Nodachi

Initially similar-looking to the katana, the Nodachi can be easily recognized because of its massive blade. So big that some believe it’s capable of cutting a horse and his rider in half. No wonder why, sometimes, more than one warrior was needed in order to unsheathe it.

Because of their colossal size and disproportionate weight, traditionally the Nodachi sword is reserved for only elite-class Samurai warriors. However, those few warriors who can actually wield it effectively are capable of unleashing authentic terror on the battlefield.

It is believed that some of the most powerful weapons known to Japanese people were nodachis used by divinities, such as Susanoo. According to the stories, he had used the legendary Totsuka-no-Tsurugi to kill an 8-headed dragon that was terrorizing villagers.