Katana Glossary: All terms

A

AIKUCHI: A tanto (small sword) without a tsuba (guard).
AOI: Hollyhock, often used as a family crest (Mon).
ARA-NIE: Coarse or large nie, a type of crystallization visible on the blade.
ASHI: Striations of nioi (temper line) pointing downwards toward the blade edge.
ATOBORI: Engraving added to the blade at a later date.
ATO MEI: Signature added at a later date.
AYASUGI: Wavy grain pattern on the steel (hada).

B

BAKUFU: The military government of the Shogun.
BO-HI: Broad groove on the blade.
BOKKEN: Wooden sword used for practicing sword techniques (kata).
BONJI: Engravings of Sanskrit characters on the blade.
BO-UTSURI: Faint reflection in the ji (surface between the hamon and the back of the blade).
BOSHI: Temper line in the kissaki (blade tip).
BU: Japanese unit of measurement, approximately 0.1 inch.
BUKE: Term for military men or samurai.
BUSHIDO: Code of honor and conduct of the samurai.

C

CHIKEI: Dark lines visible in the ji (surface of the blade).
CHISA KATANA: Short katana.
CHOJI: Clove-shaped tempering pattern.
CHOJI OIL: Oil used for sword maintenance.
CHOJI-MIDARE: Irregular choji tempering pattern.
CHOKUTO: Straight swords from prehistoric times.
CHU: Medium.
CHU-KISSAKI: Medium-sized tip.
CHU-SUGUHA: Straight, medium-width tempering line.

D

DAI: Large or broad.
DAI-MEI: Apprentice blacksmith signing in the name of their master.
DAIMYO: Feudal lord.
DAISHO: Pair of matching swords, one long and one short.
DAITO: Long sword (over 24 inches).
FUCHI: Collar on the sword handle.
FUCHI-KASHIRA: Set of the handle collar (fuchi) and the pommel (kashira).

F

FUKURA: Curve of the edge in the kissaki.
FUKURE: Defect in the form of a blister in the steel.
FUKURIN: Protective border on a tsuba.
FUNAGATA: Nakago shaped like a boat’s bottom.
FUNBARI / FUMBARI: Widening of the blade near the base.
FURISODE: Nakago shape resembling the sleeve of a kimono.

G

GAKU-MEI: Original signature inlaid into a shortened tang (o-suriage).
GENDAITO: Swords forged in the traditional manner by modern blacksmiths.
GIMEI: False signature.
GIN: Silver.
GOKADEN: The five forging schools of the Koto period.
GOMABASHI: Parallel grooves on the blade.
GUNOME: Wavy tempering pattern.
GUNOME-MIDARE: Irregular wavy tempering pattern.
GUNTO: Military sword mountings.
GYAKU: Angular, reversed blade back.

H

HA: Edge of the blade.
HABAKI: Blade collar.
HABUCHI: Line of the hamon (temper line).
HADA: Grain pattern of the steel.
HAGANE: Steel.
HAGIRE: Cracks in the edge, considered a fatal flaw.
HAKIKAKE: Broom-swept pattern in the boshi.
HAKO BA: Box-shaped tempering pattern.
HAKO-MIDARE: Irregular, box-shaped tempering pattern.
HAKO-MUNE: Square blade back.
HAMACHI: Notch at the beginning of the edge.
HAMIDASHI: Tanto with a small guard.
HAMON: Tempering pattern along the edge of the blade.
HANDACHI: Tachi mount used on a katana or wakizashi.
HATARAKI: Visible activities in the hamon.
HAZUYA: Stones used to reveal the hamon and hada.
HI: Grooves in the blade.
HIRA-MUNE: Flat blade back.
HIRA-TSUKURI / HIRA-ZUKURI: Blade without shinogi (longitudinal ridge).
HIRO-SUGUHA: Wide, straight tempering line.
HITATSURA: Tempering pattern covering the entire blade.
HITSU / HITSU-ANA: Holes in the tsuba for the kozuka or kogai.
HO: Blade of a kozuka.
HONAMI: Family of sword appraisers.
HORIMONO: Engravings on sword blades.
HOTSURE: Stray lines of the hamon in the ji.

I

ICHI: One or first.
ICHIMAI: Sword construction from a single piece.
ICHIMAI BOSHI: Entirely tempered tip area.
IHORI-MUNE: Pointed dorsal ridge.
IKUBI: Short, wide kissaki shaped like a boar’s neck.
INAZUMA: Lightning-shaped pattern.
ITAME: Hada with a wood grain pattern.
ITO: Handle wrapping in silk or cotton.
ITOMAKI NO TACHI: Tachi with the upper part of the saya wrapped in ito.
ITO SUGU: Thin, straight hamon.

J

JI: Surface of the blade between the shinogi and the hamon.
JI-GANE: Surface of the steel.
JI-HADA: Surface pattern of the hada.
JINDACHI: Type of tachi.
JI-NIE: Patches of nie in the ji.
JIZO BOSHI: Boshi shaped like a priest’s head.
JUMONJI YARI: Yari (spear) with crossed pieces.
JUYO TOKEN: Important NBTHK certification for a sword.
JUZU: Hamon shaped like rosary beads.

K

KABUTO: Helmet.
KABUTO-GANE: Pommel cap in tachi style.
KABUTO-WARI: Helmet breaker weapon.
KAEN: Flame-shaped boshi.
KAERI: Return of the boshi towards the back of the blade.
KAI GUNTO: Naval sword.
KAJI: Swordsmith.
KAKIHAN: Craftsman’s monogram.
KAKU-MUNE: Square back ridge.
KAMIKAZE: Divine wind.
KANJI: Japanese characters.
KANMURI-OTOSHI: Beveled back ridge.
KANTEI: Sword appraisal.
KAO: Engraved monogram on the tang.
KASANE: Thickness of the blade.
KASHIRA: Pommel or butt of the sword.
KATAKIRI: Sword with one flat side.
KATANA: Sword worn in the obi, edge facing up.
KATANA KAKE: Sword stand.
KATANA-MEI: Side of the signature visible when the sword is worn edge up.
KAWAGANE: Surface steel.
KAZU-UCHI MONO: Mass-produced swords.
KEBORI: Engraving of lines on sword fittings.
KEN: Straight, double-edged sword.
KENGYO: Triangular or pointed nakago-jiri.
KESHO YASURIME: Decorative file marks on the nakago.
KIJIMATA: Nakago shaped like a pheasant’s thigh.
KIJIMOMO: Nakago shaped like a pheasant’s thigh.
KIKU: Chrysanthemum.
KIKUBA: Chrysanthemum-shaped hamon.
KIN: Gold.
KINKO: Sword mountings made of soft metal.
KIN-MEI: Signature inlaid in gold.
KINZOGAN MEI: Signature inlaid in gold on the nakago.
KINZOGAN-MEI: Whitish line along the hamon.
KIRI: Paulownia.
KIRI HA: Flat sword with beveled sides down to the edge.
KIRI KOMI: Notch on the blade from another sword.
KISSAKI: Tip of the blade.
KITAE: Forging.
KIZU: Flaw.
KO: Small or ancient.
KOBUSE: Blade with hard steel around a soft core.
KO-CHOJI: Small, clove-shaped hamon.
KODACHI: Small tachi.
KODOGU: Sword parts, excluding the tsuba.
KOGAI: Hairdressing accessory.
KOIGUCHI: Mouth of the scabbard.
KOJIRI: End of the scabbard.
KOKUHO: National treasure.
KO-MARU: Small, rounded boshi.
KO-MIDARE: Small, irregular hamon.
KO-MOKUME: Small, wood grain hada.
KO-NIE: Small nie.
KO-NIE DEKI: Hamon composed of small nie.
KOSHIATE: Leather suspensions for a sword.
KOSHIRAE: Sword mountings.
KOSHI-ZORI: Blade curvature near the handle.
KOTO: Ancient sword period.
KOZUKA: Handle of an accessory knife.
KUBIKIRI: Small tanto for cutting heads.
KUNI: Province.
KURIJIRI: Rounded nakago.
KURIKARA: Dragon engraving.
KURIKATA: Ring on the scabbard for attaching the sageo.
KUZURE: Crumbling.
KWAIKEN: Short knife carried by women.

M

MACHI: Notches at the beginning of the edge and the back.
MACHI-OKURI: Shortened blade.
MARU: Round.
MARU-DOME: Round end of the groove.
MARU-MUNE: Round blade back.
MASAME: Straight grain.
MEI: Swordsmith’s signature.
MEIBUTSU: Famous sword.
MEKUGI: Sword peg.
MEKUGI-ANA: Hole for the mekugi.
MEMPO: Facial protection mask.
MENUKI: Handle ornaments.
MIDARE: Irregular hamon.
MIDARE-KOMI: Irregular pattern in the boshi.
MIHABA: Width of the blade near the habaki.
MIMIGATA: Ear-shaped hamon.
MITOKOROMONO: Set of matching kozuka, kogai, and menuki.
MITSU KADO: Meeting point between the yokote, shinogi, and ko-shinogi.
MITSU-MUNE: Three-sided back ridge.
MIZUKAGE: Fuzzy line in the ji due to retempering.
MOKKO: Four-lobed shape.
MOKUME: Wood grain in the hada.
MON: Family crest.
MONOUCHI: Main cutting part of the blade.
MOROHA: Double-edged sword.
MOTO-HABA: Width of the blade near the habaki.
MOTO-KASANE: Thickness of the blade.
MU: Void or nothing.
MUJI: No visible grain.
MUMEI: Unsigned blade.
MUNE: Back of the blade.
MUNEMACHI: Notch at the beginning of the back.
MUNEYAKI: Tempering along the back of the blade.
MU-SORI: No curvature.

N

N.B.T.H.K.: Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kai, sword preservation group.
NAGAMAKI: Halberd mounted like a sword.
NAGASA: Length of the blade.
NAGINATA: Japanese halberd.
NAKAGO: Tang of the blade.
NAMBAN TETSU: Foreign steel.
NANAKO: Relief pattern resembling fish eggs.
NAOSHI: Corrected or repaired.
NASHIJI: Pear skin pattern.
NENGO: Japanese era.
NIE: Bright crystals in the hamon or ji.
NIE-DEKI: Hamon made of nie.
NIKU: Thickness of the blade.
NIOI: Cloud-shaped hamon.
NIOI-DEKI: Hamon composed of nioi.
NIOI-GIRE: Break in the hamon.
NODACHI: Large tachi.
NOTARE: Wave pattern in the hamon.
NOTARE-MIDARE: Irregular wave pattern in the hamon.
N.T.H.K.: Nihon Token Hozon Kai, sword appraisal group.
NUNOME: Overlaid metalwork.

O

O: Large.
OBI: Belt.
O-CHOJI: Large, clove-shaped hamon.
O-DACHI: Very long sword.
O-KISSAKI: Large blade tip.
O-MIDARE: Large, irregular hamon.
OMOTE: Visible side of the blade.
O-NIE: Large nie.
O-NOTARE: Large wave pattern in the hamon.
ORIGAMI: Appraisal certificate.
ORIKAESHI MEI: Folded signature.
OROSHIGANE: Steel processed for sword making.
O-SEPPA: Large seppa (washer).
OSHIGATA: Rubbing of the signature on the nakago.
O-SURIAGE: Shortened tang.

S

SAGEO: Cord for attaching the saya to the obi.
SAGURI: Hook on the saya.
SAIHA/SAIJIN: Retempered sword.
SAKA: Inclined.
SAKI: Tip.
SAKI-HABA: Width of the blade at the yokote.
SAKI ZORI: Curvature in the upper third of the blade.
SAKU: Made.
SAME’: Ray skin used to cover the handle.
SAMURAI: Japanese warrior.
SANBONSUGI: Hamon with repeated three peaks.
SAN-MAI: Three-part blade construction.
SAYA: Sword scabbard.
SAYAGAKI: Attribution on a plain wooden scabbard.
SAYAGUCHI: Mouth of the scabbard.
SAYASHI: Scabbard maker.
SEKI-GANE: Metal plugs in the tsuka.
SEPPA: Washers or spacers.
SHAKU: Japanese unit of measurement (about one foot).
SHAKUDO: Alloy of copper and gold.
SHIBUICHI: Alloy of copper and silver.
SHIKOMI-ZUE: Sword cane.
SHINAE: Undulations due to blade bending.
SHINAI: Bamboo sword used in kendo.
SHINGANE: Soft core steel.
SHINOGI: Ridge line of the blade.
SHINOGI-JI: Surface between the back of the blade and the shinogi.
SHINOGI-ZUKURI: Blade style with shinogi.
SHIN-SHINTO: New sword period (1781-1868).
SHINTO: New sword period (1596-1781).
SHIRASAYA: Storage scabbard in plain wood.
SHITODOME: Small collars in the kurikata and/or the kashira.
SHOBU ZUKURI: Blade without yokote.
SHOGUN: Supreme military leader.
SHOTO: Short sword (12-24 inches).
SHOWATO: Sword from the Showa era.
SHUMEI: Signature in red lacquer.
SHURIKEN: Throwing knife.
SORI: Curvature of the blade.
SUDARE-BA: Bamboo blind effect in the hamon.
SUE: Late.
SUGATA: Shape of the blade.
SUGUHA: Straight hamon.
SUKASHI: Cut-out work.
SUN: Japanese unit of measurement (about one inch).
SUNAGASHI: Sand-brushed pattern in the hamon.
SURIAGE: Shortened tang.

T

TACHI: Long sword worn edge down.
TACHI-MEI: Signature visible when the sword is worn edge down.
TAKABORI: High-relief engraving.
TAKANOHA: Hawk feather-shaped engraving style.
TAMAHAGANE: Raw steel for swords.
TAMESHIGIRI: Test cutting.
TAMESHI-MEI: Test cutting inscription.
TANAGO: Nakago shaped like a fish belly.
TANAGO-BARA: Nakago shaped like a fish belly.
TANTO: Dagger or knife (blade < 30 cm).
TATARA: Furnace for sword steel.
TO: Sword.
TOBIYAKI: Tempering spots in the ji.
TOGARI: Pointed.
TOGI: Sword polishing or polisher.
TORAN: Large wave-shaped hamon.
TORII-ZORI: Curvature in the middle of the blade.
TSUBA: Sword guard.
TSUCHI: Small hammer or awl for removing mekugi.
TSUKA: Sword handle.
TSUKA-GUCHI: Mouth of the handle.
TSUKA-ITO: Handle wrapping.
TSUKAMAKI: Art of wrapping the handle.
TSUKURI / ZUKURI: Blade style.
TSUKURU: Made by.
TSUNAGI: Wooden blade for mounting presentation.
TSURUGI: Straight, double-edged sword.

U

UBU: Original, complete tang.
UCHIGATANA: Combat katana.
UCHIKO: Powder used to clean blades.
UCHIZORI: Inwardly curved.
UMABARI: Horse needle.
UMA-HA: Horse tooth-shaped hamon.
UMEGANE: Plug for repairing flaws.
URA: Side of the nakago facing the body.
URA-MEI: Signature on the ura side.
UTSURI: Reflection of the hamon in the ji.

W

WAKIZASHI: Short sword (blade between 12 and 24 inches).
WARE: Opening in the steel.
WARI-BASHI / WARI-KOGAI: Chopsticks.

Y

YAKI DASHI: Straight hamon near the hamachi.
YA-HAZU: Arrow-notch shaped hamon.
YAKIBA: Hardened edge.
YAKIDASHI: Hamon starting near the ha-machi.
YAKIHABA: Width of the yakiba.
YAKI-IRE: Rapid quenching.
YAKIZUME: Boshi without turnback.
YANONE: Arrowhead.
YARI: Spear.
YASURIME: File marks on the nakago.
YOKOTE: Line between the ji and the kissaki.
YOROIDOSHI: Tanto for piercing armor.

Z

ZOGAN: Inlay.
ZUKURI: Blade style.