Daitō (long sword)

The word Nihongo|daitō|大刀 refers to Japanese long swords. Rather than a specific weapon, this is actually a category of blades under which both the katana and "tachi" fall. This term is often used interchangeably with either of the other sword names, and may also be used to describe unspecific fake and practice Japanese-style swords.

To qualify as a daitō the sword must have a blade longer than 2 "shaku" (approximately 24 inches or 60 centimeters) in a straight line. While there is a well defined lower-limit to the length of a daitō, the upper limit is not well enforced; a number of modern historians, swordsmiths, etc. say that swords that are over 3 shaku in blade length are "longer than normal daitō" and are ussualy reffered to or called "ōdachi". The word "daitō" is often used when explaining the related terms "shōtō" (short sword) and "daishō" (the set of both large and small sword).Miyamoto Musashi refers to the long sword in the book of five rings. He is referring to the katana and the odachi.