The dull, heavy blades served as striking weapons made for hitting armor-clad enemies with maximum impact. Tekkan and Hachiwari: Japan's Not-So-Famous Blades Source: Samuraiantiqueworld Source: SamuraiantiqueworldĪt first glance, the tekkan and hachiwari may not look impressive. Strong enough to be used defensively but sharp enough to cut through limbs, the katana earned the reputation as the soul of the samurai – a reputation that lasted long after the samurai abandoned the sword for the pen. Japanese blacksmiths' method of repeatedly heating and folding the steel made a katana's sharpness and strength unique among the world's swords. Japan's most famous weapon needs little introduction. The Katana: Japan's Famous Blades Source: Rama

List of Japanese Weapons from the Edo Period Complete!.

Testubishi or Makibishi: Watch Your Step.

Tanegashima (Japanese Matchlock): Firearms.

Manriki-kusari: The Ten-thousand Power Chain.

Kiseru Battle Pipes: Smoke Your Enemies.

Gunsen, Tessen, and Gunbai: Fans of War.

Tekkan and Hachiwari: Japan's Not-So-Famous Blades.

Other weapons, like rocket launchers, seem more fit for manga than actual battlefields. Fans, smoking pipes and other weapons disguised as everyday items meant one had to be wary at all times. Implements like the jutte and kusurigama allowed users to defend and combat the katana. However, Japan's ancient warriors also plied less glamorous, lesser-known and therefore possibly more interesting weaponry. A Japanese battlefield conjures up more variety, with spearman and archers entering the mix. And not just any sword, but the world-renowned Japanese katana – a curved blade engineered for cutting down foes with supreme efficiency. When I imagine a samurai, I envision a warrior with a sword.

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