Overall Length: 28 in

Blade Length: 16 in

Handle Length: 6 in

Scabbard Handle: 21 in

Blade Width: 1.27 in

Blade Thickness: 0.27 in

Weight: 1.8 lb

The wakizashi has a long and rich history dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries.

The wakizashi sword is one of the most important weapons of the samurai warrior. It was the backup sword that was paired with the Katana. By law, only members of the Samurai caste were allowed to carry both swords as a daisho.

Similar to the Katana, the Wakizashi is a classic nihonto with a curved blade and single edge. It was crafted around the same period as the katana, and was used by the Samurai and the Chonin class.

The Wakizashi in Daisho

During the feudal period of Japan, the samurai warriors often wore two swords. This set was called the Daisho which consisted of the katana and the Wakizashi.

No commoner was allowed to carry the pair since it was a sign that the wielder was a samurai. Anyone who disobeyed this rule would be punished severely.

Utilization of the Wakizashi

When a samurai entered a castle as a guest, he would not bring his katana with him. Instead, he would leave this to a page or a servant; this would be placed on a katana-kake or a rack.

If the weapon rested on the katana-kake, the katana’s tsuka faced left so the sword had to be removed using the samurai’s left hand. After, the sword was passed to the right hand then placed at the samurai’s right, making it difficult to draw to lessen the suspicion of others.

Unlike the katana, the wakizashi was worn at all times. It was considered as the samurai’s sidearm, just like the pistol of a modern soldier. From day to night, the samurai wore the wakizashi; even in sleep, he would keep this next to him or place this under his pillow.

The Wakizashi for Beheading

When beheading an opponent to take their heads as trophies, victorious samurai warriors preferred using their wakizashi instead of their main sword.

During these instances, the executioner would either be alone or with their comrades. They would capture their immobilized opponent and remove his helmet, then behead him with the wakizashi. With a shorter blade, decapitating an enemy single-handedly would be easier. Also, using the katana for this would heighten the risks of damaging its blade.

The Wakizashi for Swordsmanship

The Wakizashi may not have been as popular as the katana, yet it was still a favored piece. It has a significant value in the history and culture of the Japanese. Although it is not used as a weapon in this day and age, it is still utilized for swordsmanship for martial arts such as iaido, kenjutsu, and kendo.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Wakizashi had other uses aside from being an auxiliary weapon that is effective in close-range battles. 

The sword was also used for beheading defeated enemies. One of its more known uses was for the ritual suicide called Seppuku.

The term Wakizashi was an abbreviation of the term “wakizashi no katana” or sword thrusting on the side. This was a term used for companion swords of varying sizes, but not until 1638 of Edo period. This was when Japan’s rulers attempted to regulate the different types of social groups and swords.

Over the years, a variety of procedures for forging the wakizashi have been developed. The first swords were made using low-carbon steel. When swordsmithing techniques have improved, high-carbon steel and Tamahagane has been developed; thus increasing the wakizashi’s toughness and durability.

The book, “The Japanese Sword”, by Kanzan Sato states that there wasn’t really any need for the Wakizashi. However, it may have gained prominence over the tanto due to being more suitable for indoor battles. Sato mentions the custom of leaving a Katana by the castle’s door or palace upon entering, while keeping the Wakizashi by the samurai’s side.

Though carrying the Katana was limited to the Samurai class, the Ko-Wakizashi and Wakizashi of legal length could be wielded by the chonin. This class included merchants, and was often carried during travels to protect themselves from bandits.

The daisho is a concept that began even before the Katana and the Wakizashi. Originally, the first daisho was made of the tachi together with a Tanto.

As time passed, the daisho pair consisted of the uchigatana and shorter Tanto. With the advent of the katana, the wakizashi replaced the tanto as the preferred short sword of the samurai warriors.