Explanation of the "Tanto", Japanese Short Sword

[@TheShurikenZone]

Aikuchi tanto have no tsuba, but many tanto did have tsuba, certainly. That's worth noting.

[@angeloschneider4272]

Oh you wrote it already :D should have read first.

[@TheShurikenZone]

@angeloschneider4272 I think I said the same thing, on another comment on this video. haha

[@chrisk5454]

Thank you for going back to swords. I have re-subbed for the sword content. Please do an investigation into the origins of the different types of hada and hamon. I would love to see you cover those aspects of the swords and their importance to the art.

[@Nihontopride]

Though the video is nice with several beautiful blades displayed, there are a number of minor inaccuracies that need to be addressed. While Tanto generally did not have a ridge line, there are several styles that did. Some examples would be a Shobu-zukuri Tanto as well as an Osoraku-zukuri Tanto, the latter even having a Yokote (a vertical line separating the tip from the body of the blade, something almost seen exclusively in blades larger than Tanto). Tanto also often had curvature (Sori), though they were usually extremely shallow. Tanto without curvature were not uncommon though. Tanto Koshirae (Mountings) did come with Tsuba (Hand Guards), it entirely depended on the style and purpose of the Tanto. Tanto being used on the battlefield would likely have Tsuba. Though more of a technicality, a Tanto is a blade of one shaku or less. A shaku is a form of Japanese measurement in regards to length. One shaku is roughly the equivalent of 11.93 inches. Because the difference in length between 1 shaku and 1 foot is so small, the two are often used interchangeably by collectors. Again, this isn't such a big deal, just being technical.

[@Nihontopride]

@@ironhornforge I'm by no means an expert, but I am a collector and have been for over two decades. I've seen videos that are grossly inaccurate on the subject and this video is pretty good for the most part. I could overlook a few minor inaccuracies given how horribly inaccurate other videos have been from other content makers. One thing I do lover about this video is all the blades in it are authentic Nihonto, no reproductions in sight.

[@Nitro1000]

It was basically used in the same way as a European dagger during armored combat which is logical as there's only so many ways to fight with bladed weapons. This was very interesting and informative.

[@aaronmatheson9730]

There are many tanto with tsuba. I believe you are mistaken it for Aikuchi which do not have tsuba. Also there are tanto with a shinogi line (although most are Hira-zukuri). Love the channel and not trying to sound like a know it all.

[@notfeedynotlazy]

You are right on the "there _are_ tantos with tsubas" part. But to be fair, Aikuchi refers only to a mounting without tsuba of any blade (I mean, not a storage shirasaya, but an actual, intended-for-use mounting). Usually knives and short swords, but even full sword-sized blades have ocasionally been mounted that way for conceability. Maybe the fact that the overwhelming majority of aikuchi mountings are knife-sized blades (mainly tanto blades) has led to stating that in the video, as an oversimplification.

[@TheShurikenZone]

​@@notfeedynotlazy Very well said. I should have read in the comments, before noting the aikuchi tanto wasn't the only tanto in town, in a separate comment. 8-/

[@quangtrung999]

The traditional tanto does not have tsuba. The added tsuba and sightly longer length are all variations over time and not original. I dont consider those to be true tanto as it defeats the purpose of concealment

[@quangtrung999]

The traditional tanto does not have tsuba. The added tsuba and sightly longer length are all variations over time and not original. I dont consider those to be true tanto as it defeats the purpose of concealment

[@TheShurikenZone]

@quangtrung999 The lack of tsuba has no connection to concealment, and in military settings, tanto were worn front and center- The antithesis of concealed. The primary purpose of tanto were for fighting in armor; a tsuba can get caught in armor and equipment, and this is why they were generally not used.

[@Junior-jw1bb]

Another great video, thanks for sharing your hard work with us. Always educational.

[@HistoryofKatana]

❤️❤️

[@CatDaddySteve]

Tanto is the lone rangers buddy

[@notfeedynotlazy]

Not "the lane ranger"? Tsk, tsk...

[@patrickmullane30]

Wat you mean kimosabe?

[@dennislloyd494]

His name was Tonto. Not tanto

[@notfeedynotlazy]

@@dennislloyd494 The jake flew aver your head, my friend

[@CatDaddySteve]

@@dennislloyd494 duh, it's called a pun 🙄

[@MASI_forging]

Thank u for this video 👏👏

[@mattnobrega6621]

I have a tanto though lts not a traditional type. Mine has a guard, and the tip is of a sharp angle. Like you see in Western tanto reproductions. Domo arigato for sharing your lesson on a beautiful blade😌🙏

[@fredricclack7137]

Metal Holds Soul! ⚔️

[@angeloschneider4272]

A Tanto can have a handguard. The main distinction is actually only the blade length and shape.

[@kira68200]

wouldn't tanto be mor elike a dagger ? with wakizashi being a short swort and katana being a longsword equivalent ? nodashi being the equivalent of a zweihander

[@stefthorman8548]

No, the tachi is equivalent to longsword,

[@kira68200]

@@stefthorman8548 the tachi is the precursor of the katana, so my analogy seems equivalent

[@LancelotChan]

Thank you for the video. Not only sword can house spirit, all kind of objects can do so. However, sharp objects fending off spirits in astral realm is handy and useful. So those traditions are not superstition. Astral traveler like me, use swords a lot more there than here.

[@jaygrizzel4883]

Lack of a tsuba does not make a tanto a tanto, nor does hira-zukuri make a tanto either. There are plenty of tanto with guards, its a style of koshirae called hamidashi. Lot of misinformation in this video, probably written by a.i. half of this you can read on the dam wikipedia article on tanto.

[@UdoWerder]

Ein Tanto ist nicht wirklich ein Schwert , er diente vornehmlich der Selbstverteidigung und im Feld dazu , die Rüstung zu durchstechen was , die meist gerade Klinge besser leisten konnte als ein Katana welches , in erster Linie eine Schnittwaffe war und konstruktionsbedingt zum stechen eher ungeeignet war aber , dabei nicht minder effektiv war . 😊

[@spike6600]

I really want to possess one of these, though it will cost me a couple of millions of yen.

[@opasurya2015]

💖

[@mikemckague9506]

My question is why is a tanto labeled as a short sword not a dagger or knife? 🤷‍♂️

[@Nihontopride]

The term "Nihonto" or "Japanese Sword" refers to any traditional Japanese bladed weapon made by a traditional Japanese swordsmith (Katana-kaji). A "Shoto" or "Small/Short Sword" refers to blades such as a Wakizashi or Tanto, while a "Daito" or "Large/Long Sword" refers to blades such as Katana, Tachi and Odachi. Even weapons such as "Yari" (Spears) and "Naginata" (a type of Japanese polearm equivalent to a halberd) are also considered a "Japanese Sword". The Tanto is technically a type of Japanese dagger, but traditionally speaking, it's regarded as a type of Shoto.

[@justinreilly6619]

​@@Nihontopridethank you for your comprehensive explanation, very interesting and appreciated.

[@peterchristiansen9695]

@@NihontoprideYup; even if the naginata is “technically” more equivalent to a ‘glaive’ type of polearm than to a halberd… Otherwise; good answer(s). 👍🏻 ☺️

[@Nihontopride]

@@peterchristiansen9695 lol, fair point, I just know that's a common way to describe it. Might be more accurate to describe it as a "Sword on a Stick", though that makes them sound more crude than they actually are.

[@peterchristiansen9695]

@@Nihontopride Crude they are most definitely not! ☺️ I find the naginata to be amongst the most elegant of polearms. In fact; I wish I could own one someday - but then I’d have to find a larger place, to be able to wield it safely… 😂

[@greedygringoprospecting6941]

bad ass !!!

[@thetoneknob4493]

ive got a nice little tanto in higo koshirai that has a small tsuba and the tsuka has tsuka-maki. the blade is mino den with a mokume hada and a gunome hamon. made in the shinto era. its unsigned witch is strange for a tanto. it has no flaws and is a high quality very thick blade, witch confuses me even more. i can see no good reason for it to be mumei.

[@theedain]

An armour-piercing blade if it v thick. Fairly common to find blades that are high quality yet unsigned.

[@Nihontopride]

Many blades weren't signed and it's actually quite common. Blades made by Goro Nyudo Masamune, who is also one of the Tenga Sansaku, rarely signed his work. I'm actually a collector, though because of my lower income, I only own a few pieces despite having been collecting for over 20 years. My best piece is probably a Yoroi-doshi Tanto made by a relatively unknown smith named Yasuki Sukeshige, dated February of 1869. Though the smith isn't considered of significant skill, this particular tanto was considered extremely well made and has been certified as Tokubetsu Hozen by the NBTHK (exceptionally well made).

[@thetoneknob4493]

@@Nihontopride exactly! tanto are rarely unsigned.its quite common for wakizashi or katana to be mumei but that's not so for tanto. even low level smiths signed their tanto.

[@thetoneknob4493]

@@theedain that's true for wakizashi and katana but not so much for tanto. even lower level smiths signed their tanto.

[@peterchristiansen9695]

⁠@@NihontoprideAn interesting aspect about the yoroi-doshi type tantō, is that it appears to have been developed (through convergent evolution) for much the same “applications” as was for instance the European rondel dagger. Thus a much stouter blade, made primarily for stabbing (into gaps in armor) and with less emphasis on cutting, when compared to other types of Japanese tantō - or indeed shotō in general. 🙂 Additionally; the variation in style - and blade-profiles - found in the various (sub-) types of tantō throughout history is truly fascinating! I find the study of these short-swords equally as interesting as that of their longer counterparts. 🗡️🤓 ☺️

[@ChromeMan04]

That’s a dagger

[@KageNoTora74]

The tanto isn't a sword. It's a knife.

[@galactigo4463]

A dagger perhaps

[@j.robertvillarreal5926]

The word Tanto translates to the term ," Utility Blade." As I have been told. The man who told me this is a Master Swordsman who studied in Japan, and speaks fluent Japanese. There is proof of this in the book 5 Rings.

[@TheShurikenZone]

That seems unlikely. Daito- "big sword" ; Shoto- "small sword"; Tanto- "diminutive sword" That all seems fairly straightforward. Regardless of who you heard it from, a tanto is a we@pon, not a utility blade. The kogatana, which fits into a crevice near the koiguchi of many wakizashi saya, is a utility blade.

[@simonmorris4226]

Wrong. A Tanto has a guard. An Akuchi doesn’t. Saying it in a fake Japanese accent doesn’t help……

[@notfeedynotlazy]

Hilariously, both of you are wrong. Aikuchi is not a kind of knife: is a kind of blade mounting; mounting a blade with no guard so the handle and the scabbard are flush and continuous. (Deliberately not using the Japanese termns for all this, but for mentioning that _aikuchi_ literally means "meeting mouths", refering that flush union). It was usually used for small swords and daggers (wakizashi, kodachi, koshigatana, tanto, kaimen, etc) for the exact reasons mentioned in the video. But there are also examples of tanto with handguard (tsuba) mountings (in Japanese swords, where the sword mountings are more or less interchangeable, modular even, what names the kind of weapon you have is usually the blade and not the mounting). (Yes, you COULD have a katana in aikuchi mounting. Yes, someone would mistake it for a shirasaya.)

[@jorundr1907]

Tanto its not a sword.

[@jorundr1907]

@@ironhornforge tanto ist a long knive.

[@Nihontopride]

The word Tanto in Japanese is written as 短刀. This literally translates to "Short Sword", so yes, it technically is a sword, according to the culture that created it.

[@notfeedynotlazy]

@@Nihontopride That was so until the prohibition to carry swords. At that time everyone who carried one started calling them knives. (Color me surprised). That's the reason the modern tantos are knife-sized, they are sold as "samurai knives", and we're having internet arguments among people who can't grasp the idea that a weapon that stradled the frontier betwen very short sword and very long knife was called both things under the same name at different times in history.

[@roho741]

​it can also be translated as "tanken" @@Nihontopride

[@galactigo4463]

It’s more like a dagger