Sasaki Kojiro (1585 - April 14, 1612) also known as Ganryu Kojiro) was a prominent Japanese swordsman, born in the Fukui Prefecture. Kojiro's favored weapon during combat was a straight-edged nodachi with a blade-length of over 90 cm (3 feet) long. As a comparison, the average blade-length of the regular katana seldom surpasses 70 cm. It was called the "Monohoshi Zao" (Clothes-Drying Pole, often translated into English as "The Drying Pole" ). Despite the sword's length and weight, Kojiro's strokes with the weapon were unnaturally quick and precise. Watch drama online for free.