Japan developed the most refined sword-making tradition in human history. Over a thousand years of refinement, the Japanese sword evolved from a straight blade copied from Chinese and Korean designs into something entirely its own - curved, laminated, differentially hardened, and finished with a level of craftsmanship that turned a weapon into an art form.
The swords that emerged from that tradition are some of the most collected blades in the world. The katana is the most famous of them, but it sits within a family of Japanese blade types - wakizashi, tanto, tachi, naginata, nodachi - each with its own design logic, its own history and its own place in samurai culture. Understanding the differences between them makes collecting considerably more rewarding.
This guide covers each of the main Japanese sword types, the tradition behind them, and the range available at The Sword Stall. All UK stock, dispatched from our warehouse in Bacup, Lancashire.
The Japanese sword tradition - a brief history
The curved Japanese sword as we know it today emerged during the late Heian period, around the 10th century AD. Before that, Japanese swords were straight, influenced by Chinese and Korean blade-making. The shift to a curved blade is thought to have developed in response to changing cavalry warfare - a curved blade is more effective when drawing from the scabbard on horseback and delivers more efficient cutting strokes.
The period from the Kamakura era (1185-1333) through to the Edo period (1600-1868) represents the golden age of Japanese sword-making. During this time the major blade types were established, the great sword-making schools were founded, and the techniques that define traditional Japanese blade-making - tamahagane steel, differential hardening using clay, the visible hamon temper line - were refined to their highest point.
The Meiji Restoration of 1868 formally ended the samurai class. But the tradition of Japanese sword-making continued as an art form and has never fully stopped. Today, licensed nihonto (authentic Japanese swords) are still forged by registered craftsmen using traditional methods. The replicas and display pieces in our range take their design cues from this centuries-old tradition.
The katana - Japan's most iconic sword
The katana is the primary sword of the samurai and the blade most associated with Japanese sword culture worldwide. A single-edged curved blade, typically between 60 and 73cm in length, worn edge-up through the belt in a wooden scabbard called a saya. The curvature is functional rather than decorative - it allows for faster draws and more effective cutting strokes than a straight blade of the same length.
The katana was worn alongside the wakizashi as a matched pair called a daisho - literally big-little. The pairing was a mark of samurai status. During the Edo period, only samurai were permitted to wear the daisho.
Our katana collection covers display pieces, hand-forged replicas, fandom katanas and functional practice blades. For collectors interested in a specific fandom, our Ghost of Tsushima katanas, Demon Slayer nichirin blades and One Piece swords are among our strongest ranges.
The wakizashi - the samurai's companion blade
The wakizashi sits between the katana and the tanto in the Japanese blade hierarchy. Blade length typically 30 to 60cm. It was the sword the samurai wore at all times - even when the katana was left at the door. In indoor spaces where a full-length katana was impractical, the wakizashi was the primary weapon. It also held deep ceremonial significance, including as the blade used in seppuku.
The wakizashi is often overlooked by collectors who focus on the katana, which undersells it as a display piece. A matched daisho set - katana and wakizashi displayed together - is one of the most visually compelling things you can put on a wall.
Read more: What is a Wakizashi? and Katana vs Wakizashi. Browse our wakizashi collection.
The tanto - Japan's short blade
The tanto predates the katana as a standard samurai sidearm. A short single or double-edged blade, typically 15 to 30cm, designed for close-range use and utility. Before the wakizashi became the standard companion blade in the later Edo period, samurai commonly carried a katana and tanto as their paired swords.
The tanto reached its peak during the Kamakura period - Japan's golden age of blade-making. Women of the samurai class sometimes carried a small tanto called a kaiken, concealed in the obi, for personal protection.
In modern collecting, the tanto sits at the crossover between Japanese swords and daggers. Browse our tanto collection and our Ghost of Tsushima handforged tanto.
The tachi - the predecessor to the katana
The tachi is an older Japanese sword form, predating the katana. Longer and more deeply curved, it was worn edge-down suspended from the belt - the reverse of how the katana is carried. It was primarily a cavalry weapon. The shift from tachi to katana as the dominant samurai sword is generally placed in the Muromachi period (1336-1573), as infantry combat became more prevalent.
The naginata - Japan's polearm
The naginata is a Japanese polearm - a curved blade mounted on a long wooden shaft. Historically associated with female warriors (onna-bugeisha) and warrior monks (sohei). Naginatajutsu is still practised as a martial art in Japan today and remains associated with women's martial arts practice.
Katana sets - the complete daisho
For collectors who want to display the full samurai sword set, our katana sets bring together the three core Japanese blade types - katana, wakizashi and tanto - as a matched collection. The traditional daisho set is the most complete way to represent the samurai's sword heritage in a single display. Browse our Japanese replicas collection for stands and complementary pieces, and our katana stands collection for display options.
Japanese swords and the law in the UK
Curved swords with a blade over 50cm are subject to restrictions under the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (as amended). However, this applies to swords manufactured by industrial processes and does not affect traditionally hand-forged blades or antiques. Our hand-forged katanas and traditional Japanese blades are not affected by this restriction.
Display katanas and fandom replicas in our range are straight-bladed or comply with UK regulations in other ways - where relevant, this is noted in individual product descriptions. All buyers must be 18 or over. New customers must provide age verification once before their first order is dispatched.
Browse the full Japanese sword range
Katana swords - display, hand-forged, fandom and practice katanas
Samurai swords - the full samurai sword range across all types
Wakizashi - companion blades and matched sets
Tanto - short blades and display pieces
Katana sets - complete daisho collections
Ghost of Tsushima swords - Jin Sakai katanas and handforged tanto
Demon Slayer swords - Nichirin blades and character replicas
One Piece swords - Zoro's blades and the wider One Piece range
Display katana - ornamental display pieces
Japanese replicas - the full Japanese range including armour
Frequently asked questions
What is a Japanese sword called? The most well-known Japanese sword is the katana. But the term covers a family of blade types including the tachi, katana, wakizashi, tanto, naginata, and nodachi. Each has its own design, history and role in Japanese martial tradition.
What is the difference between a katana, wakizashi and tanto? The three are distinguished primarily by blade length and role in samurai culture. The katana has the longest blade, typically 60 to 73cm, and was the primary weapon. The wakizashi has a blade of 30 to 60cm and served as the companion sword in close combat and daily carry. The tanto has the shortest blade at 15 to 30cm and was used for close-range utility and ceremonial purposes. Read our full comparison: Katana vs Wakizashi.
Are Japanese sword replicas legal in the UK? Generally yes. Hand-forged katanas and traditional Japanese blades are not affected by the UK curved sword restrictions. Industrially manufactured curved sword replicas with blades over 50cm are subject to restrictions under the Criminal Justice Act 1988. Most of our display and fandom katanas are either straight-bladed or hand-forged and not affected. All buyers must be 18 or over.
What is a daisho? Daisho means big-little in Japanese and refers to the paired set of a katana and wakizashi that samurai wore together. The daisho was a mark of samurai status - only samurai were permitted to wear both swords during the Edo period. Our katana sets include the full daisho plus tanto for collectors who want the complete set.
What is tamahagane steel? Tamahagane is the traditional steel used in Japanese sword-making. It is produced in a tatara smelter using iron sand and charcoal, and its variable carbon content gives the sword a hard cutting edge combined with a more flexible spine. Modern replicas and display pieces use high-carbon steel or stainless steel rather than tamahagane but aim to replicate the visual and physical characteristics of traditionally forged blades.
What is the hamon on a katana? The hamon is the visible temper line that runs along the edge of a traditionally forged katana blade. Created during the hardening process when clay is applied to the blade before quenching, the clay-coated spine cools more slowly than the exposed edge, creating differential hardness that produces the characteristic wavy or straight line on the blade surface. On high-quality replicas and hand-forged pieces, the hamon is a real feature. On mass-produced display replicas, it is sometimes etched or simulated.
