Tanto

The Tanto: The Smallest of the Traditional Japanese Swords

The Tanto is the smallest of the traditional Japanese swords, featuring a blade typically around 12 inches long with a subtle curve, less pronounced than that of a katana or wakizashi. Lightweight and discreet, the Tanto was usually worn tucked into the obi (belt) of a kimono, offering samurai an easily accessible yet concealed weapon.

Some samurai would even wear the Tanto within the folds of their kimono, making it nearly invisible to an enemy—ideal for close-quarters defense or swift, discreet attacks when needed. Additionally, the Tanto holds significant importance in the ritual of seppuku, the samurai’s honorable suicide. In this act, a samurai would make a precise horizontal cut just above the navel, seeking redemption for a dishonorable action or to avoid following a command they found morally reprehensible.