Weights of Japanese Swords

When you see actors dashing around with Japanese swords in period dramas, you may think, "Maybe they are surprisingly light.” or, "Maybe it’s lighter than I thought.” Let's take a look at how heavy a Japanese sword actually is.

The weight of a Japanese sword is said to be around 1 kg, depending on its length, sheath, handle, tsuba (sword guard), and the other parts of the sword fittings (koshirae). Another characteristic of Japanese swords is that they vary in weight depending on the period in which they were made.

KOTO PERIOD

Koto, or “old swords,” were made from the mid-Heian to Azuchi-Momoyama periods and were often used on horseback, so the average weight is 600 to 700 grams.

SHINTO PERIOD

Shinto, swords made from the late Azuchi-Momoyama period to the middle of the Edo period (1603-1868), were not used in actual battles, but were displayed in homes as symbols of warriors in the Edo period when warfare had ceased. Shinto are slightly heavier than koto blades, and most are around 1 kg.

SHINSHINTO PERIOD

Swords made from the late Edo period to the Meiji period are called "Shinshinto" (new swords). Since the late Edo period, swords were again made for use in warfare and many swordsmiths all over the country were making swords at the time, so the weight of shinshinto swords varies greatly from about 700g up to 1.5kg.

GENDAI PERIOD

Modern swords are those made as works of art after the abolition of the sword law in the Meiji period (1868-1912). On average, most modern swords weigh from 1 kg to 1.5 kg.

CONCLUSION

We hope this has helped you in exploring the various types of Japanese swords, and that the background of the period in which they were made also influences the weight and length of each type. One of the charms of Japanese swords is that you can feel the history from their weight and length. When looking for a Japanese sword, please refer to the information in this article and find your ideal Japanese sword.