The nodachi is a type of long, two-handed Japanese sword originally created by Sasaki Kojiro, who was later defeated by his long-time archrival, Miyamoto Musashi. It resembles a katana though it is significantly longer. The nodachi has a two-handed grip and was worn on the back rather than on the hip as were most other Japanese swords. The characters (kanji) which are read "nodachi" literally mean "shoulder sword". The nodachi was difficult to wield due to its abnormal size and weight, which makes it easy to unbalance with single, rapid strikes to the base closer to the blade's hilt; it is however hard to nip or shatter.
Nodachi were generally used on open battlefields as their length made their use indoors nearly impossible. They were an effective weapon against cavalry, though they were not commonly used. The naginata was a much more common weapon that fulfilled a similar role.