Daisho

The daishō (大小, lit. "big and small") are the traditional arms of the samurai, composed of katana and wakizashi. The etymology of this word becomes apparent when the terms daito (meaning big sword) and shoto (meaning small sword) are used; daito + shoto = daisho. The katana is used on the battlefield and for most purposes, while the wakizashi is more of a sidearm. The wakizashi is also used to commit seppuku.