Tanto

The tanto was initially primarily carried by samurai alongside the tachi, which is the predecessor of the katana that most of us are familiar with from modern popular culture. Over time, the tanto became increasingly common, with a smaller version known as the kaiken becoming popular as a self-defense tool for women. Hundreds of years later, the tanto evolved to be shorter and thicker, closer to the blade that we know today. Although it was eventually replaced by the wakizashi (which functionally is just a shorter katana, despite some design differences) in serious warfare, the tanto remained popular in rituals and became a source of pride in later years.The tanto saw a revival in the years leading up to World War II, as they were regarded by the Imperial Court as more traditional. After Japan's defeat, restrictions on sword-making led to the decline of traditional Japanese sword-making.In the 1960s, America's and Europe's obsession with Japanese martial arts (stimulated by excellent films such as 'Seven Samurai' and 'Yojimbo') led to the revival of the tanto, particularly as a knife form focused on combat.