A small katana is commonly referred to as a "wakizashi." The wakizashi is a traditional Japanese sword that is shorter than a standard katana but longer than a tanto (a Japanese dagger). It typically has a blade length between 30 and 60 centimeters (approximately 12 to 24 inches). The wakizashi was often worn together with the katana by samurai as part of their daisho (paired swords) set. The wakizashi served as a backup weapon, and its shorter length made it more suitable for indoor combat or close-quarters fighting.