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