Tanto's

The tanto: a Japanese short sword

The tanto is a Japanese short sword. It is used as a knife. This weapon was originally intended primarily as a thrusting weapon but can also be used as a cutting weapon. The first references to the tanto date back to 900 AD. The tanto was used by the samurai class in the feudal system of Japan. The tanto was worn exclusively by the aristocratic classes. Women sometimes carried a type of small tanto, the kaiken, as a defensive weapon. Samurai often carried the tanto, tachi combination on the battlefield. This was before the wakizashi and katana combination became popular.

Tanto, wakizashi & katana

The most stylish combinations of modern brands such as Hanwei, Cold Steel, Citadel, and John Lee often consist of a tanto, wakizashi, and katana combination. This combination is most associated with the Japanese empire. Kanzan Satō wrote in his book that when the katana became increasingly popular, the katana, wakizashi combination became more preferred. This was mainly because the wakizashi was better suited for use inside buildings. He mentions that it was customary to leave the katana at the door when entering a castle or building. However, the wakizashi was still carried.