1APENESE SWORD

A 1apanese sword, or nihont ( or P lit. Japanese sword

, is one
oI the traditional bladed weapons (nihonto oI Japan. There are several types oI Japanese
swords, according to size, Iield oI application and method oI manuIacture.

n modern times the most commonly known type oI Japanese sword is the Shinogi-
Zukuri katana, which is a single-edged and usually curved long swordtraditionally worn
by samurai Irom the 15th century onwards.
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Other types oI Japanese swords
include: tsurugi or ken, which is a double-edged sword;
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dachi, nodachi, tachi, which are
older styles oI a very long single-edged sword; wakizashi, a medium sized sword; and
the tanto which is an even smaller kniIe sized sword . Although they are pole-mounted
weapons, the naginata and yari are considered part oI the nihont Iamily due to the methods
by which they are Iorged.
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Japanese swords are still commonly seen today; antique and modernly-Iorged swords can
easily be Iound and purchased. Modern, authentic nihont are made by a Iew hundred
swordsmiths. Many examples can be seen at an annual competition hosted by the All Japan
Swordsmith Association,
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under the auspices oI the Nihont Bunka Shink Kykai (Society
Ior the promotion oI Japanese Sword Culture



CLASSIFICA1IOA
1.Length
What generally diIIerentiates the diIIerent swords is their length. Japanese swords are
measured in units oI shaku
2.School
Most old Japanese swords can be traced back to one oI Iive provinces, each oI which
had its own school, traditions and "trademarks" (e.g., the swords Irom Mino province were
"Irom the start Iamous Ior their sharpness". These schools are known as Gokaden (The Five
Traditions.