Wakizashi (tsuba/blade). The wakizashi is a traditional Japanese sword with a blade between 30 and 60 cm (12 and 24 inches), with an average of 50 cm (20 inches). It is similar to but shorter than a katana, and usually shorter than the kodachi (small sword). The wakizashi was usually worn together with the katana by the samurai or swordsmen of feudal Japan.