Wakizashi

The wakizashi (Japanese: 脇差, 'side inserted sword') is one of the traditionally made Japanese swords (nihontō) worn by the samurai in feudal Japan. Its name refers to the practice of wearing it inserted through one's obi or sash at one's side, whereas the larger tachi sword was worn slung from a cord.

The production of swords in Japan is divided into specific time periods:

Wakizashi have been in use as far back as the 15th or 16th century.

The term wakizashi did not originally specify swords of any official blade length and was an abbreviation of wakizashi no katana ("sword thrust at one's side"); the term was applied to companion swords of all sizes.

However, it was not until the Edo period in 1638 when the rulers of Japan tried to regulate the types of swords and the social strata which were allowed to wear them that the lengths of katana and wakizashi were officially set.

The wakizashi has a blade between 30 and 60 cm (12 and 24 in) in length. Wakizashi are not necessarily just a smaller version of the katana; they could be forged differently and have a different cross-section.

Wakizashi were worn on the left side, secured to the waist sash (Uwa-obi or himo).

Wakizashi close to the length of a katana are called ō-wakizashi.