text: # How Long Is a Katana?
  
  Have you ever wondered how long a katana is?
  
  Me too! And actually, I didn’t really know until I bought my first own katana.
  
  ## Average Length of a Katana
  
  The average total length of a katana is 105 cm/41.3 inches (3.5 shaku). Traditionally its length is measured in shaku. However, swords with a blade length over 2 shaku (61 cm/23.9 in) can already be classified as a katana.
  
  The measurement unit shaku will be explained later on in this post.
  
  The property called nagasa indicates the length of the blade. Measuring the blade isn’t overly complicated. Yet there are a few rules we have to consider.
  
  First of all, we have to talk about how exactly we measure the length. As the katana has a slightly curved blade most people get a bit confused on the measurement process.
  
  I get asked where exactly the start- and endpoint for determining the length of the blade is, quite often.
  
  Fortunately for us, we don’t have to measure the curvature of the blade. To put it bluntly, you just have to measure in a straight line from the kissaki (point) to the habaki (metal collar).
  
  As seen in the image a simple folding metre stick will do the job.
  
  ## Handle Length
  
  Yeah, measuring the handle of a katana should be a no-brainer.
  
  As katanas are double-handed swords the tsuka (handle) is quite long.
  
  The tsuka has a length of around 1 shaku (30 cm/11.9 inches)
  
  Then do some simple math and add the nagasa (blade length) to the length of the handle. And voila you got the overall length of the katana.
  
  ## Japanese Measurement Unit
  
  I bet you were waiting for more information on the unit shaku. Now here it is.
  
  Japanese swordsmiths use this measure all the time.
  
  1 shaku equals 30.30 cm (11.93 inches).
  
  No need to remember the decimals. I always round it to 30 cm.
  
  ## Japanese Blades Classified by Length
  
  The Japanese swordsmiths classify their weapons by blade length.
  
  There are three main categories:
  
  over 2 shakudaitoLong sword (katana, tachi, nodachi)
  1 to 2 shakushotoShort swords (wakizashi, chisa-katana)
  under 1 shakutantoLong knives and daggers (tanto)
  
  ## Conclusion
  
  At the end of this post, I’d like to summarise the main points we covered.
  
  The average length of a katana ranges from 100 to 110 cm (39.4 to 43.3 in).
  
  However, a sword with a 61 cm (24 in) blade and 20 cm (7.9 in) handle can already be classified as a katana as well, because the blade length is over 2 shaku.
  
  The unit used for measuring the length in a traditional way is called shaku. One shaku equals approximately 30 cm (11.9 inches).
  
  Japanese swords are organized into three categories. Katanas are in the “daito” category.
  
  I hope you liked today’s post. I would really appreciate if you leave feedback and suggestions in the comment field below.
  
  Subscribe
  Notify of
explanation: The text extract provides information about the length of a katana, including its average length, how to measure it, and the traditional Japanese measurement unit "shaku." It also categorizes Japanese swords by length. While the text includes several points that could be considered questions (e.g., "Have you ever wondered how long a katana is?"), it does not contain a specific question-and-answer format.
distilabel_metadata.content: Evaluate the user given text extract and determine if it contains a math question and optionally and answer to this question.
  
  Output rules:
  
  1. Briefly describe the document and mention if it contains a question or a question and answer.
  2. Finalize the output with: Label: no-question,question,question-and-answer,multiple-question,multiple-question-and-answer
distilabel_metadata.role: system
distilabel_metadata.content: # How Long Is a Katana?
  
  Have you ever wondered how long a katana is?
  
  Me too! And actually, I didn’t really know until I bought my first own katana.
  
  ## Average Length of a Katana
  
  The average total length of a katana is 105 cm/41.3 inches (3.5 shaku). Traditionally its length is measured in shaku. However, swords with a blade length over 2 shaku (61 cm/23.9 in) can already be classified as a katana.
  
  The measurement unit shaku will be explained later on in this post.
  
  The property called nagasa indicates the length of the blade. Measuring the blade isn’t overly complicated. Yet there are a few rules we have to consider.
  
  First of all, we have to talk about how exactly we measure the length. As the katana has a slightly curved blade most people get a bit confused on the measurement process.
  
  I get asked where exactly the start- and endpoint for determining the length of the blade is, quite often.
  
  Fortunately for us, we don’t have to measure the curvature of the blade. To put it bluntly, you just have to measure in a straight line from the kissaki (point) to the habaki (metal collar).
  
  As seen in the image a simple folding metre stick will do the job.
  
  ## Handle Length
  
  Yeah, measuring the handle of a katana should be a no-brainer.
  
  As katanas are double-handed swords the tsuka (handle) is quite long.
  
  The tsuka has a length of around 1 shaku (30 cm/11.9 inches)
  
  Then do some simple math and add the nagasa (blade length) to the length of the handle. And voila you got the overall length of the katana.
  
  ## Japanese Measurement Unit
  
  I bet you were waiting for more information on the unit shaku. Now here it is.
  
  Japanese swordsmiths use this measure all the time.
  
  1 shaku equals 30.30 cm (11.93 inches).
  
  No need to remember the decimals. I always round it to 30 cm.
  
  ## Japanese Blades Classified by Length
  
  The Japanese swordsmiths classify their weapons by blade length.
  
  There are three main categories:
  
  over 2 shakudaitoLong sword (katana, tachi, nodachi)
  1 to 2 shakushotoShort swords (wakizashi, chisa-katana)
  under 1 shakutantoLong knives and daggers (tanto)
  
  ## Conclusion
  
  At the end of this post, I’d like to summarise the main points we covered.
  
  The average length of a katana ranges from 100 to 110 cm (39.4 to 43.3 in).
  
  However, a sword with a 61 cm (24 in) blade and 20 cm (7.9 in) handle can already be classified as a katana as well, because the blade length is over 2 shaku.
  
  The unit used for measuring the length in a traditional way is called shaku. One shaku equals approximately 30 cm (11.9 inches).
  
  Japanese swords are organized into three categories. Katanas are in the “daito” category.
  
  I hope you liked today’s post. I would really appreciate if you leave feedback and suggestions in the comment field below.
  
  Subscribe
  Notify of
distilabel_metadata.role: user
distilabel_metadata.raw_output_q_a_detector_0: The text extract provides information about the length of a katana, including its average length, how to measure it, and the traditional Japanese measurement unit "shaku." It also categorizes Japanese swords by length. While the text includes several points that could be considered questions (e.g., "Have you ever wondered how long a katana is?"), it does not contain a specific question-and-answer format.
  
  Label: no-question