In Japanese TV dramas and anime, we often see samurai wielding multiple swords, with some even showcasing "three-sword" or "four-sword" styles. This has led to some misconceptions about the equipment of samurai. In reality, in ancient Japan, samurai typically carried only two swords—one long and one short. The long sword is known as the "katana," while the short sword is called the "wakizashi." When going into battle, some samurai might also carry longer weapons like naginata or spears, but they did not carry multiple swords for combat.
There is no strict functional division between these two swords, such as "one for fighting and one for seppuku (ritual suicide)." While the katana, due to its length, was more commonly used in combat, this does not mean the wakizashi was unsuitable for battle. In fact, historical records show the existence of dual-sword schools, such as Miyamoto Musashi's "Niten Ichi-ryū," which emphasizes using a katana in one hand and a wakizashi in the other, rather than wielding two katanas simultaneously.
Additionally, the wakizashi has its unique combat techniques, known as "kodachi-jutsu," where the sword is wielded single-handedly. Traditional sword schools like the Toda-ha Buko-ryū and Katori Shinto-ryū include such techniques. During the feudal era, when a samurai visited another lord's residence, they would typically leave their katana on the sword rack as a sign of goodwill, carrying only the wakizashi for self-defense. If the wakizashi were useless in combat, samurai would be left defenseless in such situations, which is clearly impractical.
As for why samurai did not carry multiple swords, such as strapping several backup swords to their backs, the main issue lies in the practicality of drawing the swords. Generally, a blade longer than 50 centimeters is nearly impossible to draw smoothly from the back unless the scabbard has a special design. Moreover, carrying multiple swords in battle was unnecessary. Japanese history shows that two swords were sufficient for most combat situations. While Japanese swords could sustain damage during use, a damaged blade could still be deadly. Additionally, the forging, sharpening, and maintenance techniques of Japanese swords were highly advanced before the widespread use of firearms, and many ancient swords that survived battles remain intact today, proving their durability.
Regarding the "tachi," this weapon typically has a blade length of around 80 centimeters, significantly longer than the average katana (about 70 centimeters). The tachi was primarily used by cavalry on horseback, wielded with one hand, making it unsuitable for everyday carry. Samurai generally did not carry tachi because their length made drawing them inconvenient, especially in quick-draw techniques like iaijutsu. Therefore, throughout Japanese history, samurai primarily carried katanas and wakizashi, rather than the longer tachi.
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