| Muromachi swords were called odachi or
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| | period of the katanas. This was a
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| nodachi, and they were longer than 1
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| | relatively short type of sword, which
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| meter (they sometimes measured
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| | was worn attached to the belt, in the
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| 120-150cm). These long katana swords,
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| | scabbard, with the cutting edge upwards.
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| which sometimes measure almost 2 meters
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| | This fact permitted to the sword to be
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| were used for ceremonies only. After a
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| | taken out of the scabbard and the strike
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| short peaceful period, in the middle of
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| | from a single move, whereas tachi was
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| this interval, the fight for power
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| | hanging at the belt, with the cutting
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| started again in 1467. The whole country
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| | edge downwards. In the same time, the
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| was involved in a constant war for over
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| | necessity of a continuous source of
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| 100 years, when finally, Oda Nabunaga and
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| | swords, determined the fact that not all
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| Toyotomi Hideioshi succeeded to unify
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| | the swords manufactured during this
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| again and to set peace in Japan. This
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| | period had the high standards to which
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| period is known as Senkogu (the period
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| | they rose during previous periods. During
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| during which the country was on war).
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| | this period Japan exported about 100
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| The swords in this period are divided in
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| | thousands of swords to China, which was
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| 3 specific historical groups: 1394-1466;
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| | ruled by the Ming dynasty at that time.
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| 1467-1554 and 1555-1595.
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| | The end of the muromachi period
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| During the first period (1394-1466), when
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| | (1555-1595) marked the total change of
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| armies grew too, as we have already said,
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| | the way in which the wars were conducted
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| the number of soldiers on horseback
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| | in Japan, by the introducing of fire
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| decreased, which lead to an increasing of
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| | arms. In 1543 the Portuguese introduced
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| foot soldiers. Although tachi or odachi
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| | the first fire arms in Japan. Even if the
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| swords were still manufactured, the
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| | first arms of this kind were very good
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| glorious period of katana swords was
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| | from the point of view of the accuracy,
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| getting closer. Shorter swords were more
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| | and they needed a long recharge period,
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| easily to wear and more easily to be
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| | Oda Nobunaga used them for the first time
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| taken out of the scabbard. The curve
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| | successfully during the battle of
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| (Sori) of the these swords moved to the
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| | Nagashino in 1573. The horse back troops
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| end, being conceived to be used standing.
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| | of the Tadeka clan (being known during
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| Most of the swords had a length of
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| | that period as an elite formation in
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| 69,7-72,7 cm, and they got more narrow
| |
| | Japan) were completely destroyed by a
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| near the top of the sword. Towards the
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| | group of samurai, who were holding fire
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| end of this period, almost all the swords
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| | arms. Since that moment, horse back
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| produced are called uchigatana.
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| | troops were completely useless. The
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| During the second period (1467-1554),
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| | battle field was used then by small
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| when the mobility of the troops became a
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| | troops of foot soldiers, equipped with
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| strategic point, the swords became
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| | pistols. The armors became harder and
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| shorter. Most of the swords manufactured
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| | thicker to protect the bullet holder, and
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| during this period had a length of
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| | the swords became once again longer,
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| 60-65cm, and their width was almost equal
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| | harder and more solid, in order to be
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| to their length. This was the glory
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| | able to penetrate the armors.
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