User blog comment:Leolab/Ancient User Tourney, Round 7: Hirai Norio (Cfp) v Oliver Moreau (Winter)/@comment-3189283-20160625084212

Let's see shall we

Initial 

Both have their advantages and disadvantages. The Naginata obviously has the reach advantage and when used properly it has a greater cutting power than the Katana. Exiled's Companion on the other hand can be used more precisely due to its shorter length and if Hirai can get past the bladed head then Oliver can't do much with it and will have to discard it for another weapon by which point Hirai will have already closed the distance and finished him off. Moreover Hirai has already faced Samurai multiple times over his lifetime and while he doesn't use a naginata himself he'll have come up against it enough times to know what its weaknesses are and how to counter them.

Edge: Hirai Norio

Close Range

Obvious edge for Exiled's Companion. Mainly this is because it's Hirai's chosen weapon and so his skill with it is much greater than Oliver with his Cutlass. Otherwise they're pretty simular in terms of length, weight and usage especially as Hirai practices a style of sword fighting that matches how Oliver will be using his own blade.

Edge: Hirai Norio

Mid Range 

The Kanabo compromises Hirai's speedy style of fighting and while its blunt trauma do massive damage if it hits I have no doubt that Oliver can avoid it. I've already talked about the Naginata aboveand as Olivers favoured weapon it'll be much more useful than the Kanabo mainly due to the reach and Olivers skill with it.

Edge: Oliver Moreau

Long Range

TBC