Legend

The ashigarus stormed inside the wealthy samurai's home, quickly rummaging through personal affairs for loot and supplies. They were rogue soldiers, treacherous men-at-arms devolved into mere bandits. They knew the samurai was away, for it was he they abandoned when they deserted. His home must have seemed like the perfect target to raid. There were three of them, armed with spears and matchlock guns. They couldn't have picked a worse house to break in. In a storm of silk and flowing dark hair, the woman of the house jumped into the room. She had been stalking them since they entered the domain, slowly observing their movement while she was preparing her ambush. She was a noble wife of the samurai caste, an okugatasama, and it was her solemn duty to defend her home from these lowly thieves. Inside the walls of her home, their long polearms were clunky and cumbersome, while she was armed with a short tanto, the well-crafted blade nimble and deadly in her trained hands. She had been sparing with her sisters and her household's servants for years; she was no defenseless dove.

The samurai wife nimbly dodged a spear trust from the most vigilant ashigaru before slipping past his reach and quickly ending him, striking the inside of his arm, past his breastplate. A crimson tide announced her she hit true, and she dived toward the next bandit, who was still fumbling with his gun, quickly giving up using the complicated black powder weapon to simply try to club her to death with the wooden shaft. She proved faster, and dodged low, striking the ankle before pushing him in the chest with her open hand, all her weight behind the strike. She watched him fall over and crawl helplessly in a puddle of his own making, too injured to stand. The last man stared at her a moment, hesitant, before abandoning his comrade and running out of the house, stuffing jewelry in his pockets as he escaped. The woman calmly leaned to grab the matchlock gun in her hand, and with a huntress's calm, she leaned the canon against a window frame, aiming and finishing what she started, a cloud of smoke partially hiding from her the collapsing body of the coward.

Description

The tanto, also referred to as a kaiken, was part of the traditional arsenal used by the Japanese samurai warriors and also for self-defense. This short latex blade is the perfect dagger equivalent for Japanese-inspired characters, may they be sneaky ninjas, noble samurais, powerful shoguns, or adventurous ronins in LARP.

Initium version

Athena Initium weapons are an accessible and affordable option, made from Athena blades with slight cosmetic flaws. They retain the brand's quality and reliability while offering a competitive price.  Ideal for hobbyists or those looking for a reliable solution, they combine functionality with sober style. The handles are black.

Characteristics

• Length of 45 cm (17 3/4 in)
• A soft and resisting tip made for thrusting
• EVA foam
• Molded rubber handle for easy and solid grip
• Sturdy fiberglass core
• High-quality latex and varnish
• 2 years warranty on defects

Made in Quebec, Canada by Nemesis Workshop