Japanese Sword Terminology

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Contents

Glossary

A

  • Aikuchi - A term used to describe all sword mountings in which there is no tsuba between the tsuka and the saya. More specifically it is used as an abbreviated form of the term aikuchi tanto, which refers to a type of guardless tanto, often highly decorated, that was popular from the Kamakura period onwards.
  • Ara-nie - Large particles of nie.
  • Ashi - A form of hataraki; thin lines that run across the hamon towards the cutting edge.
  • Ashi naka choji - Choji midare with long ashi and nie.
  • Atari - A judge's response given in nyusatsu kantei to the correct answer (identification of the swordsmith).
  • Ato-hi - A hi carved to restore a sword's balance after the blade has been shortened, or to hide a flaw.
  • Ayasugi-hada - A surface grain pattern of curved lines with a wave like effect; also known as Gassan-hada.

B

  • Bizen-zori - See koshi-zori.
  • Bo-hi - A long straight wide hi engraved into a blade.
  • Bonji - A form of horimono featuring Sanskrit characters that refer to Buddhist deities.
  • Boshi - The hamon of the kissaki.
  • Bo-utsuri - A straight pattern of utsuri; also known as sugu utsuri.

C

  • Chii - Second prize in kantei-kai.
  • Chikei - A gleaming black line of nie seen on the ji; of the same composition as kinsuji and inazuma (which are seen on the hamon).
  • Chiri - The very narrow wall that remains on one or both sides of a hi engraved into shinogi-zukuri blades. (See also kata-chiri; ryo-chiri.)
  • Chirimen-hada - Crepe grain pattern; a distinctly visible mokume grain with a clearer steel than is found in patterns that are similar but coarser.
  • Choji - "Clove flower."
  • Choji abura - Clove oil (used in caring for blades).
  • Choji ashi - Clove-shaped ashi.
  • Choji-ba - "Clove flower" pattern.
  • Choji midare - "Choji" means "clove", and so this term refers to a clove-shaped irregular hamon pattern. The upper part of the midare is somewhat rounded, while the lower part is constricted and narrow.
  • Choji midare komi - A choji midare hamon pattern that continues into the kissaki.
  • Choji utsuri - Utsuri with a clove-shaped pattern.
  • Chokuto - A straight, uncurved sword greater than 60cm in length; a precursor to the classic Japanese blade. Also known as tachi.
  • Chu-itame - Medium-sized itame-hada surface-grain pattern.
  • Chukan-zori - See mu-zori.
  • Chu-kissaki - Medium-sized kissaki; the most prevalent kissaki size.
  • Chu-mokume - Medium-sized mokume surface-grain.
  • Chumon-uchi - Custom-made swords.
  • Chu-suguha - Medium-sized, straight hamon.

D

  • Daimei - Susbstitute signature. A swordmith's signature chiseled on a sword, with his permission, by his son or students and regarded as equivalent to the real signature.
  • Daisaku - Substitute production. Blades produced by students in their teachers' or fathers' style, with full permission, these are often signed by the teacher rather than the student.
  • Daisho - A pair of swords (specifically, the longer katana and shorter wakizashi) worn by warriors of the Edo period.
  • Daito - A long sword. Its cutting edge is over two shaku in length.
  • Desaki nite yoku - A judge's response given in nyusatsu kantei to a bid which identifies only a province in which the smith temporarily stayed and worked.
  • Doran - A variety of tempered line characterized by a billowing pattern.
  • Dozen - A judge's response given in nyusatsu kantei to a bid which correctly identifies the smith's family (naming a closely-related smith such as a father, son, teacher, student).

E

  • Ebi-zaya - "Lobster scabbard." A type of saya with notches placed about an inch apart and having full, broad tip, thought to resemble a tail of a lobster.
  • Eto - Ancient calendar based on the Chinese Zodiac; often used in the dates inscribed on the nakago.

F

  • Fuchi - Pommel or metal sleeve on the hilt. Fuchi and kashira were usually paired and made by the same artist.
  • Fudo Myoo - Buddhist deity whose image is often featured in horimono, framed in fire.
  • Fujimi Saigyo - A picturesque hamon depicting Mt. Fuji together with a bamboo hat that suggests an itinerant priest.
  • Fuka-kuri-jiri - See Taka-yamagata.
  • Fukkoto - Shinshinto blades produced using the methods of Kamakura and Nambokucho periods.
  • Fukura - Bulge of the cutting edge of the kissaki.
  • Fukura-kareru - A straight-edge point.
  • Fukura-tsuku - A curved edge point.
  • Fukure - A pocket of air in the steel that was not forced out during the forging process and that appears as a blisterlike swelling on the surface of the blade.
  • Fukure yabure - Broken fukure; a cavity left in the blade when fukure breaks.
  • Fukurin - See Kin-fukurin.
  • Fukuro yari - "Bag spear." A spear with a tang that slips over the haft.
  • Fukusa - The handkerchief used to handle blades in sword appraisal.
  • Fukushiki gunome - Multiple-gunome hamon pattern, usually mixed with ordinary gunome.
  • Funa-gata "Boat type." A type of nakago that bulges strongly outward on the cutting-edge side.
  • Fumbari - Used to describe a blade which is relatively wide at the bottom, or in which the cutting edge and the back edge curve in opposite directions (both of these cases are more distinctly visible in ubu (blades which have not been shortened). To say that a blade has "no fumbari" means that the cutting edge is nearly parallel to the back edge at the bottom area; this is often seen in suriage (shortened) swords.
  • Furi-sode - A type of nakago shaped like a kimono sleeve.
  • Furisode-gata - A type of nakago with strong curvature, seen only on tanto produced in Kamakura period.
  • Futasuji-bi - Two parallel hi engraved on a blade.

G

  • Gaku-mei - Framed signature; in this process, the metal on which a blade's signature is inscribed is excised in a rectangular section, thinned, and reattached to the reshaped nakago.
  • Gassan-hada - See ayasugi-hada.
  • Gendaito - Swords produced after 1876.
  • Gimei - False signature; a copy of an authentic signature inscribed on the tang of a blade by another (often inferior) smith.
  • Gin - Silver
  • Gin-gise - Filled or veneered with silver. Commonly found on habaki and seppa.
  • Gin-suji - See Kin-suji.
  • Ginzogan-mei - An inscription inlaid in silver by a member of the Honami family of the name of the attributed swordsmith on the shortened tang of a mumei blade.
  • Goban Kaji - Swordsmiths summoned to the palace by retired emperor Gotoba during the Kamakura period to produce swords.
  • Gohei-gata - A type of nakago with an equal number of stepped notches on each side.
  • Gokaden - The Five Traditions of Sword Manufacture (Gokaden)
  • Goma-hashi - A form of horimono in the shape of the chopsticks which are used on Shinto altars.
  • Gunome - A hamon pattern consisting of a series of mounds that look like similarly-sized semi-circles.
  • Gunome ashi - Zigzagging ashi.
  • Gunome choji - A gunome hamon pattern in which each valley of the gunome is separate and resembles a clove (choji).
  • Gunome midare - Irregular gunome.
  • Gunto - Modern military swords.
  • Gyaku-taka-no-ha - Inverted V-shaped file mark.
  • Gyo no kurikara - See kurikara.
  • Gyo no mune - See iori-mune.

H

  • Ha - The tempered cutting edge of a blade.
  • Ha agari kurijiri - A type of nakagojiri with a rounded end like that of kurijiri, but the cutting-edge side of which slants more steeply than the mune side.
  • Habaki - A metal sleeve, often of copper which is fitted over the area of the blade (habakimoto) where the tang ends and the polished part begins. It is held in place by being pressed between the notches in the edge and the back of the blade on one side and tsuba on the other side.It serves to hold the blade tightly both in the handle and in the saya, thus preventing possible damage and transferring the shock of any blow to the tsuba and assembly rather than the meguki. Habaki are not usually decorated with anything other than simple striations called nekogaki desinged to increase the friction holding the sword in the saya.
  • Habaki-moto - The part of the blade that slips into the habaki.
  • Habuchi - The border between the ji and the hamon; also know as nioiguchi.
  • Hada - See jihada.
  • Hada tatsu - Jihada is rough or coarse.
  • Hadaware - A type of flaw; a crack running lengthwise through the ji that indicates a swordsmith's lack of skill.
  • Hadori - The whitening that results from the finalpolishing of a blade.
  • Ha-gane - Blade steel.
  • Hagarami - A type of flaw; an oblique crack in the cutting edge.
  • Hagire - Type of flaw; a crack that runs at a right angle from the cutting edge toward hamon.
  • Hajimi - Misty spots in the hamon that can result from repeated grinding or faulty tempering.
  • Hakikake - A type of ashi similar to sunagashi, but much shorter and thinner; it appears on the edge of the hamon.
  • Hako midare - Box-shaped, irregular hamon pattern.
  • Hamachi - See machi.
  • Hamaguri-ba - Particularly full hira-niku between the habuchi and cutting edge; swords with hamaguri-ba were popular in the mid-Kamakura period.
  • Hamon - The temper line; the border seperating the ha and hiraji.
  • Ha niku - The "meat" between the hamon and the cutting edge.
  • Hari-menuki - A set of menuki attached without ito. Often found on ancient ceremonial jin-dachi as well as short swords of all ages. Also calle uki-menuki.
  • Hasaki - The sharp cutting edge of a blade.
  • Hataraki - Activities, or workings; distinctive features of the steel seen inside the hamon and th ji.
  • Ha-watari - See nagasa.
  • Hi - A groove engraved on the shinogiji or the hiraji
  • Higaki yasuri - A file-mark pattern formed when sujikai and saka sujikai cross.
  • Hijiki hada - See matsukawa hada.
  • Hira - See hiraji.
  • Hiraji - Surface of the blade between the shinogi and the hamon; also known as the hira.
  • Hira mune - See kaku mune.
  • Hira niku - The amount of "meat" seen in the hiraji; this decreases after a sword has been polished many times.
  • Hira-yamagata - Double beweled tang-tip. Also known as kuri-jiri.
  • Hira-zukuri - A sword structured without shinogi or yokote; a sword which is nearly flat on both edges.
  • Hiro-suguha - Wide, straight hamon.
  • Hisaki - Top of the hi.
  • Hisaki agaru - A hi that ends near the ko-shinogi.
  • Hisaki sagaru - A hi that ends below the yokote.
  • Hitatsura - A type of midare; gunome or notare midare with tobiyaki scattered throughout the blade.
  • Hitsu - Handle section of a kozuka.
  • Hizen boshi - Standard ko-maru boshi, uniform in width from yokote to the tip.
  • Hizen hada - See konuka hada.
  • Ho - Blade section of a kozuka.
  • Hoko - A type of spear thought to be forerunner of the yari.
  • Hongoku nite yoku - A judge's response given in nyusatsu kantei to a bid which correctly identifies the swordsmith's province alone, and does not correspond to any of the categories atari, dozen, kuni iri yoko or tori yoku.
  • Hon-sanmai-awase-gitae - Type of blade construction characterized by a soft core, hard blade steel and skin steel.
  • Hon-zukuri - See shinogi-zukuri.
  • Horimono - Blade engraving.
  • Hoso-suguha - Narrow, straight hamon.
  • Hotsure - A streaky, brushed looking area which sometimes occurs on the border of the cutting edge of a tempered blade.
  • Hyogo kusari tachi - Officer's koshirae with chain.
  • Hyotan-ba - Bottle gourd or guitar-shaped hamon.
  • Hyotantetsu - See nanbantetsu.

I

  • Ichimai - A fully-tempered kissaki; usually the outline of a boshi is still discernible in the kissaki.
  • Ichimonji - See kiri.
  • Ichimonji kaeri - A straight horizontal turnback; a type of boshi in which the top is flattened off and the kaeri is short.
  • Ikari-O-kissaki - A large curved kissaki.
  • Ikubi kissaki - "Wild boar-neck kissaki" A kissaki that is shorter than it is wide.
  • Imozuru - Thick inazuma appearing in the habuchi and inside the hamon; a form of activity often seen in Satsuma swords.
  • Inazuma - "Lightning" A brightly shining crooked black line that resembles a flash of lightning, appearing inside the hamon.
  • Iori mune - Type of mune that resembles an A-frame house, with two surfaces. Also known as gyo no mune.
  • Ippon nyusatsu - A nonstandard type of nyusatsu kantei in which only one bid may be made in an effort to identify the smith.
  • Iriyama-gata - A type of nakago in which the cutting-edge side forms an acute angle, while the other side goes straight or slightly upwards. Asymmetrical V-shape.
  • Itame-hada - Surface-grain pattern which resembles the annual rings of tree.
  • Itomaki no tachi - Field koshirae of tachi.
  • Ito suguha - String-like, straight hamon. Also known as hoso-suguha.
  • Iya - A judge's response given in nyusatsu kantei to a bid which does not correspond to any of the categories atari, dozen, kuni iri yoku or tori yoku.
  • Iya en - A judge's response given in nyusatsu kantei, meaning that a smith is somehow related to the correct smith, but works in different style.
  • Iya suji - A judge's response given in nyusatsu kantei , meaning that an answer is incorrect, but that the smiths are somehow related.

J

  • Ji - The area between the shinogi and hamon, also known as the hira or jihada. With polishing, this area becomes blue-black. Its surface is cured, and referred as niku.
  • Ji zukare - A type of flaw; steel which is worn out, usually as a result of repeated polishing.
  • Jidai chigai - A judge's response given in nyusatsu kantei to a bid of an incorrect period.
  • Jidai chigai iya - A judge's response given in nyusatsu kantei to a bid of incorrect period, province and school; the worst possible response a participant may receive.
  • Jidai chigai tori yoku - A judge's response given in nyusatsu kantei to a bid of the correct kaido group but an incorrect period.
  • Jidai chigai yoku - A judge's response given in nyusatsu kantei to a bid of the correct province but an incorrect period.
  • Jifu utsuri - Scattered spots of utsuri. Can be found all over the blade.
  • Jigane - The steel form which Japanese swords are made.
  • Jihada - The surface-grain pattern.
  • Jin'i - Third prize in a kantei-kai.
  • Jindachi - A blade in a jindachi-zukuri mounting. Sometimes simply called tachi.
  • Jindachi-zukuri koshirae - This term is used from all swords that have two cords on the scabbard for suspension from the hip. The blade is usually over three shaku. Many ceremonial and decorative reproductions of this mounting were made after the jindachi became obsolete in the early 16th century.
  • Ji-nie - Nie seen in the ji, and composed of the same type of particles that make up the hamon.
  • Jizo - A boshi that resembles the profile of a statue of the priest Jizo.
  • Jo-ge ryu - A form of horimono featuring "asceding and desecending" dragons.
  • Jokoto - Ancient swords; straight swords produced prior to the development of the curved blade known as nihoto.
  • Josun - Standard length. In the case of swords about 70 cm. In the case of tanto about 26 cm.
  • Juka-choji midare - Multiple, bag shaped choji hamon pattern.
  • Jumonji yari - A cross-shaped spear.
  • Juyo Bunkazai - Art works and antiquities that have been desingnated as Important Cultural Assets.
  • Juzuba - A type of hamon similar to choji.

K

  • Kabuto gane - A type of kashira.
  • Kaen - A type of boshi that looks as if it is on fire, due to hakikake and nie kuzure.
  • Kaeri - The part of the boshi that turns back toward the mune side.
  • Kaeri-asashi - Short turn-back.
  • Kaeri-fukashi - Long turn-back.
  • Kaido - The Goki Shichido grouping to which a smith belongs.
  • Kaigunto - Modern navy swords.
  • Kaiken - A small dagger kept concealed in one's clothing.
  • Kaji - Swordsmith. Also known as katana-kaji.
  • Kakedashi - Type of flaw; a hamon that extends all the way to the cutting edge.
  • Kakikudashi-mei - An inscription that includes the swordsmith's address and signature, and the date of forging, all engraved on one side of the nakago.
  • Kakinagashi - A tapered hi that extends past the machi, but not as far as the butt end of the nakago.
  • Kakitoshi - A hi that has no end, and that extends throughout nakago.
  • Kakudome - A square hi end; usually located within 3cm of the machi.
  • Kaku-ichi-monji - See kiri.
  • Kaku mune - A completely flat mune seen only on ancient swords; also known as hira mune.
  • Kamasu kissaki - A kissaki with a fukura which is not rounded.
  • Kama yari - A spear with a sickle-like branch off the blade.
  • Kanmuri-otoshi-zukuri - A type of sword structure in which the lower half of the blade is in a standard shinogi-zukuri style, but the shinogiji is cut at a slant, making the blade similar to those in shobu-zukuri style.
  • Kantei - Sword appreciation, authentication and attribution of blades based on the study of their physical charcteristics.
  • Kantei-ka - The one who appraises swords.
  • Kantei-kai - Sword appreciation gatherings, a unique form of competition in which participants attempt to determine the swordsmith who produced a blade merely by studying the blade's visible characteristics; the nakago is covered.
  • Kanto no tachi - Ring-headed tachi koshirae.
  • Karakusa - Arabesque pattern.
  • Karakusa bori - Engraving made in an arabesque pattern.
  • Karasuguchi - Type of flaw; a crack in the kissaki that runs from the cutting edge toward the boshi.
  • Kasane - Thickness; specifically the thickness of the mune. See also motokasane and sakikasane.
  • Kashira - Pommel at the base of the tsuka.
  • Kata-chiri - Chiri that remains only on the mune side of the hi.
  • Katakiriha-zukuri - A type of sword structure in which one side is hira-zukuri or shinogi-zukuri and the other is kiriha-zukuri.
  • Katana - Curved blade that is longer than 60cm, worn thrust through the belt with cutting-edge side upwards.
  • Katana-bi - A long straight, wide hi engraved on a hira-zukuri blade.
  • Katana-bukuro - The cloth case in which a sword is stored.
  • Katana-mei - A signature that appears on the outer side of the nakago of a katana, wakizashi or tanto when the blade is worn edge upwards. See also tachi mei
  • Kataochi gunome - A gunome hamon pattern in which the top of the gunome follows a straight horizontal line and then slants down from the peak to the valley. Also known as nokogiriba.
  • Katte agari yasuri - A pattern of filing marks that slants downward to the left.
  • Katte sagari yasuri - A pattern of filing marks that slants downward to the right.
  • Kawazuko choji midare - A tadpole-shaped choji hamon pattern.
  • Kazaritachi - An elaborate style of tachi koshirae, mainly for court use.
  • Kazunoko nie - Large somewhat scattered nie.
  • Kazu-uchimono - Mass-produced blades.
  • Ken - A straight, souble-edged blade used as an implement of esoteric Buddhism rather than as a weapon.
  • Ken (horimono) - This term means sword, and is also used to refer to a type of horimono. Several different styles of such horimono are seen; the suken, the ken with tsume, the ken with sankozuka and the ken with bonji.
  • Kengyo - V-shaped nakago tip.
  • Ken-maki-ryu - See kurikara.
  • Kenukigata tachi - A sword the blade and handle of which are made of a single piece of steel; the center of the hilt is pierced.
  • Kesho yasuri - Cosmetic file marks; a combination of patterns.
  • Ke-zaya - Type of ancient saya. The end of saya was wrapped with fur, such as that of tiger or bear.
  • Kijimomo-gata - A type of nakago in which the cutting-edge side of the nakago slopes inward at the halfway point., and the nakago remains narrow to the tip.
  • Kiku-ichi-monji - Inscription of chrysantemum with the chinese character for "one". Often found on tangs.
  • Kiku-no-gyosaku - Swords supposedly forged by Emperor Gotoba. Instead of signature he used chrysantemum crests.
  • Kikusui - A decorative hamon pattern that resembles a chrysanthemum floating on a stream.
  • Kin - Gold.
  • Kin-fukurin - Gold rim on tsubas or gold collars on sayas of tachi mountings.
  • Kinginden so no karatachi koshirae - Chinese style tachi koshirae.
  • Kin-gise - Veneered or filled with gold. Many mountings, such as habaki or seppa were dressed with thin layer of gold.
  • Kin heidatsu koshirae - Koshirae in which gold foil is used.
  • Kin-mei - Same as kinpun mei.
  • Kinnoto - Royalist's sword; these were used or owned by samurai who supported a doctrine of revering emperor, during the late Edo period. Has a wide mihaba, large kissaki, and thick kasane. Its nagasa is as great as 90cm, and sori very shallow. It was too large and heavy to be very effective, and it soon disappeared.
  • Kinpun mei - Appraiser's inscription in gold lacquer of the name of the attributed swordsmith.
  • Kinsuji - Short, straight, shiny black line appearing inside the hamon near the habuchi, composed of nie. See also inazuma.
  • Kinzogan-mei - An inscription inlaid in gold by a member of the Honami family of the name of the attiributed swordsmith on the shortened nakago of a mumei blade.
  • Kiri - A type of nakago whose end is cut off squarely in a straight line; also known as ichimonji.
  • Kiriha-zukuri - A sword structured with a line running quite close to the cutting edge, and with very wide shinogiji. This structure is seen only in ancient blades.
  • Kiri-suji-chigai - A type of combined horizontal and slanted file marks.
  • Kiritsuke mei - A memorial inscription.
  • Kiri yasuri - Horizontal file marks, filed from the cutting-edge side toward the mune side. The most common filing style.
  • Kissaki - Tip of the sword.
  • Kissaki-moroha-zukuri - A sword structured with the kissaki sharpened on both edges, and with the lower portion of the blade shaped differently from the kissaki. Also known as Kogarasu-maru-zukuri.
  • Kitae - Methods of combining blade steel.
  • Kizu - Blade defects caused at the time of forging or resulting from ill care.
  • Ko-ashi - Small ashi.
  • Kobuse - A type of blade construction in which shingane is sandwiched between kawagane, or kawagane is worked around shingane. The most common type of blade construction.
  • Kobushigata choji - Fist-shaped choji hamon pattern.
  • Ko-choji midare - Small, clove-shaped, irregular hamon pattern.
  • Ko-dachi - Short tachi, blades of 60cm or less.
  • Kodogu - Sword furnitures, such as kozuka, kogai, tsuba, fuchi and kashira.
  • Ko-fuda - See Sage-fuda.
  • Kogai - A skewer. Carried in the sayas of katana and wakizashi.
  • Kogai ana - A hole in tsuba for Kogai.
  • Kogarasu-maru-zukuri - See kissaki-moroha-zukuri.
  • Ko-gunome - Small gunome hamon pattern.
  • Koiguchi - Scabbard mouth.
  • Ko-itame - Small itame hada.
  • Kojiri - Scabbard tip.
  • Ko-kissaki - Small kissaki.
  • Ko-maru-agari - Type of ko-maru boshi in which the top of the rounded part is close to the kissaki.
  • Ko-maru-sagari - Type of ko-maru boshi in which the top of the rounded part is further from kissaki.
  • Ko-maru - Type of boshi that runs from the yokote parallel to kissaki. The top curves back and makes an arc.
  • Ko-midare - Small-patterned midare hamon.
  • Ko-mokume - Small mokume grain pattern.
  • Ko-nie - Small particles of nie.
  • Konohatetsu - See nanbantetsu.
  • Ko-notare - Notare hamon with small waves.
  • Konuka-hada - Rice bran surface pattern, similar to nashiji. Only used to desricbe swords from Hizen province. Also known as Hizen hada.
  • Koshi - The point halfway between the valley and the yakigashira in an irregular hamon.
  • Koshiba - A partially irregular pattern located just above the hamachi.
  • Koshibi - A short hi with a rounded top which is engraved on the lower part of the blade.
  • Ko-shinogi - Diagonal line that separates the kissaki from the shinogiji, also extends the shinogi to the mune in the kissaki area.
  • Koshi-no-hiraita midare - A hamon pattern similar to notare.
  • Koshirae - Sword mountings.
  • Koshi-zori - Type of curvature in which the deepest point of the blade's curve is near the munemachi. Also known as Bizen-zori.
  • Kosuji-chikai - Same as Katte-sagari.
  • Koto - Old swords.
  • Kozuka - Utility knife. Usually inserted in saya pocket. Consists of hitsu (handle) and ho (blade).
  • Kozuka ana - A hole in tsuba for kozuka.
  • Ko-wakizashi - Short wakizashi.
  • Kuge tachi - Palace guard koshirae.
  • Kuichigaiba - Lines in a hamon which are not completely aligned.
  • Kuichigai-bi - Two thin hi running halfway down the blade; the top hi ends first, while the bottom one continues and the surronds the shorter one.
  • Kuni iri yoku - A judge's response in nysatsu kantei to a bid which correctly identifies the period and province, but not the family of the swordsmith.
  • Kurijiri - A type of nakago with a rounded end; the most common style in all periods.
  • Kurikara - From of horimono featuring a dragon windling around a sword. Three differet types are: shin (realistic), gyo (simplified) and so (stylized). Also known as ken maki ryu.
  • Kurikata - Cord knob of saya.
  • Kuwagata - A type of horimono carved in a shape of W and representing the front crest of a helmet.
  • Kyo-choji midare - Choji midare based on suguha.
  • Kyo-gunto - Proto-army swords.
  • Kyo-zori - See torii-zori.

M

  • Machi - Notches that divide the blade proper from the tang. The notch on the cutting-edge side is called hamachi; that on the mune side is called munemachi.
  • Machi-okuri - Moving the machi upward. Overall length remains the same. The blade portion is shortened without touching nakago.
  • Majiwarimono - See wakimono.
  • Makuri - A type of blade construction in which a block of shingane is placed on a block of kawagane, and the two blocks are then folded in half.
  • Marudome - Rounded hi end; usually located within 3cm from the machi.
  • Maru-gitae - A type of blade construction.
  • Maru mune - Rounded mune; quite rare.
  • Masame-hada - Straight surface-grain pattern.
  • Matsubasaki - See munesaki.
  • Matsukawa hada - Readily visible surface-grain pattern resmbling the park of a pine tree. Also known as hijiki-hada.
  • Mei - Signature, usually engraved on the nakago.
  • Meito - A fine sword, officially recognized as such.
  • Meguki - Retaining peg used to hold the nakago of a sword in the tsuka.
  • Meguki ana - Hole in the nakago for meguki.
  • Meguki nuki - Hammer-like tool used to remove the meguki.
  • Menuki - A small decorative carved metal fittings worn under the ito of katana and wakizashi. They are said to improve grip.
  • Mete zashi - Horse-hand dagger, held in right hand.
  • Midare komi - Boshi pattern in which the irregular hamon pattern continues into the kissaki.
  • Midareba - Irregular hamon; all hamon but suguha are midareba.
  • Midare utsuri - Irregular utsuri.
  • Mihaba - Width of the blade. See also motohaba and sakihaba.
  • Mimi-gata - Variety of hamon characterized by an ear-shaped pattern.
  • Mishina boshi - A boshi typical of the Mishina school; the line of boshi runs straight from the yokote to the top.
  • Mitokoromono - A set of kozuka, kogai and menuki by one maker.
  • Mitsukado - The point at which the yokote, shinogi and ko-shinogi meet.
  • Mitsumune - A mune with three surfaces.
  • Mizukage - A whitish reflection that appears in the machi area. Running at an angle of 45 degrees from the edge of the nakago to the mune. Often regarded as an evidence of retempering.
  • Mokume-hada - Surface-grain pattern similar to the annual growth rings of tree. The hada of most Japanese swords can be said to be mokume-hada.
  • Monouchi - The part of sword used to hit or cut. In tachi and katana monouchi is about 10cm long.
  • Moroha-zukuri - A double-edged sword, unlike the ken each side is different.
  • Motohaba - Bottom width; width of a blade at the machi.
  • Motokasane - Thickness at munemachi.
  • Muji - A type of blade construction; also known as muji tetsu.
  • Muji hada - Plain or grainless surface. In this type the hada is difficult to discern, but in fact it can be brought out with polishing.
  • Mukansa - The most skilled smiths or polishers may be awarded with this designation, which means that they are officially above the regular ranking systems.
  • Mumei - Without signature; either because a blade was not originally signed, or because the signature was lost when the blade was shortened.
  • Mune - Back edge of the blade.
  • Mune-gane - Steel used for the mune.
  • Munemachi - See machi.
  • Munesaki - Tip of the mune at the kissaki; also known as matsubasaki.
  • Muneware - A type of flaw; a lengthwise crack in the mune, reflective of swordsmith's lack of skill.
  • Muneyaki - A tempered spot or line seen on the mune.
  • Mura nie - Uneven nie, irregular particles, much larger than most nie.
  • Mu-zori - Used only to describe tanto that have no curvature; also known as chukan-zori.

N

  • Nagamaki - Similar to naginata blades, but more standard in shape. Most nagamaki were shortened and it is rare to finf one in original condition.
  • Nagamaki/Naginata naoshi - A nagamaki or naginata blade which has been reshaped for used as a katana or a wakizashi.
  • Naga-mei - A lenghty signature, often includes an address, name and title.
  • Nagare - Flowing grain found on the flat of the blade.
  • Nagasa - Blade length; measured from munemachi to the tip of kissaki. Also known as ha-watari or hacho.
  • Naginata - A long-hafted weapon wielded in large sweeping strokes. Typically has a wide blade with a large point, a lonf nakago and no yokote. Blade is usually unokubi-zukuri, overall length is usually over six feet.
  • Naginata-hi - A short bo-hi with the top finished in the direction opposite of katana hi; it is usually accompanied by soe-hi.
  • Nakago - The tang or portion of the sword blade that extends below hamachi and munemachi.
  • Nakago ana - A hole in tsuba for nakago.
  • Nakagojiri - The butt end of the nakago.
  • Nanako - A surface treatment with the appearance of fish roe.
  • Nanbantetsu - A Western-style steel introduced to Japan in the 16th century; also known as hyotantetsu or konohatetsu.
  • Nashiji-hada - A surface-grain pattern similar to the flesh of a sliced pear.
  • Nenrin-hada - Pattern similar to annual growth rings of tree.
  • Nezumi ashi - Very small ashi.
  • Nie - Small, distinct particles of the crystalline effect known as martensite. Visible to the naked eye, they look like stars.
  • Nie-deki - A hamon consisting primarily of nie; also known as nie-hon'i.
  • Nie-hon'i - See nie-deki.
  • Nie hotsure - Frayed nie, nie seen along the habuchi that resemble of frayed cloth.
  • Nie kogori - Nie that have massed together and look like white clouds.
  • Nie kuzure - Abudant nie scattered throughout the kissaki that result not distinct boshi.
  • Nie sake - Torn nie, bright black nie seen inside the hamon, looks like a tear or a rip.
  • Nie utsuri - Utsuri consisting of nie.
  • Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai - Japanese Art Sword Conservation Association (NBTHK).
  • Nihonto - Japanese sword.
  • Niji-mei - Signatures consisting of just two kanji characters.
  • Nijuba - A second line of hamon, consisting of nie or nioi and appearing parallel to the main hamon.
  • Nikudori - Shape or fullness if the curve, of the surface of the hiraji.
  • Nioi - Particles of the crystalline effect known as martensite. No individual particles can be distinguished, looks like a wash of stars.
  • Nioi-deki - A hamon consisting primarily of nioi; also known as nioi-hon'i.
  • Nioigire - A hamon that is incomplete, as if part of it has been left out; usually by faulty tempering or a damage made by fire.
  • Nioiguchi - See habuchi.
  • Nioi-hon'i - See nioi-deki.
  • Nioi kogori - Lumps of Nioi.
  • Nioi kuzure - May be considered as ashi, but it is separate from the main hamon.
  • Nise - False or counterfeit.
  • Nise-mei - Counterfeit signature or maker.
  • No-dachi - Moor swords, very long blades made in the 14th century.
  • Nokogiriba - See kataochi gunome.
  • Notare - Gently waving hamon pattern.
  • Notare komi - Type of boshi similar in shape to the notare of the hamon.
  • Notare midare - Irregular notare.
  • Nugui-gami - Japanese paper used in caring for blades.
  • Nyusatsu - A bid made in kantei-kai.
  • Nyusatsu kantei - See kantei-kai.

O

  • O-choji midare - Large, irregular choji hamon pattern.
  • O-dachi - Long tachi; blades longer than 90cm.
  • O-gunome - Large gunome hamon pattern.
  • O-hada - Jihada with an enlarged pattern; this term is used with any enlarged jihada, no matter of the surface-grain pattern.
  • O-itame - Large itame grain pattern.
  • O-kissaki - Large kissaki.
  • O-maru - A boshi in the shape of large semicircle; much narrower than ko-maru.
  • O-midare - Large-patterned irregular hamon.
  • Omiyari - Long spear.
  • O-mokume - Large mokume grain pattern.
  • Omote - The side of the blade facing the holder when it's held upright with cutting edge to the left. Reverse side is ura.
  • Omote-mei - Inscription appearing on the front of a blade. Often includes swordsmith's signature, address and title.
  • Onimaru-koshirae - Military koshirae form the early Muromachi period.
  • O-notare - Notare hamon with large waves.
  • Origami - A certificate of appraisal.
  • Orikaeshi-mei - Turned-back signature; in this type the metal on which the signature is made is attached to the nakago. It is thinned, bent down and folded around the opposite side.
  • Oroshi - Slope of the mune, from the iori to the start of the shinogiji.
  • Osaka boshi - Ko-maru sagari boshi.
  • Oshigata - A rubbing or impression of the nakago or entire blade.
  • Osoraku-zukuri - A sword structured with a very large kissaki, longer than the lower part of the blade.
  • O-sujikai yasuri - A pattern of diagonal file marks with steeper slant than sujikai.
  • O-suriage nakago - A greatly shortened nakago whose signature has been lost; in distinction to the suriage nakago, which is merely reshaped.
  • O-wakizashi - Long wakizashi.
  • Owaza-mono - Great technique sword.

R

  • Rendai - Type of horimono featuring a lotus-flower dais for an image of Buddha.
  • Ryo-chiri - Chiri that remain both sides of a hi.
  • Ryu - Form of horimono featuring a dragon.

S

  • Sabigiwa - The boundary between the habaki-moto and the file marks.
  • Sabitsuke nakago - An artificially rusted nakago.
  • Sage-fuda - A small certificate issued by the Honnami family for swords of lesser value; also known as ko-fuda.
  • Sageo - The cord which passes through the kurikata. Usually made of silk and color ordinarily matches ito.
  • Saidan-mei - Inscriptions that give the result of a cutting test.
  • Sai ha - A retempered blade; original characteristics are usually lost.
  • Sai-jin - See sai ha.
  • Saka ashi - Oblique ashi.
  • Saka choji midare - Oblique choji midare hamon.
  • Saka midare - Irregular hamon with an oblique pattern.
  • Saka o-sujikai yasuri - A pattern of file marks that slant steeply upward to the right.
  • Sakihaba - The width of a blade at the yokote.
  • Sakikasane - The thickness of a blade at the yokote.
  • Saki-zori - Type of curvature in which the deepest curvature is in the upper area.
  • Same-gawa - Skin of a giant ray.
  • Same-zaya - Saya decorated with same-gawa.
  • Sanbon nyusatsu - Standard type of nyusatsu kantei.
  • Sanbon-sugi - A type of togari gunome hamon resembling a stand of three cedar trees.
  • Sanjimei - Signature consisting three kanji characters.
  • Sanjuba - Triple lines of hamon, consisting of nie or nioi. Two slighter lines appear parallel to the main hamon.
  • Sankozuka - See ken.
  • Sansaku boshi - The particular boshi seen in the work by three swordsmiths, Osafune Nagamitsu, Kagemitsu and Sanenaga.
  • Sasaho yari - A spear with a head shaped like a bamboo leaf.
  • Sashi-omote - Same as omote.
  • Saya - Scabbard.
  • Saya-gaki - Identifying data about the maker of the blade written on the saya. Commonly found on shira-saya.
  • Saya-shi - A saya maker.
  • Sensuki yasuri - Plane drawing pattern; a type of yasuri that is finished with sen. The file marks show irregular, vertical traces.
  • Seoi tachi - Sword carried on the back, another name for no-dachi.
  • Shakudo - An alloy of copper and gold.
  • Shibuichi - An alloy of copper and silver.
  • Shiho-zume-gitae - A type of blade construction.
  • Shikkake-hada - A pattern in which mokume-hada appears along the shinogi, and masame-hada near the hamon.
  • Shimaru - See urumu.
  • Shinae - A type of flaw; cracks or wrinkles running crosswise through the ji or shinogiji.
  • Shin-gane - Core steel.
  • Shin-gunto - Neo-army swords.
  • Shin no kurikara - See kurikara.
  • Shinobi ana - A second meguki hole, located nearer the nakagojiri.
  • Shinogi - The ridge along the side of the blade, between the cutting edge and the mune.
  • Shinogi-hikushi - Flat ridge line.
  • Shinogiji - The flat surface between the shinogi and the mune.
  • Shinogiji-suji-chigai - Same as kiri-suji-chigai.
  • Shinogi-kiri-suji-chigai - A type of combined horizontal and leftward-slanted yasuri.
  • Shinogi-takashi - Raised ridge line.
  • Shinogi-zukuri - A sword structure with the shinogi quite close to the mune and having yokote and sori; also known as hon-zukuri.
  • Shin-no-mune - See mitsu-mune.
  • Shinsakuto - Contemporary swords, forged by smiths who are still living.
  • Shinshinto - Blades produced from the late 18th century to 1876.
  • Shinto - Blades produced between 1596 and 1781.
  • Shirake utsuri - Whitish utsuri with an indistinct pattern.
  • Shira-saya - Plain wood mounting.
  • Shobu-hi - Iris leaf-shaped hi.
  • Shobu-zukuri - A type of blade construction.
  • Showato - Blades produced between 1926 and the end of WW2.
  • Shumei - Red lacquer inscription made by appraiser.
  • Soe-hi - A secong smaller hi engraved alongside the bo-hi.
  • So no kurikara - See kurikara.
  • So no mune - See maru-mune.
  • Sori - Curvature of the blade.
  • Sori-asashi - Shallow curvature.
  • Sori-fukashi - Deep curvature.
  • Sotoba-gata - A type of nakago that is approximately uniform in width.
  • Sudare-ba - A hamon based on suguha or shallow notare that looks like sweeping broom strokes.
  • Sugata - Shape of the sword as a whole.
  • Suguha - A straight hamon.
  • Sugu utsuri - See bo utsuri.
  • Sugu yakitsume - A straight yakitsume boshi.
  • Sugu yari - See suyari.
  • Sujikai yasuri - A pattern of diagonal yasuri that slants more steeply than katte sagari yasuri.
  • Suken - See ken.
  • Sumigane - Plain dark spots seen on the ji.
  • Sunagashi - Nie particles that sometimes appear inside the hamon resembling small sand particles.
  • Sunnobi tanto - Tanto of greater length than is standard; see also josun.
  • Suriage nakago - A shortened nakago.
  • Suridashi - The point at which yasuri begin.
  • Suyari - A straight double-edged spear.

T

  • Tabagatana - Mass-produced blades sold in bundles.
  • Tachi (ancient) - A straight sword produced in ancient times, this predecessor of the classical Japanese blade is over 60 cm in length and is not curved.
  • Tachi - A curved sword with a blade longer than 60 cm. Worn hanging suspended from the belt with cutting edge facing ground. Produced primarily in Koto times.
  • Tachi-mei - A signature carved on the nakago that faces away from the wearer when the sword is worn in tachi style.
  • Taima-hada - Itame-hada which tens to become masame-hada towards kissaki.
  • Takanoha yasuri - A yasuri pattern in which the front portion is filed slanting upward and to the left, while the lower portion is filed in opposite direction.
  • Takenoko-zori - A term used to describe uchi-zori tanto with not rounded fukura.
  • Tama - A roundish tempered spot separate from the main hamon.
  • Tamahagane - Native Japanese steel. See also nanbantetsu.
  • Tameshi-mei - Inscription commemorating the results of a cutting test; usually chiseled or inlaid with gold.
  • Tanagobara-gata - A type of nakago in which the upper part bulges and then tapers into the narrow lower section.
  • Tani - The lowest point of the midare.
  • Tanto - Blade shorter than 30 cm. Standard length about 26 cm.
  • Tatsuta - A picturesque hamon that depicts a maple leaf floating on the Tatsuta River.
  • Te-hoko - A hand-held spear.
  • Ten'i - First prize in kantei-kai.
  • Tenka Go Ken - Five swords that are famous throughout the Japan. They are Juzumaru Tsunetsugu, Mikazuki Munechika, Dojigiri Yasutsuna, Odenta Mitsuyo and Onimaru Kunitsuna.
  • Tobiyaki - Tempered spots within the ji that are separate from the hamon.
  • Togari-ba - Tapered midareba.
  • Togari gunome - A gunome hamon in which the peak are tapered and orderly.
  • Togi - Sword polishing.
  • Togishi - Sword polisher.
  • Token-kai - Sword study groups.
  • Tome - Bottom of a hi.
  • Toran-midare - A hamon that resembles large, surging waves.
  • Torii-zori - Type of curvature in which the deepest point of curvature is at the center.
  • Tori yoku - A judge's response given in nyusatsu kantei to a bid which correctly identifies the kaido group, but not the family, province or a school.
  • Toshin - The blade as a whole.
  • Tosu - Short blades which are a type of jokoto similar in shape to kogatana.
  • Tsuba - Guard.
  • Tsuchidori - See tsuchioki.
  • Tsuchime - Hammered marks on the nakago.
  • Tsuchioki - Clay coating applied on the blade during the tempering process; style of application determinates the style of hamon.
  • Tsugi nakago - A grafted nakago; the original nakago is replaced with one from another blade.
  • Tsuka - Hilt.
  • Tsuka-ito - Binding cord on the tsuka.
  • Tsuki-no-wa - Type of a flaw, a crescent-shaped crack inside the boshi.
  • Tsukuri - Old style mountings, exclusive of shira-saya.
  • Tsukurikomi - Styles of sword structures.
  • Tsume - See ken.
  • Tsunagi - Wooden blade used to keep furniture and mountings together in the absence of the original blade.
  • Tsure-hi - A second thinner hi that extends to the top of bo-hi.
  • Tsurugi - Symmetrical, double-edged blade designed to be used as a thrusting weapon.

U

  • Ubu nakago - Original nakago; still in original shape.
  • Uchigatana - Blades typically produced during the Muromachi period, which are deeply curved towards the top and wielded with one hand.
  • Uchiko - Finely powdered polishing stone used to remove oil from the surface of the blade.
  • Uchinoke - Similar to nijuba, but resembling crescent moons.
  • Uchi-zori - A curve in direction of the cutting edge.
  • Ude-nuki - A cord commonly passed through holes in the tsuka or tsuba of a tachi and tied to the wrist.
  • Uki-menuki - See hari-menuki.
  • Uma-no-ha midare - Horse teeth-shaped irregular hamon.
  • Umegane - A cavity left by a broken fukure which is filled or repaired by using steel.
  • U-no-kubi-zukuri - A sword structured similarily to kanmuri-otoshi-zukuri except that shinogiji is slanted only in the middle, while the lower part and the kissaki are normal.
  • Ura - See omote.
  • Ura mei - Inscription appearing appearing on the back of the blade.
  • Urumu - A condition in which the blade edge is not sharp or the surface is not clean.
  • Utsuri - A misty reflection seen on the ji and the shinogiji.
  • Uzumaki-hada - A whirlpool-shaped surface-grain pattern.

W

  • Wakimono - Swords produced by smiths who do not belong to any particular tradition.
  • Wakizashi - Blades longer than 30 cm and shorter than 60 cm.
  • Warabite no tachi - A wide thick, relatively short sword in which the blade and the tsuka are one continuos piece of steel.
  • Wariba-gitae - A type of blade construction.
  • Wari-bashi - A set of split chopsticks similar in shape to a kogai.
  • Wazamono - Very sharp swords.

Y

  • Yahazu midare - Dovetail- or fishtail-shaped midare in an irregular pattern.
  • Yakemi - Blades that have lost their hamon.
  • Yakidashi - The point where hamon begins, below the hamachi.
  • Yakigashira - The upper part of an irregular hamon pattern, near the mune.
  • Yakiire - The process of heating and quenching the blade, to create the cutting edge.
  • Yakikuzure - A deformed hamon, or deformed part of hamon.
  • Yakiotoshi - A hamon that drop to the cutting edge before reaching hamachi.
  • Yakitsume - A type of boshi with no turn-back.
  • Yakumo-hada - A surface grain pattern that resembles mass of clouds.
  • Yari - Spear. The nakago is usually inserted into the haft.
  • Yasurime - Pattern of file marks on the tang.
  • Yo - Type of ashi, separate from the main hamon line, resembles tiny foot prints.
  • Yokote - The line running at a right angle to the cutting edge which divides the kissaki from the rest of the blade.
  • Yoko yasuri - See kiri yasuri.
  • Yoroidoshi - Dagger used to stab an enemy while in close quarters.
  • Yoshino - A picturesque hamon representing cherry blossoms floating on the Yoshino river.
  • Yoshino-gami - Very thin Japanese paper used to spread oil over a blade to prevent rust.
  • Yubashiri - A spot or spots where nie is concentrated on the ji.

Z

  • Zaimei - Blades that still have the original signature.
  • Zuryo-mei - Titles given to swordsmiths by the imperial court.

Sources

Retrieved from "http://swordwiki.org/wiki/Japanese_Sword_Terminology"
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