What is the Wakizashi Used for?

The Samurai used the Wakizashi as an auxiliary sword. They always wore this sword and never left this behind for various reasons.

First, they used it for indoor or close-range combat. Since the Wakizashi was smaller than the Katana, it was easier to use in enclosed areas.

It’s a backup weapon that they used when the Katana was at a disadvantage. It was useful, especially when their primary sword got lost or severely damaged.

The Samurai also used the Wakizashi for decapitating their defeated opponent. Although it happened occasionally, the Samurai did not normally decapitate their opponents in the heat of a battle.

Instead, they held their victims down to show their victory in the duel.

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The reason why they used the backup sword for this purpose was to prevent the Katana from acquiring more damage.

Swords were at higher risk of getting broken when beheading a person wearing armor. Since the Katana was their primary weapon, they had to keep it protected as much as possible.

Another purpose of the Wakizashi is for performing Seppuku or ritual suicide. In the West, people refer to this Nihonto as the Honor Blade since the Samurai committed Seppuku to regain their honor.

Although the Samurai mostly used the Wakizashi, the Samurai also used other blades like the Tanto for these ritual suicides.

Wakizashi

Lastly, the Wakizashi was for self-defense. As mentioned earlier, a Samurai never left their Wakizashi behind. Even when sleeping, they kept it under their pillow for easy drawing when necessary.

According to some historians, the Wakizashi was comparable to the modern-day soldier’s pistol. They could carry it anywhere to keep themselves protected at all times.

Although it’s not as popular as the Katana, it’s one of the famous Nihonto in history. It has a significant value to the Japanese culture, like every other Japanese sword.

Today, people no longer use the Wakizashi for combat. However, practitioners of swordsmanship use it for martial arts like Iaido, Kenjutsu, and Kendo.

 

What are the Advantages of the Wakizashi?

One of the advantages of the Wakizashi is its shorter length. Compared to the Katana, this Nihonto was smaller, making it better for combat in close quarters. Its size made it easier for the Samurai to draw the sword when battling indoors.

Although the Tanto was also useful for indoor combat, the Wakizashi had another advantage. It allowed the Samurai to stay at a safe distance from their opponents due to its length. Compared to the Tanto, the Wakizashi had a better cutting advantage due to its size.

The blade of the Wakizashi ranged from 12 to 24 inches. It was longer than the Tanto but shorter than the Katana. Because of this, it became an excellent piece for indoor combat, and it became more popular among the Samurai.

Wakizashi

Additionally, the Wakizashi increased a warrior’s advantage in combat when they utilized with the Katana. Using the two swords kept opponents within a radius of 2-7 feet.

Miyamoto Musashi is a famous Samurai for his unique double-bladed swordsmanship techniques and was a master swordsman in feudal Japan. He wielded a Katana and Wakizashi simultaneously for maximum advantage in battles.

Another advantage of the Wakizashi was its ease of use when decapitating an opponent. It’s because the Wakizashi was for cutting through the human body’s weak points.

Since the Wakizashi was thinner than the Katana, it can cut through softer targets.

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Aside from the blade’s design, it had a razor-sharp edge like the Katana, allowing for quick and precise cuts and thrusts.

Using the Katana to decapitate and cut through armored opponents can cause it to acquire more damages. Because of that, the Samurai used the Wakizashi to avoid risking their main sword.

When decapitating an opponent, the executioner seized the immobilized victim alone or with his comrades’ assistance. After that, he removed his defeated opponent’s helmet and gripped his head to cut it off with the Wakizashi.