Iaito and Iaido

In class, you often hear me refer to our swords as iaitō. I’d like to clear up the terms iaidō and iaitō, since they’re easy to confuse.

Iaidō (居合道), sometimes also called iaijutsu (居合術), is the art we practice. Often we shorten it to just iai. An iaitō (居合刀) is simply a sword used for iai practice.

In Japan, iaitō usually refers to an unsharpened aluminum alloy sword made specifically for iai training. Some people may also use the word for sharp steel swords, but those are more properly called shinken (真剣), meaning “real/live sword.” In practice, iaitō generally means aluminum alloy swords, which are far more common.

There are good reasons for this. Swords are tightly regulated in Japan: buying a real one requires a license, and the production of nihontō (日本刀, “Japanese swords”) is heavily restricted. Only licensed smiths can make them, they must be forged from traditional tamahagane using ancient methods, and only a set number are allowed per year. Anything outside those specifications is destroyed. This includes many World War II–era swords that were machine-made or oil-quenched. Because of this, nihontō are extremely expensive, usually starting around $6000.

By contrast, aluminum iaitō are affordable and widely available. Since they are not considered real swords — being unsharpened and not made of steel — they don’t fall under the same regulations. Prices range from around $450 for a basic model to $1200 for higher-end versions, with more for custom or antique fittings. Aluminum swords are also safer, lighter, and well-balanced for kata, which makes them ideal for training.

Outside Japan, the terms are less strict. Many unsharpened swords made from aluminum, stainless steel, or carbon steel are sold as iaitō (though stainless steel blades would be illegal in Japan). The word shinken is often used for sharpened Japanese-style swords, whether made in Japan or elsewhere. The word nihontō, however, is usually reserved for true Japanese swords made in Japan by licensed smiths using traditional methods.

Review:

Iaitō: In Japan, usually an unsharpened aluminum alloy sword; outside Japan, any unsharpened sword.

Shinken: In Japan, a real live sword; outside Japan, any sharpened steel Japanese-style sword.

Nihontō: In Japan, simply “Japanese sword,” sometimes with connotations of artistry; outside Japan, specifically a traditionally-made Japanese sword, distinct from foreign-made shinken.


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