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A wakizashi (脇差) is a traditional Japanese sword with
a blade between 12 and 24 inches, similar to but shorter than a
katana, together with which it was often worn. When worn together the
pair of swords were called daisho which translates literally as
large and small; dai or large for katana, and sho
for wakizashi.
According to traditional
samurai law, or
Bushido, a wakizashi is used only to commit
seppuku (i.e. hara-kiri). However, after the 16th century, it
was sometimes used in combat (in the off hand) with the
katana, a technique pioneered by
Miyamoto Musashi.
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