What is the History of the Wakizashi?

Although the Wakizashi is an auxiliary sword, it is a Nihonto with a rich history. Its first use was in the 15th or 16th century.

The first swords of this type were made using low carbon steel. Over the years, swordsmiths developed their sword-making skills and the quality of steel improved. As a result, they were able to produce better Wakizashi.

The Wakizashi were produced with Tamahagane or jewel steel, which increased the sword’s hardness and durability. It became an efficient sword for combat, hence, its popularity over the Tanto. Eventually, the Samurai opted to use the Wakizashi as an auxiliary weapon.

Historically, the term Wakizashi was used to refer to swords within a specific length. The distance between the Kissaki and the Ha-Machi were measured to determine which swords were a Wakizashi. Back then, it was not officially the short sword paired with the Katana.

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In the early years, people used the term Wakizashi as an abbreviation for “Wakizashi no Katana”. It means “sword thrusting on the side. Back then, it did not refer to a specific sword, but it only referred to any shorter companion sword.

In feudal Japan, the Samurai wore the Wakizashi together with the Katana. It was the Shoto or the short sword in the Daisho, while the Katana was the long sword. The Daisho was proof to show their social status and that they belonged to the military class.

However, this changed in 1638 when the government attempted to regulate the use of swords and different social groups.

They named each weapon to ensure that individuals wore the right swords for their respective social classes. People from other classes, especially the lower class, were prohibited from using certain swords.

Wakizashi

Only the Samurai or military class had the privilege to wear the Katana. For the Chonin or merchant class, they were able to wear the shorter sword, which was the Wakizashi. This period was the time when the Wakizashi and the Katana received their names.

What are the Myths About the Wakizashi?

There are a lot of myths that involved the Wakizashi. Among the most common ones is that it was always worn together with the Katana in a Daisho.

The Daisho consisted of the Katana and Wakizashi. It was the most famous pair of swords that the Samurai of feudal Japan used.

The Katana measured between 60 to 80 centimeters, while the Wakizashi measured between 30 to 60 centimeters long.

 

Some people believe that the Wakizashi and the Katana were the only swords in the Daisho. In reality, the Samurai used other sword combinations before the appearance of Katana and Wakizashi. Using the two Nihonto as a pair only became common around the end of the Muromachi period.

Although these were two of the most popular swords in the Daisho, other Samurai warriors also used other Nihonto. Some paired the Tanto with the Tachi, while others used the Tanto and the Katana.

Before the Katana and Wakizashi pair was popularized, the Tachi and Tanto were known as the Daisho.

Wakizashi

Another myth about the Wakizashi is that openly carrying and using this with the Katana is practiced until today. Since the late 1800s, the Japanese government banned the public from carrying swords in public.

This law has remained until today, although there are still a few exceptions like swordsmanship performances. In this day and age, people use the Wakizashi for practicing a variety of martial arts.

However, martial arts practitioners use unsharpened blades or Iaito.

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Also, people believed that swordsmiths made both the Wakizashi and Katana simultaneously to achieve blades with a similar style. In reality, they produced these Nihonto at different times.

Usually, Samurai warriors in feudal Japan purchased a long sword from one bladesmith and a shortsword from someone else.

It’s proof that the Daisho was not always composed of the Katana and the Wakizashi. These two types of Nihonto were also not sold together.