The Wakizashi is one of the Japanese sword worn by Samurai in Feudal Japan. The Wakizashi has a blade around 30 - 60 cm ( 11.8 - 28.6 inch ). The Wakizashi is shorter then the Katana. Sometimes Samurai needed to use Wakizashi when he fought in a small room, where Katana would be too long to unsheathe.

The Tachi is a type of Japanese sword that was used mainly on horseback During the Kamakura period ( 1185 - 1333 ). It has a longer blade than Katana around 70 - 80 cm and usually carried is reverse. The design of the Tachi is similar to that modern Japanese swords but it's generally larger and heavier.

Kodachi means ' small ' small or ' short Tachi '. It has a long, deeply curved, single - edged design. Its blade length go around 40 - 60 cm. It was founded in the mid - Heian period ( 794 - 1185 ).

Odachi is a oversize Tachi and also called Nodachi, meaning ' field sword '. The blade length go around 90 - 120 cm. The Samurai mostly used the Odachi during the Nanbokucho period ( 1336 - 1392 ). Tese extremely long swords were not suitable for close - quarters combat so the foot soldiers and cavalrymen used them on the battlefield.

Unlike the Katana, the Chokutō has a straight blade and ha a meaning of ' straight sword '. Dating back to the Yayoi period ( ca. 300 BC - 300 AD ), this style was inspired by the ancient swords of China and Korea. It's length go around 60 - 90 cm.

A Katana is a Japanese sword characterized by a curved single - edged blade with a circular or square guard and long grip to accommodate two hands. It's length go around 60 - 80 cm. It was developed later than the Tachi.

Nagamaki is type of a Katana but it has an unusual long handle which is as long as the blade, allowing for two - handed grip and greater control. The standard Nagamaki typically measured approximately 180 - 210 cm. in total length and the length of the blade is around 90 - 120 cm.