Swords & knives
Wakizashi
脇差
The shorter companion sword.
Form and name
The Met describes wakizashi as a short sword with a blade between 30 and 60 cm, usually worn with a katana.
Read more: terms and context
Jutsu · technique and art
Jutsu (術) can mean technique, skill or method. In weapon terminology, we distinguish the implement from the art practised with it.
Source for the word jutsu: Kanjipedia
Tradition and context
Museum object 91.2.71 has a blade and mounting from the late eighteenth century. Its date documents that particular example, rather than the age of every technique using this weapon type.
Sources and further reading
Practitioner sources describe the tradition’s practice and terminology. They are not used alone as evidence for early historical claims.