Wakizashi

Wakizashi.

Wakizashi koshirae Edo period.

The wakizashi (脇差 or 脇指: わきざし, & #39;'wakizashi''^?), also known as shōtō (小刀, ''shotō''^?), is a traditional Japanese short saber, with a length of between 30 and 60 centimeters. In the case of the shorter one, one would almost have to talk about tantō, a Japanese type of knife.

Its shape is similar to that of the katana, although the blade is generally thinner and therefore can more seriously wound an unprotected target. Samurai warriors often carried both with them, collectively calling them daishō, literally 'the long and the short'.

The wakizashi was used from the beginning as a defensive weapon for the samurai, when he did not have the katana. In this aspect it replaced the tantō, mentioned above, which was used at the beginning and during the civil wars. When a samurai entered a building he would leave his katana on a stand by the entrance. However, he could carry the wakizashi with him at all times, and even keep it close to him while he slept to repel any aggression. Being shorter and more manageable, it was more suitable for defense in closed spaces, where most likely any attack or guard from a katana would run into beams, ceilings or furniture, which would hinder its movement. The wakizashi thus had a function analogous to pistols in modern armed forces; more effective in civil or paramilitary spheres than in open combat.

The wakizashi was also used to fight in temples, since these had low ceilings, and also to fight in a seiza stance (kneeling stance with outstretched feet).

Due to its size it was also used by ninjas instead of the ninjatō, which occupies an intermediate place between the katana and the wakizashi or kodachi.

Thanks to its short length, drawing and cutting was easier.

Daishō

The daishō (大小? lit. "big and small") is the pair of traditional samurai swords, the katana and the wakizashi, which are carried together. The etymology of this word becomes clearer when the terms daitō (big sword) and shotō (small sword) are used; daitō + shotō = daishō. The katana was used on the battlefield and for most purposes, while the wakizashi was considered a melee and lower range weapon.

Although the ideal image of this pair of weapons is composed of a katana and wakizashi, the daisho concept designates any combination of a long and a shorter blade, also including the uchigatana, tachi and tantō.

This set of weapons used to belong to some ancestor of the samurai family, since it would increase the honor of his house and he would be protected by his ancestors.