The tanto is the name for the traditional knife of feudal Japan. It saw service as a knife between circa 1200AD until the mid 19th century. Officially, the wearing of blades was forbidden in the Meiji restoration, but since then the tanto has seen use mainly in the hands of traditionalist extremests and assailants of (mainly) left wing poloticians. Aside from this, many tanto are simply held by collectors because of their beauty, history and build quality.

Although the construction process differes from that of a katana in some respects, it is still made with folded steel and most can steel be seen with a strong hamon. Tanto were also given as gifts to women for the pretection of their lives and virtue, so it is not uncommon to see a tanto with bright enamel work rather than the dark blues, browns and blacks of the samurai castes.