Katana vs Tachi: What Is the Difference?

The katana and the tachi are two of the most recognisable Japanese swords.

Both emerged centuries ago, during the country's feudal period, and were widely used by samurai. The katana and the tachi share striking similarities, including a single-edged, curved blade and a tsuba (guard).

This is why many people assume the two swords are identical. In reality, each has its own characteristics, some of which are covered in this article.

The tachi came first

First of all, it is worth noting that the tachi was developed before the katana. Historians believe Japanese swordsmiths developed the tachi during the Koto period (900 to 1596), whereas the word "katana" was not used until the Kamakura period (1185 to 1333). The katana is therefore believed to have been made using forging and construction techniques similar to those of its predecessor, the tachi.

The katana had a shorter blade

In addition, the katana was designed with a shorter blade than the tachi. Traditional Japanese tachi generally had a blade 70 to 80 cm (27.6 to 31.5 in) long.

By comparison, katana blades measured around 58 cm (22.8 in). The shorter blade made the katana a more versatile sword, particularly at close quarters. It also allowed samurai to draw the sword more quickly.

The tachi had a more pronounced curve

The katana and the tachi both had a curved blade. However, the curve of the tachi was more pronounced than that of the katana.

You can generally tell the two swords apart by looking at the curvature of the blades. The tachi is more deeply curved than its katana counterpart.

The katana was worn edge up

Another key difference between the katana and the tachi lies in the way they were worn. Like almost all other traditional Japanese swords, and indeed swords made in other regions, the tachi was worn with the cutting edge facing down.

The katana, however, was unique in being worn with the cutting edge facing up. By wearing the katana edge up, samurai could draw it more naturally.

Telling them apart by the signature

Finally, the tachi was generally signed by the master swordsmith who made it, on the tang (nakago). Because of the way the katana was worn, its signature was on the opposite side. Not all Japanese swords were signed. When they were, however, you can usually tell whether a sword is a katana or a tachi by looking at where the signature is placed.

We hope you can now tell the different types of Japanese sword apart.