Why Samurai Carried Two Swords

Every samurai carried two swords but one of them was illegal for everyone else. The pairing was

called daishō, meaning “big and small.” The long sword was the katana.

The shorter blade was the wakizashi. By the Edo period (1603–1868), Japanese law strictly

regulated weapons. Only samurai were allowed to wear both swords together. Commoners were forbidden

from carrying the wakizashi at all except in rare cases granted by local authorities.

The wakizashi had a specific purpose. It was worn indoors, where the katana was often removed.

It was used in close quarters narrow hallways, rooms, and sudden attacks.

Most grimly, it was the blade used for seppuku, ritual suicide. This act was governed