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Tantō

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Revision as of 03:24, 4 June 2024 by imported>Sol Pacificus (→‎Description)
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This article contains content from pre-release sources that may or may not be reflective of canon upon release. This article therefore likely contains spoilers.

Fujibayashi Naoe's tanto

A tantō (短刀, lit. 'short blade') is a Japanese sword or dagger with a blade shorter than 30 centimeters in length.[1][2][3] It was used as an auxiliary weapon by the samurai alongside their katana, as well as by women and tradespeople for personal defense during the Sengoku period.[4]

The Assassin Fujibayashi Naoe often used a tantō blade,[5] and would combine it with her Hidden Blade in order to perform double assassinations.[6] Mochizuki Chiyome also favored the weapon during her tenure as an Assassin.[7]

Description

The term tantō literally translates to 'short blade', and the weapon is essentially a Japanese-style dagger. Since the enactment of the Firearm and Sword Possession Control Law in 1958[8] by the Japanese government, the tantō has been legally defined as any sword with a blade shorter than 30 centimeters, but historically many swords exceeding this length were still classified as tantō. More precisely, the most typical tantō has a blade ranging from 24 to 25 cm in length, and these are specifically called jōsun-no-tantō (定寸の短刀, lit. 'standard-length short blades').[3]

Although tantō are sometimes described with a style of moderate curvature called uchizori (内反り, lit. 'inward-curving'), where the rear surface tapers toward the tip, they have always been forged with a straight back, or muzori (無反り, lit. 'no curvature'). Because the line between the flat side of the blade and the rear surface is weaker near the point, years of polishing and use will wear down at this spot faster, eventually giving the appearance of a uchizori blade.[3]

Behind the scenes

The tantō will be a usable weapon in the 2024 video game Assassin's Creed: Shadows.[5]

Appearances

References

  1. Yumoto, J. M. (2013). Samurai Sword: A Handbook. Rutland, VT: Tuttle Publishing.
  2. Ichikawa Sadaharu [市川定春]. (2023). "Swords" [刀劍]. In Dictionary of the Weapon [武器事典] (3rd ed.), translated by Lin Tsit-i [林哲逸] and Kao Yin-liang [高胤喨]. Taipei, Taiwan: Cite Publishing Ltd., pp. 7–78.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Kapp, Leon and Kapp, Hiroko. (2012). "Rekishi: A Brief History of the Japanese Sword". In The Art of the Japanese Sword: The Craft of Swordmaking and its Appreciation. Tokyo, Japan: Tuttle Publishing, pp. 69–104
  4. Deal, W. E. (2006). Handbook to Life in Medieval and Early Modern Japan. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
  5. 5.0 5.1  Assassin's Creed Shadows: Character Reference Guide on Ubisoft's official website (backup link)
  6. Assassin's Creed Shadows: Official World Premiere Trailer on the Ubisoft YouTube channel
  7. Assassin's Creed Roleplaying Game – Animus Training Program Quickstart: The Nanban Trade
  8. Firearm and Sword Possession Control Law on Wikipedia