can be expensive and require special permits.
A samurai sword is a sword of the type commonly worn by samurai, Japanese warriors who thrived in the 1800s when Japan was opened to trade with the West and Japan’s system of government changed dramatically, rendering the samurai tradition obsolete. The sword that is classically associated with samurai is a katana, a long curved sword that was included in the warfare equipment of most samurai. Possession of a katana was so critical that many samurai regarded their swords as extensions of their souls, and it is no surprise that the katana is considered the ultimate samurai sword.
The katana is so well known that some people use the term loosely to refer to all Japanese swords. Indeed, a Japanese sword should more properly be known as a nihonto, as there are a range of styles and classes of swords made in Japan. Traditional blacksmithing is still very much alive in Japan, for people interested in seeing and studying the techniques used to produce swords in the samurai era.
In addition to the katana, which evolved from several older weapons, most samurai also carried a wakizashi, a short sword. This sidearm was also known as an “honor blade” and samurai rarely surrendered their honor blades. Even in private homes where the use of weapons was not permitted, a samurai could bring his wakizashi. The combination of katana and wakizashi was known as daisho, a word meaning “big and small.”
A small dagger known as a tanto was also carried by many samurai, as well as a double-edged longsword, the tsurugi. Most samurai also carried other weapons and were skilled in using a wide variety of weapons.
The katana has become a powerful symbol of samurai tradition and lifestyle, and is the most commonly mentioned sword when people discuss a “samurai sword”. Many museums devoted to Japanese history and the history of weapons keep a katana on hand as an example of a classic sword and a type of samurai sword, and some private collectors also keep these blades for personal or historical interest.
People interested in buying a samurai sword should be aware that a traditional katana can be extremely expensive and special export permits may be required to get one from Japan, especially if it is an antique. These swords also require regular routine maintenance, as do all weapons, and some swordsmiths believe that the katana should be custom made for the owner, and may refuse to sell the swords to people if they think the buyer and the sword are a bad match.
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