Japanese knife Kwaiken - what's this?

Kwaiken (Jap. 懐剣, before the reform of Quaiken spelling, also Futokoro-Gatan) is a dagger worn by Samurai men and women in Japan, a kind of Tanto.

Japanese dagger Kwaiken, which has its roots far back in history, at a time when there were still samurai as a class. The main purpose of this dagger was self-defense, and, in enclosed small rooms, where it was difficult or simply impossible to use a long samurai sword. Thanks to its small size, the knife was perfectly concealed from strangers.

The knife was used by both men and women. It did not change its purpose, although sometimes it was used as a means of murder. Previously, Kwaiken was an integral part of a woman's wedding gifts. In modern Japanese history, Kwaiken has not lost its significance, and it is still used in the wedding ceremony. It is believed that if the bride takes the kwaiken during the wedding, she will be lucky.