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The ninjaken (kanji: 忍者剣, "ninja sword") is a sword characterized by being straight with a chiseled edge. It is also called the ninjatō (kanji: 忍者刀, "ninja sword") or shinobigatana (kanji: 忍刀, "shinobi katana"). It appears to be largely a media creation, based on the design of the wakizashi or perhaps the chokutō. What sets the ninjaken apart from more commonly recognized blades, such as katana, are the shorter blade, straight edge, and square guard. This was said to be a more efficient and sensible weapon for the ninja, who relied heavily on stealth tactics.
In TMNT[]
Leonardo is commonly shown using katana throughout most continuities of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise. In the 2007 film, however, his blades were clearly rendered as being straight with square guards. Confusion between the two different swords may be since the ninjaken and katana have minute differences that do not affect their combat effectiveness, and the fact that both weapons share the same cutting power and penetration.
In The Next Mutation series, Leonardo wields a single ninjatō, which appears to have a double-edge.