About Japanese swords and weapons...

[ziritrion]

Does anyone know what's the difference between a katana and a tachi? These two swords seem to be the most used in the feudal era in Japan, but I can't figure out what make them different one from another. Also, Grasscutter happens to be a tsurugi, a two-handed kind of sword that seemed to be prior to the katana and tachi. Are there any more sword-like Japanese weapons that are not as known as the katana? What about bladed weapons that do not appear in UY? (We all have seen kama, naginata, sai, spears and such, but are there any more?). And what about non-bladed weapons? (nunchaku, bo, and any other that I do not know off...)

[Todd Shogun]

The tachi was a sword that was roughly the same length as a katana, but the blade and handle were much more curved. They were typically a bit longer because of the longer two-handed grip (similar to a nodachi, which is a katana with an extra-long handle for two-handed fighting styles). It was traditionally used during battles and worn by higher ranking samurai. The tachi was carried outside the belt on an external tie to make it easier to wear on horseback with the samurai armor. They also appear to be much more decorated that your standard katana.

Other than katana and wakizashi, there were tanto (daggers) which ranged in size (small to almost wakizashi-sized tantos were pretty common). Also shinobikatana, which you've probably seen used by the various ninjas in UY. One non-bladed japanese weapon I don't think we've seen yet is the tonfa or tui-fa that today's police use in place of the old clubs.

[HOKITA]

I'm fortunite to have held and used this sweet sword... My sensei has one and he loves indulging in to it's history as a weapon sometimes used much like a naginata to take horses out in the heat of battle...

[ziritrion]

Thank you Todd .

I've also heard that there's a small, non-bladed weapon (I can't remember the name, though) which was usually worn by priests, and fitted in the hand's palm. It looked like stripes of metal with the shape of two balls, one tangent to the other. The wielder would grab it right by its center, in a way that the weapon would fit inside the wielders fist, and the two ends of the weapon would stick out of the hand. On the two ends of the weapon, each "wire ball" had a smaller, solid ball so the wielder could hit by the side of his/her punch.

It seemed that, when punching, the wielder could hit wey harder than with an empty fist. Also, they could hit with the two ends of the balls to make bigger damage to the attacker. Does anyone know what's the name of this (rare) weapon? In what time period was it used? Will we ever see it in UY?

And what about nunchaku? When was it created? Who used it (ninja, peasants...)?

[steve]

Another weapon not previously mentioned is the war fan... used by Minomoto Yoshitsune (of Grasscutter fame) in the book "Sensei II: Sword Master" by David Charney (I f I remember correctly).
Abayo,
Steve

[Stan Sakai]

Thank you Todd .

I've also heard that there's a small, non-bladed weapon (I can't remember the name, though) which was usually worn by priests, and fitted in the hand's palm. It looked like stripes of metal with the shape of two balls, one tangent to the other. The wielder would grab it right by its center, in a way that the weapon would fit inside the wielders fist, and the two ends of the weapon would stick out of the hand. On the two ends of the weapon, each "wire ball" had a smaller, solid ball so the wielder could hit by the side of his/her punch.

It seemed that, when punching, the wielder could hit wey harder than with an empty fist. Also, they could hit with the two ends of the balls to make bigger damage to the attacker. Does anyone know what's the name of this (rare) weapon? In what time period was it used? Will we ever see it in UY?

That sounds like the Konga which is a favorite weapon of Modesty Blaise.

The tachi is worn hanging from the belt with the blade side facing down. The katana is worn through the belt with the blade side facing up.

A few other weapons are the jitte, as used by Inspector Ishida; a kusarigama, a blade with a weighted chain; a masakari battle axe; kama sickle; the naginata and yari spears; and a mankiri, weighted chains. Besides battle fans, iron smoking pipes were also used.

[ziritrion]

Thank you all for the info .

I wonder how the war fan is used, though. What is it made of? Is it used like a slicing-cutting weapon, using its edge as a blade?

Iron smoking pipes!? Man, I want one . It sounds like the "Mystical Ninja starring Goemon" for the Nintendo 64... (by the way, that game is hilarious!). So is it used like a hammer or something? I mean, do you just hit someone in the head with it? Because making someone high with it or just intoxicating him/her doesn't sound too orthodox for me... .

[Robert Wetherelt]

I prefer the Katana an estetically pleasing,elegant weapon. Wielded with precision and murderous grace. The most beautiful sword ever forged for a warrior. So suited to the Knights of Nippon. Ja,mata.

[sjt_cedric]

I've read some learned opinion that the difference between tachi and katana is largely one of furniture-- the same blade could be either, depending on what sort of handle &ct. were attached. (Quick check) Sakai-sensei already mentioned the different in how they're worn.

There was more than one kind of fan; some just had metal ribs, and were more for parrying (like jitte, but less obvious), but could also give a good smack to the noggin. There were also some of a more paddle-shape, like the ref-priests at a sumo-basho wave around. Again, I expect more defensive an item, but they were sturdy enough to get slashed at by swords AND light enough to carry in one hand, so expect some smacking, jabbing and poking. {My own martial pursuits all involve European weapons, so I can't speak too cogently on the uses}

[sjt_cedric]

{I should read everyone's posts, THEN make noise }

Tonfa showed up in a few panels in "Daisho" in their original employment as threshing implements, although used also for thrashing bandits in a non-modern-standard way.

[Robert Wetherelt]

I've also noticed that the hilt-guard{or tsuba} is sometimes a bit larger than I've seen in Usagi and different shapes as well.

[Stan Sakai]

I've also noticed that the hilt-guard{or tsuba} is sometimes a bit larger than I've seen in Usagi and different shapes as well.

The tsuba can be larger and can come in different shapes than what I usually depict. They can also be very intricate. I have seen some in the shapes of crabs, herons, and scorpions. I usually drawing the square or round ones because they are simpler to draw and are visually cleaner.

[Robert Wetherelt]

I know what you mean. I find that when I've drawn them bigger, they just don't "read" right. They look a little bulky and out of place. Although I've done it for one character to make him stand out a little more. Plus the fact that he's a "big" character. I guess that it's a matter of estetics.