Japanese Swords Glossary
This page summarizes key terms to help you better understand Japanese swords.
A | B | C | D | F | G | H | I | J | K | M | N | S | T | U | W | Y
| A | |
| ara-nie | large nie crystals. |
| ashi | thin line that runs across the temper line (hamon) to the cutting edge (ha). |
| ayasugi-hada | regular wavy surface grain pattern (jihada). Also known as gassan-hada after the name of a school which usually produced swords of this type. |
| B | |
| bakumatsu-to | a sword made during an era in the late Edo period 1853-1867. |
| bizen | archeaic province of Japan, modern day Okayama prefecture. |
| bokuto | see bokken. |
| boshi | temper line (hamon) of the blade point (kissaki). |
| bu | Japanese imperial form of measurement (10 bu = 1 sun). |
| C | |
| chikei | black gleaming lines of nie that appear in the ji. |
| chirimen-hada | distinctly visible mokume-hada with a clearer steel than in similar but coarser patterns. |
| choji abura | clove oil, used for preserving blades. |
| choji midare | an irregular hamon pattern resembling cloves, with a round upper part and a narrow constricted lower part. |
| chokuto | a straight sword primarily produced during the ancient period. Their definition as tachi is specifically chronological, as it refers solely to ancient pre- Heian swords, unlike tachi which refers to later swords. These ancient Japanese swords are also known as jo-koto. |
| choken | Commonly used as a calque for the broadest definition of (European) long swords. |
| choto | either a nagakatana (due to long blade) or a naginata (due to long handle). |
| chu-kissaki | medium sized kissaki, in relation to the overall size of the blade. |
| D | |
| daisho | in context any pair of Japanese swords of differing lengths (daito and shoto) worn together. |
| dogane | tubular fittings on the tsuka or saya. |
| daito | any type of Japanese long sword, the larger in a pair of daisho. Commonly a katana. |
| F | |
| fuchigane | decorative reinforcing collar attached to the base of the tsuka. |
| fukura | the cutting edge (ha) of the blade point (kissaki). |
| funbari | tapering of the blade from the base (machi) to the point (kissaki) |
| G | |
| gassan-hada | see ayasugi-hada. |
| gendaito | swords produced after 1876. Also the name for the period in sword history from 1876 to the present day, i.e., the period that succeeded the shinshinto period. |
| goban kaji | swordsmiths summoned by the retired Emperor Go-Toba to work at his palace in monthly rotations. |
| gokaden | the five basic styles of swords which during the koto period were associated with the provinces: Yamashiro, Yamato, Bizen, Soshu and Mino. |
| gomabashi | pair of parallel grooves running partway up the blade resembling chopsticks. |
| gunome | a wave-like outline of the temper line (hamon) made up of similarly sized semicircles. |
| H | |
| ha | the tempered cutting edge of a blade. The side opposite the mune. Also called hasaki or yaiba. |
| habaki | small metal collar (often decorated) that buffers the tsuba and secures the blade into the saya. |
| habaki-moto | part of the blade that sits under the habaki. |
| hacho | see nagasa. |
| hada | pattern in the steel skin of the blade, also called jihada. |
| hagire | hairline crack in the blade rising up from the cutting edge. |
| hajimi | misty spots in the temper line (hamon) resulting from repeated grinding or faulty tempering. |
| hamachi | notch in the cutting edge (ha), dividing the blade proper from the tang (nakago). |
| hamon | border between the tempered part of the ha (cutting edge) and the untempered part of the rest of the sword; the temper-line. |
| hasaki | see ha. |
| hataraki | patterns and shapes such as lines, streaks, dots and hazy reflections that appear in addition to the grain pattern (jihada) and the temper line (hamon) on the surface of the steel and are a result of sword polishing. |
| hawatari | see nagasa. |
| hijiki-hada | see matsukawa-hada. |
| hi | groove carved into the blade for weight decreasing or decorative purposes. |
| hira | see hiraji. |
| hiraji | curved surface between ridge (shinogi) and temper line (hamon). Also called hira. If polished, the hiraji appears blue-black. |
| hira-zukuri | a nearly flat blade without ridge (shinogi) or yokote. |
| hitatsura | temper line (hamon) with tempering marks visible around the ridge and near the edge of the blade. |
| hon-zukuri | see shinogi-zukuri |
| I | |
| ichimai boshi | a fully tempered point area (kissaki) because the hamon turns back before reaching the point. |
| ichimonji kaeri | a boshi which turns back in a straight horizontal line with a short kaeri. |
| ikubi-kissaki | a short, stubby blade point (kissaki). |
| iori | top ridge of the back edge (mune), the back ridge. |
| itame-hada | surface grain pattern (jihada) of scattered irregular ovals resembling wood grain. The small/large grain pattern of this type is called ko-itame-hada/o-itame-hada. |
| J | |
| ji | area between the ridge (shinogi) and the hamon. |
| jigane | generally used to refer to the material of the blade. |
| jihada | visible surface pattern of the steel resulting from hammering and folding during the construction. (also see masame-hada, mokume-hada, itame-hada and ayasugi-hada). |
| ji-nie | nie that appears in the hiraji. |
| jo-koto | a sword produced before the mid-Heian period. Unlike later blades, these are straight swords. The term is also used to refer to the respective period of swordsmanship which was followed by the koto period. |
| juka choji | multiple overlapping clove shaped chōji midare patterns. |
| juken | a bayonet. |
| K | |
| kaeri | part of the temper line (hamon) that extends from the tip of the bōshi to the back edge (mune). |
| kaiken | a dagger concealed in the clothing. |
| kasane | blade thickness measured across the back edge (mune). (see also motokasane and sakikasane) |
| katana | curved sword with a blade length longer than 60 cm. Worn thrust through the belt with the blade edge (ha) facing upward. It superseded the older tachi starting in the Muromachi period, after 1392. |
| kataochi gunome | a gunome with a straight top and an overall slant. |
| kawazuko choji midare | a variation of the chōji midare pattern with the peaks resembling tadpoles. |
| ken | a double-edged blade (sword/dagger) of any size or shape. |
| kinsuji | short straight thin radiant black line of nie that appears in the temper-line (hamon) |
| kissaki | fan-shaped point of the blade; separated from the body of the sword by the yokote. |
| kogai | a skewer for the owner's hair-do, carried in a pocket of the scabbards of katana and wakizashi on the side opposite of the kozuka. |
| kogatana | any knife, particularly a small utility knife carried in a pocket of the scabbards of katana and wakizashi. |
| ko-itame-hada | see itame-hada. |
| koiguchi | mouth of the saya. |
| kojiri | decorative fitting on the bottom of the saya. |
| ko-maru | a boshi that runs parallel to the cutting edge of the point area (kissaki) and then forms a small circle as it turns back towards the back edge (mune). |
| ko-mokume-hada | see mokume-hada. |
| ko-shinogi | diagonal line that separates the point of a blade (kissaki) from the shinogiji and extends the ridge (shinogi) to the back edge (mune) in the kissaki area. |
| koshirae | full set of sword mountings. |
| koshi-zori | curvature (sori) of the blade with the center of the curve lying near or inside of the tang (nakago). |
| koto | a pre-Edo period sword as opposed to a shinto. The year of transition is generally taken to be 1596. The term is also used to refer to the respective period of swordsmanship where the lower limit is given by the appearance of curved swords in the mid-Heian period. The koto period succeeded the jo-koto period. |
| kozuka | handle of a small utility knife (kogatana) carried in a pocket of the scabbards of katana and wakizashi on the side opposite of the kogai. |
| kurigata | nodule with a hole affixed on the outside of the saya to attach the sageo. Also called kurikata. |
| Kyoho Meibutsucho | Register of masterpiece swords (meibutsu) compiled by the Hon'ami family in the Kyoho era. |
| M | |
| machi | notches that divide the blade proper from the tang (also see munemachi and hamachi). |
| masame-hada | straight surface grain pattern (jihada). |
| Masamune juttetsu | ten excellent students of Masamune: Go Yoshihiro, Norishige, Kaneuji, Kinju, Rai Kunitsugu, Hasebe Kunishige, Osafune Kanemitsu, Chogi, Samonji, Sekishi Naotsuna. |
| matsukawa-hada | surface grain pattern (jihada) resembling the bark of a pine tree. A type of o-mokume-hada or o-itame-hada with thick chikei. Also known as hijiki-hada. |
| mei | signature, usually engraved on the tang (nakago). |
| meibutsu | swords designated as masterpieces. Sometimes used to refer specifically to swords listed in the Kyoho Meibutsucho. |
| mekugi | a peg of bamboo or horn which passes through the mekugiana to secure the tang in the hilt. |
| mekugi-ana | hole in the tang (nakago) for the retaining peg (mekugi) that secures the tang in the hilt. |
| menuki | decorative hand grips affixed to both sides of the tsuka. |
| midareba | an irregular temper line (hamon). |
| midare komi | irregular temper line (midareba) that continues into the point (kissaki). |
| mihaba | distance from the blade edge (ha) to the back edge (mune) (also see sakihaba and motohaba). |
| mijikagatana | see tanto. |
| mitsukado | point at which the yokote, shinogi and ko-shinogi meet. |
| mokume-hada | surface grain pattern (jihada) of small ovals and circles resembling the burl-grain in wood. The small/large grain pattern of this type is called ko-mokume-hada/o-mokume-hada. |
| motohaba | blade width (mihaba) at the bottom of the blade (machi). |
| motokasane | blade thickness (kasane) at the bottom of the blade (machi). |
| mune | back edge of a blade, i.e., the side opposite the cutting edge (ha). |
| munemachi | notch in the back edge (mune), dividing the blade proper from the tang (nakago). |
| N | |
| nagakatana | any sword with a blade longer than a tanto, particularly exceptionally large ones (e.g. nodachi). Also called choto. |
| nagamaki | large sword with a usually katana-sized blade and a very long handle of about equal length. Successor design to the odachi/nodachi. |
| naginata | pole weapon wielded in large sweeping strokes. Typically with a wide blade, long tang and without yokote. It often has a distinctive carved groove. Also called choto. |
| nakago | unpolished part of a blade that is concealed by the hilt. |
| nakagojiri | end of the tang (nakago), i.e., the butt of a blade. |
| nagasa | blade length measured from the point to the back edge notch (munemachi). Also called hacho. |
| nashiji-hada | surface grain pattern (jihada) resembling the flesh of a sliced pear (jap. nashi); i.e. essentially fine dense ko-mokume-hada with surface nie throughout. |
| nie | small distinct crystalline particles due to martensite, austenite, pearlite or troostite that appear like twinkling stars. |
| nihonto | a curved blade with ridge (shinogi). |
| nioi | indistinguishable crystalline particles due to martensite, austenite, pearlite or troostite that appear together like a wash of stars. |
| nioi kuzure | see yo. |
| nodachi | very large and heavy sword with lengths up to 120–150 cm for the use in field battles. Worn across the back. |
| notare | gently waving temper line (hamon). |
| O | |
| odachi | very large sword invented in the 14th century. with lengths of 1.2–1.5 m. Worn slung from the shoulder. |
| o-hada | a large grain pattern (jihada). |
| o-itame-hada | see itame-hada. |
| o-mokume-hada | see mokume-hada. |
| otachi | alternative reading of odachi |
| S | |
| sageo | cord attached to the kurikata to help secure the sword in the belt. |
| sakihaba | blade width (mihaba) at the yokote. |
| sakikasane | blade thickness (kasane) at the yokote. |
| saki-zori | curvature (sori) of the blade with the center of the curve lying near the point. |
| sansaku boshi | boshi seen in the works of the three swordsmiths: Osafune Nagamitsu, Kagemitsu and Sanenaga: hamon continues as straight line inside the point (kissaki) area running towards the tip of the blade. Just before reaching the tip, the boshi turns in a small circle (ko-maru) a short distance to the back edge (mune) remaining inside the kissaki. |
| saya | scabbard |
| shaku | Japanese imperial form of measurement (1 shaku = 30.3cm) |
| seppa | spacers that fit between the tsuka and the tsuba, and between the tsuba and the habaki to ensure the tsuka fits perfectly. |
| shin gunto | sword of the Imperial Japanese Army with a metal scabbard produced from the 1930s to the end of World War II in 1945. |
| shinken | a real sword as opposed to unsharpened or wooden practice weapons (bokuto). |
| shinogi | ridge running along the side of the sword, generally closer to the back (mune) than the cutting edge (ha). |
| shinogiji | flat surface between ridge (shinogi) and back edge (mune). |
| shinogi-zukuri | a curved blade with yokote and a ridge (shinogi) quite close to the back edge (mune). Also known as hon-zukuri. |
| shinshinto | period in sword history characterized by the revival of old sword styles, especially those from the Kamakura period. It follows the shinto period and is generally dated from the late 18th century to about 1876 when the wearing of swords was prohibited. The term is also used to denote swords produced in this period. |
| shinto | post-Edo period swords produced after the end of the koto period (after 1596) and before the period of revival of old styles at the end of the 18th century which is known as shinshinto. |
| shirasaya | plain wooden sleeping scabbard and handle to protect the blade. |
| shobu-zukuri | a curved blade without yokote and a ridge (shinogi) quite close to the back edge (mune); basically shinogi-zukuri without yokote. |
| shoto | any type of Japanese short sword, the smaller in a pair of daisho. Commonly a wakizashi. |
| sori | curvature of the sword measured as the greatest perpendicular distance between the back edge (mune) and the chord connecting the back edge notch (munemachi) with the point of the blade. |
| sugata | the overall shape of the blade. |
| suguha | straight temper line. |
| sumigane | plain dark spots on the ji that differ considerably from the surface pattern in both color and grain. |
| sun | Japanese imperial form of measurement (1 sun = 3.03cm, 10 sun = 1 shaku) |
| sunagashi | marks in the temper line (hamon) that resemble the pattern left behind by a broom sweeping over sand. |
| suriage | blade that has been shortened from its original length. |
| T | |
| tachi | curved sword with a blade length longer than 60 cm and typically 70–80 cm. Worn slung across the hip with the blade edge (ha) facing down. Primarily produced in the koto period. |
| tamahagane | Japanese steel, used for the manufacture of Japanese swords, indigenous to Japan. |
| tanken | knife or dagger (strictly speaking only the latter) with a length (nagasa) shorter than 30 cm and typically about 26 cm. Usually constructed in flat style (hira-zukuri). |
| tanto | knife or dagger (strictly speaking only the former) with a length (nagasa) shorter than 30 cm and typically about 26 cm. Usually constructed in flat style (hira-zukuri). |
| to | single-edged blades (saber/knife) of any size or shape. |
| tobiyaki | a tempered spot within the ji not connected to the main temper line. |
| token | umbrella term for all single- and double-edged blades of any size and shape. |
| torii-zori | curvature (sori) of the blade in which the center of the curve lies roughly in the center of the blade resembling the horizontal bar of torii. |
| tosu | an ancient (jo-koto) very short knife with blade length of 10 cm or less. |
| tsukagashira | decorative pommel attached to reinforce the end of the tsuka. |
| tsuba | sword guard; generally a round metal plate with a central wedge shaped hole for the blade and if needed up to two smaller holes for the kozuka or kogai. |
| tsuka | hilt. |
| tsurugi | symmetrical double-edged thrusting weapon popular in the Nara and early Heian period. |
| U | |
| ubu | original, usually used when referring to the nakago. |
| uchigatana | blades produced for one-handed use during the Muromachi period worn thrust through the belt with the cutting edge uppermost. |
| uchigatana koshirae | general term for practical sword mountings of the Sengoku era. |
| uchi-zori | curvature (sori) of the blade with a slight curve toward the cutting edge (ha). |
| utsuri | misty reflection on the ji or shinogiji usually made of softer steel. |
| W | |
| wakizashi | blades with a length between 30 and 60 cm. Shorter of the two swords worn by warriors in the Edo period. |
| Y | |
| yaiba | see ha. |
| yakitsume | without turn-back (kaeri); a boshi that continues directly to the back edge (mune). |
| yakiba | hardened area of the blade. |
| yaki-ire | hardening process of the blade when it is heated, then quenched in water. |
| yari | Japanese spear usually mounted on a long shaft. |
| yasurime | file marks on the tang (nakago) applied as a kind of additional signature and before engraving the real signature (mei). |
| yo | activity (hataraki) in the temper line (hamon) that resembles fallen leaves or tiny footprints. After the late Sengoku period (late 16th century) referred to as nioi kuzure |
| yokote | line perpendicular to the ridge (shinogi) which marks off the kissaki from the rest of the blade. |
| yoroi toshi | dagger used for cutting through armour. Their length (nagasa) was originally fixed at 9.5 sun (29 cm), a value that was later reduced to 7.5 sun (23 cm). Originally worn thrust vertically through the back of the belt; later carried at the ride side with the hilt to the front and the edge facing up. |
| yubashiri | spot or spots where nie is concentrated on the ji. |