The first real venture of the Japanese in making armor for the samurai resulted in heavy "clothing" made of solid metal plates. While the armor did offer protection from arrows, the drawbacks were plenty.

The katana is most common one and refers to the style most people have seen. The katana is Japanese for backsword and often refers to the uchigatana after the Muromachi period, commonly referred to as a "samurai sword", and generally defined as the standard size moderately curved, distinctive appearance: a curved, slender, single edged blade, circular or squared guard, and long grip to accommodate two hands.

A tachi is an older style, slightly longer and more curved, worn slung on cords with the edge down, usually used in a cavalry style.

A nodachi is a bigger tachi, with a very long handle, worn slung over the back for battlefield application.

A wakizashi is also a short sword, although of a newer style (kodachi is often used as a generic term for short sword, and so may also be used to refer to a wakizashi).

A chokuto, or ken, is a very old style straight sword

Naginata is a pole weapon that was traditionally used in Japan by members of the samurai class. A naginata consists of a wooden shaft with a curved blade on the end, usually wielded by female samurai.

Kunai was cheaply produced farming tools of a decent size and weight, and could be easily sharpened, they were readily available to be converted into simple weapons. That could be used as a knife or as a throwing projectile. Commonly said to be used by ninja's.

A shuriken (Japanese literally meaning "sword hidden in the hand") is a traditional Japanese concealed weapon that was generally used for throwing, and sometimes stabbing or slashing. They are sharpened hand-held blades made from a variety of everyday items such as needles, nails, and knives, as well as coins, washers, and other flat plates of metal.

A bō or kon (Chinese term),is a Japanese long staff weapon which is typically around 6ft long, used in Japanese martial arts, in particular bōjutsu and ninjutsu. Related staff weapons are the jo which is 4ft long and the hanbo or hambo (half bō) which is 3ft long.