Most people who pick up Ghost of Tsushima focus on the katana. That is fair. It is the weapon Jin uses for the majority of combat, and it is the sword that defines him as a samurai.
But the tanto tells a different story.
It is the blade Jin reaches for when the samurai code runs out. Small, close-range, precise. In a game built around the tension between honour and survival, the tanto sits right at the heart of it. Here is everything you need to know about it - the real history, the role it plays in the game, and our hand-forged Ghost of Tsushima tanto replica.
What is a tanto?
A tanto is a short Japanese blade, typically between 15 and 30cm in length. The name translates roughly as "short sword" or "short blade," and it has been in use in Japan since at least the Heian period, making it one of the oldest forms of Japanese edged weapon.
Unlike the katana, which is primarily a cutting weapon, the tanto is designed for stabbing and close-range use. The blade profile is relatively thick and angular compared to other Japanese blades, giving it exceptional strength at the point. Most tantos are forged in the hira-zukuri style, meaning a flat cross-section with no ridgeline, though variations exist.
Historically the tanto was carried by samurai as a companion to their longer sword. Before the wakizashi became the standard short companion blade in the Edo period, it was common practice to carry a katana and tanto together as a daisho pairing. The tanto functioned as a backup weapon for close quarters, a utility tool, and in certain contexts a ceremonial blade. Women of the samurai class sometimes carried a small tanto called a kaiken, concealed in the obi, for personal protection.
The tanto was at its most prevalent during the Kamakura and Nanbokucho periods, roughly the 12th to 14th centuries. Ghost of Tsushima is set in 1274, putting Jin Sakai directly in the era when the tanto was at the peak of its military relevance.
The tanto in Ghost of Tsushima
Jin receives his tanto early in the game, and for the first part of the story it is used simply and practically. Cutting the ropes of Mongol hostages. Small acts, close up, personal.
That changes during the Warrior's Code tale. From that point forward, the tanto becomes Jin's assassination weapon. The ability to kill silently, from concealment, without a fair fight. It is everything a samurai is not supposed to do, which is exactly why it matters narratively.
There is a deliberate contrast at work here. The katana is the weapon Jin uses openly, in the daylight, facing opponents who can see him coming. The tanto is the weapon he uses in the dark, alone, when the code he was raised on would get people killed. The game never makes that contrast feel cheap. Both weapons are presented with weight and consequence.
The tanto also functions as a visual shorthand throughout the story. When Jin is at his most Ghost-like, the tanto is in his hand. When he is at his most samurai-like, the katana is. Sucker Punch used a fairly simple piece of iconography to do a lot of narrative work, and it holds up across the whole game.
The handforged Ghost of Tsushima tanto
Our Ghost of Tsushima Handforged Tanto is inspired directly by Jin's blade from the game.
The key word in the name is handforged. Most display tantos at this price point are cast or machine-finished. A handforged blade has been worked individually by a bladesmith, meaning the steel has been shaped, ground and finished by hand rather than produced from a mould. The difference shows in the surface texture, the edge geometry, and the overall feel of the piece. It is a more considered object than a mass-produced replica.
Specs at a glance:
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Price: £80
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Includes tanto and sheath
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Intended for display only, not for use
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Blunt-edged, as with all replicas in our range
The sheath is included, which matters for display. A tanto without its sheath is an unfinished display piece. With the sheath, you have a complete object that can be mounted horizontally on a stand, stored safely, or displayed as part of a broader collection.
Displaying the tanto alongside the katana
Jin carries both weapons throughout Ghost of Tsushima, and displaying them together makes for a genuinely strong shelf piece.
Any of our three Jin Sakai display katanas pair well with the tanto. The black katana and tanto together is the most visually cohesive combination, both leaning into the Ghost aesthetic. The blue katana and tanto gives you a more traditional samurai display. Either way, a double katana stand will hold both pieces cleanly at the same level.
If you already have the katana and are coming back to add the tanto, or if you are starting from scratch and want both, the full daisho display is worth the slightly higher outlay. It is the combination the game intends, and it reads that way on a shelf.
A note on the tanto's place in Japanese sword history
The tanto is sometimes overlooked in favour of the katana and wakizashi when people talk about Japanese swords. That undersells it. The tanto has a longer continuous history than either of those blades. It was the weapon samurai trusted enough to carry on their person at all times, including in situations where a longer sword was impractical or prohibited.
In the Kamakura period specifically, tanto production reached an artistic peak. Smiths in this era are considered among the finest in Japanese history, and many of the most celebrated surviving tanto were made during this window. The 1274 setting of Ghost of Tsushima puts Jin Sakai right in the middle of this golden age of tanto craftsmanship. Sucker Punch may not have highlighted that detail explicitly, but it is there in the background of every scene where Jin reaches for the blade.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a tanto and a wakizashi?
Both are short Japanese blades carried as companion weapons to the katana. The tanto is shorter, typically 15 to 30cm, and is primarily a stabbing weapon. The wakizashi is longer, typically 30 to 60cm, and functions more like a short sword suitable for cutting as well as thrusting. The tanto predates the wakizashi as a standard companion blade.
Is the Ghost of Tsushima tanto sharp?
No. All replicas in our range are blunt-edged and intended for display only. Not suitable for use.
What does tanto mean?
Tanto translates from Japanese as "short blade" or "short sword." Tan means short, to means blade or sword.
Does the tanto come with a sheath?
Yes. Our Ghost of Tsushima Handforged Tanto includes a sheath.
What other Ghost of Tsushima weapons do you stock?
We stock three Jin Sakai display katanas - black, blue and Storm variants - as well as the handforged tanto. Browse the full Ghost of Tsushima collection for everything currently available.
About The Sword Stall
All stock is held in our warehouse in Bacup, Lancashire. No dropshipping, no customs issues, no waiting weeks for delivery. New customers will need to provide age verification before dispatch, a quick one-time process.
