Swords & knives
Tantō
短刀
A knife or short blade.
Form and name
Tantō refers to a Japanese knife or short blade. Tantō is mentioned among the weapons in Bujinkan sources.
Read more: terms and context
Tantō → tantōjutsu
Tantō names the dagger; tantōjutsu combines that name with jutsu, meaning technique or art. The word describes a field of practice, rather than one particular exercise.
Source for the word jutsu: Kanjipedia
Tradition and context
Adapted training versions are used in partner practice. The name identifies the type of implement; on its own, it does not specify the form or level of training.
A historical example
The Met describes a tantō as a dagger with a blade shorter than 30 cm. Object 91.2.37 has a sixteenth-century blade and later mounting. This documents a historical object, rather than a Bujinkan lineage.
Sources and further reading
Practitioner sources describe the tradition’s practice and terminology. They are not used alone as evidence for early historical claims.