Roman Alphabet Kanji Category Definition

A

Ai-guchi Nomenclature

Aki Mei

Aku Manufacture

Ama Mei Litt. "heaven". A character used in proper nouns. See Mei

Amakusa Culture

Aoko Manufacture

Ashi Nomenclature

Ashi-kanamono Nomenclature

Ate-zuchi Manufacture

Awa Mei Litt. "millet". A character used in proper nouns. See Mei

Azuchi-momoyama Culture

B

Binsui Manufacture

Bizen-den Culture

Bshi Nomenclature The hamon specifically on the kissaki. See Kissaki

Bu Nomenclature

C

Chika Mei

Chikei Nomenclature

Chji Nomenclature

Ch- Nomenclature

Ch-nagura Manufacture

Chtetsu Manufacture

Daimy Culture

Daish Nomenclature

D ManufactureE

Litt. "fitting mouths"; A type of koshirae which is characterized by the absence of a guard. See Koshirae, Tsuba

Litt. respectively "bright" and "autum". A character used in proper nouns. See MeiCharred straw; Usually rice straw, combusted in a charcoal making fashion that results in "straw charcoal". Used during tanren. See Tanren, Wara

The name of the place of origin of the natural binsui polishing stones, located in Nagasaki prefecture. Also used to refer to the binsui stones. See BinsuiLitt. "blue powder"; A type of polishing compound mostly used in the final stages of the polishing of grooves.Litt. "leg"; A feature seen in the hamon; Refers to stripes of nioi running down from the hamon, perpendicular or at an angle to the edge, sometimes all the way to it, most of the time not. See Nioi, HamonLitt. "foot metal fitting"; A type of attachement fitting; Intended to secure fittings to the scabbard body, usually the Obi-tori on tachi scabbards. See Tachi, Obi-toriA type of set hammer (i.e. applied to the work and hit directly on its butt-end).

AD1573-1600 Period in japanese history. Also refered to more simply as Momoyama.

A type of polishing stone used in the shaping of a sword. Finer than kongo stone. Grit equiv. approx. #400-600. See Kongo

One of the five main traditions of sword making as popularized by the Kunzan-Kanzan school (NBTHK). Present-day Okayama. See Yamashiro, Yamato, Mino, Soshu-den(Sagami), NBTHK

A traditional unit of length measurement. Equival. to 3mm. 10 bu make 1 sun and 100 bu make 1 shaku. It is divided in 10 rin. See Shaku, Sun, Rin

Litt. respectively "near" and "parent". A character used in proper nouns. See MeiDark and short streaks of nie in the ji near the hamon. See Nie, Ji, HamonLitt. "clove"; A type of hamon pattern. Refers to long sine curves in which each circle's opening towards the edge is narrower than its diameter (it is called gunome in the case it is not narrower). See Gunome, Hamon

Litt. "middle"; Average; M-size; Often used as a prefix to modify or precize a noun, such as in chu-kissaki (average size kissaki).

A type of polishing stone used in the fine shaping of a sword; Comes after koma-nagura. See Nagura, Koma-nagura

Litt. "cast iron"; Cast steel. See Tetsu, Sentetsu, Zuku

Warlord; Feudal lord; Refers to the leaders of the individual provinces or countries that constituted Japan until its various unifications made the archipelago a single country.

Litt. "big-small"; Set of a long sword and its companion short sword; Implies a katana and a wakizashi; Popularized from the Edo period (1600-1867). See Katana, Wakizashi, Edo

Copper.

Edo Culture

F

Fuchi Nomenclature

Fud My Culture

Fuigo Manufacture

Fuji Mei Litt. "wisteria". A character used in proper nouns. See Mei

Fukai Nomenclature

Fukuoka Culture

Fumaegi Manufacture

Funbari Nomenclature

Furi ( -furi) Nomenclature

Fusa Mei Litt. "chamber". A character used in proper nouns. See MeiFusuma Nomenclature

Futs-zori Nomenclature

Fuyu Mei Litt. "winter". A character used in poper nouns. See MeiG

Gaku-mei Nomenclature

Gatsu / Getsu Culture

Gendait Culture

Gimei Nomenclature

Gin ManufactureGo Culture

G Mei

Goj Culture

Gokaden Culture

Gunome Nomenclature

AD1600-1867 Period in Japanese history. Also called the Tokugawa period because of the uninterupted reign of the Tokugawa clan throughout this period. Saw the emergence of the arts and crafts, the absence of wars, the isolation of Japan from other countries and its unification.

Metal fitting inserted at the opened end of the tsuka on katana; It usually matches the kashira in style. It is called Kabuto-gane on Tachi. See Tsuka, Kashira, Katana, Tachi, Kabuto-gane

Named cala in Vajrayana Buddhism (India), Fud My ("the enlightened king of immovability") is the most popularized of the Five Wisdom Kings of the Womb Realm. He is the destroyer of delusion and the protector of Buddhism. His immovability refers to his ability to remain unmoved by carnal temptations. Despite his fearsome appearance, his role is to aid all beings by showing them the teachings of the Buddha, leading them into self-control. Fud My is often used as a theme in horimono. See Horimono

/ Bellows.

Deep; Used mainly to describe the curvature or sometimes other irrational impressionsA place in ancient-days Bizen province; In sword making refers to a school called Fukuoka Ichimonji.

Litt. "step on wood"; A wood implement used to hold a polishing stone with one's body weight while rubbing the work on it.

Litt. "firm stand"; Refers to the trumpet-like tapering at the base of most kot tachi and sometimes on other swords. See Kot, TachiCounter for swords; One sword is pronounced "hito-furi", two swords are "futa-furi" and then the common way of counting (3->san; 4->yon;5->go; etc.).

The flap-valves installed on japanese bellows. See Fuigo

Litt. "regular curvature"; Describes a sword curvature which is even all along the length of the sword, or rather centered. See Sori, Torii-zori, Wa-zori, Saki-zori, Koshi-zori

A process of mei-reinsertion. On a sword that has had o-suriage performed, the part with the mei was cut off and re-inserted in the newly formed tang. See Mei, O-suriage

Litt. "moon"; Month. Thus the first moon, or month, "ichi-gatsu", would be January, and so forth. Used in the mei. See Mei, Ichi

AD1867-Present; Litt. "modern swords"; Period in japanese sword history. Also refers to the actual swords made during this period.

Litt. "imitation inscription"; A fake signature on the tang of a sword. Relatively common, depending on the period of manufacture. See Mei

Silver.

Five. Used in the mei. See Mei

Litt. "village"; A character used in proper nouns. Used almost exclusively for the swordsmith G Yoshihiro . See Mei

Litt. "fifth avenue"; A school of the late Heian and early Kamakura period, usually linked to that of Sanjo; Refers to a famous "fifth avenue" in the old capital of Kyoto. See SanjLitt. "five traditions"; Refers to five famous traditions in japanese sword manufacture, i.e. (see each entry) Yamato, Yamashiro, Bizen, Sshu and Mino. This approach was popularized in the 20th century.Litt. "eye between"; A type of hamon pattern. Refers to short sine curves in wich the opening of each circle towards the edge is not narrower than its diameter (it is called chji in the case it is narrower). See Hamon, Chji

Gunt Culture

H

Ha Nomenclature

Ha Culture

Habaki Nomenclature

Habuchi NomenclatureHachi Culture

Hagane Manufacture

Haguchi Manufacture

Hako-bashi Manufacture

Ha-machi Nomenclature

Hamon Nomenclature

Hara Mei Litt. "plain". A character used in proper nouns. See MeiHaru Mei Litt. "spring". A character used in proper nouns. See Mei

Ha-saki Nomenclature

Hashi Manufacture

Hazuya Manufacture

Heian Culture

Hera Manufacture

Hi Nomenclature

Hi Culture

Hide Mei

Hikaki ManufactureHira Mei Litt. "flat". A character used in proper nouns. See MeiHira-bashi Manufacture

Hira-niku Nomenclature

Hira-sen Manufacture

Hira-zukuri Nomenclature

Hiro Mei

Hisa Mei

Hi-sen Manufacture

Hi-zukuri Manufacture

Litt. "army sword"; 20th century army-issued sword. Usually not traditionally made. Some traditionally made swords were mounted in gunt mounts so as to be carried in service.

Actual cutting edge; Hardened section of a blade. See Ha-saki

School; Clan; Group

Colar tapered lengthwise and inserted up the tang against the machi. Its function is to hold the sword in its scabbard. It is usually made of copper and decorated with gold. Some are made of silver or iron. See MachiRefers to the limit where the hamon starts; Delimitation between the ji and the hamon. See Ji, Hamon

Eight. Used in the mei. See Mei

Steel. Hagane is the common usage. Originally thought to have come from ha-gane , litt. "edge-metal". Also called ktetsu. See Tetsu, Sentetsu, TamahaganeLitt. "feather mouth"; The tuyre outlet into the forge. Usually made of clay or steel.

Boxed tongs.

Notch at the junction between the tang and the ha; Where the ha starts. See Machi, Ha, Mune-machiLitt. "edge decoration"; Refers to the cloud-like mark appearing near the edge and that is the result of differential quench-hardening.

Litt. "cutting edge tip"; Actual edge of the cutting edge. See Ha

Tongs.

A type of polishing stone; Made from uchigumori stone. Used to polish the ha. See Uchigumori, HaAD794-1185 Period in japanese history. Saw the emergence of the japanese sword as we know it today.Litt. "spatula"; In sword making refers to the spatulas used when applying the yakiba-tsuchi in preparation for quenching. See Tsuchi-oki, Yakiba-tsuchi

Groove; Usually running along the shinogi-ji. See Shinogi-ji

Litt. "sun"; Day. Thus the 15th sun, or day, of the month, is pronounced "j-go nichi". Also pronounced nichi. Used in the mei. See Mei, J, GoRespect. litt. "excellence" and "England". Characters used in proper nouns. See Mei

A forge rake. Used to push and pull the coals in the forge

Flat tongs.

Litt. "plane meat"; Refers to the roundness of the ji; "Not much hira-niku" when the blade is profiled in the shape of a V; "Much hira-niku" when it is rather profiled in the shape of a U. See Ji

Litt. "plane drawknife"; A drawknife. Used to remove material on the surfaces of blades. See SenA type of sword shape which doesn't display any ridgeline. Most are tant or wakizashi. See Tant, WakizashiRespect. litt. "broad"(modern form in parenthesis) and "broad". Characters used in proper nouns. See MeiLitt. "a long time". Also read ku. A character used in proper nouns. See Mei

A groove drawknife. See Hi, Sen

The actual shaping of the sunobe into the shape of a sword; Involves drawing out the ji, the shinogi-ji, the mune and the kissaki by hand forging. See Sunobe, Ji, Shinogi-ji, Mune, Kissaki

Hch-tetsu Manufacture

Hodo Manufacture

Horimono Nomenclature

Hosoi Nomenclature

I

Ichi Culture

Ichimonji Culture

Ie Mei Litt. "house". A character used in proper nouns. See Mei

Ikubi-kissaki Nomenclature

Iori-mune Nomenclature Two-faced mune. See Mune

Itame Nomenclature

J

Ji Nomenclature

Jigane Nomenclature

Jihada Nomenclature

Jimon Nomenclature See JiJi-nie Nomenclature Agglutinations of nie in the ji. See Nie, Ji

Jinj Nomenclature

Jitsu Mei Litt. "real". A character used in proper nouns. See Mei

Jizuya Manufacture

J Culture

J Culture

Jka-chji Nomenclature A type of hamon pattern; Overlapping chji. See Chji

J-nin Culture

Jn Manufacture

Juntetsu ManufactureK

Kabuto-gane Nomenclature

Kado Mei Litt. "gate". A character used in proper nouns. See Mei

Kaeri-tsuno Nomenclature

Kage Mei

Kaji-oshi Manufacture

Kamakura Culture

Litt. "kitchen knife iron"; The traditional japanese equivalent of wrought iron; A by-product of the kera-oshi process. Hch-tetsu is used as a base material in knife and tool making for parts other than the edge. It has a relatively low carbon content and is characterized by a rough, uneven and heterogenous structure. Also called wa-tetsu. See Kera-oshi, Kera, Wa-tetsu

The actual forge where the fire is held.

Litt. "carved thing"; Engraving. Japanese swords are often decorated with engravings in bas-relief on buddhist, sanskrit or japanese themes.Slim; Narrow; Used to describe either a sword or its characteristics, such as its hamon. See Hamon

One. Used in the mei. See Mei

Litt. "character 1"; A famous school of the Kamakura period in Bizen province, present-day Okayama prefecture. See Bizen-den

Litt. "boar-neck point"; Describes a sword point which usually is as or less long than it is wide. See Kissaki

A pattern resembling wood grain. Used to describe jihada. See Jihada

Refers to the area between the hamon and the shinogi; Area where the jihada is appreciated. See Hamon, Shinogi, Jihada

/ Litt. "base metal"; Steel; Refers to the very stuff that the sword or other object is made of.Litt. "skin(texture) of base material"; Refers to the very texture of the steel made visible through proper polishing.

Normal; Refers to a characteristic that is common in a given school or tradition, such as in "width is jinjo".

A type of polishing stone; Made from Narutaki stone. Used to polish the ji. See Narutaki, Ji

Ten. Used in the mei. See Mei

Litt. "dwell"; Resides; Lives. Used in the mei in reference to the living place of the person mentioned (usually the maker). See Mei, J-nin

Litt. "dwell person"; Resident; Dweller. Used in the mei in reference to the living place of the person mentioned (usually the maker). See Mei, J

/ Fire shovel. Used to shovel the hot coals in and out of the forge.Litt. "pure iron"; Pure iron. See Tetsu

Litt. "helmet metal"; Pommel. Used specifically in regards to tachi pommels. Those on most other types of swords are called Kashira. See Tachi, Kashira

Litt. "return horn"; A tiny piece of fitting made from horn usually in the shape of a water drop and placed on the side of the scabbard at about its center lengthwise. Its purpose is to prevent the scabbard from slipping out of the obi belt when the sword is unsheathed. Those made of metal are rather called origane. See Obi, OriganeRespect. litt. "scenery" and "concurrently". Characters used in proper nouns. See MeiThe final stages of the swordsmith's work in shaping a sword. Further work on the blade will then be performed by the polisher after the swordsmith has completed kaji-oshi.AD1185-1333 Period in japanese history. Saw the golden age of japanese sword manufacture.

Kami Culture

Kanashiki Manufacture

Kanatoko Manufacture

Kane Mei

Kane Mei Litt. "wrap". A character used in proper nouns. See Mei

Kanmuri-otoshi-zukuri Nomenclature

Kasane Nomenclature

Kashira Nomenclature

Kata-kiri-ha Nomenclature

Katana Nomenclature

Kata-ochi- Nomenclature

Katsu Mei Litt. "win". A character used in proper nouns. See Mei

Kazu Mei

Kera Manufacture

Kera-oshi Manufacture

Kesho-yasuri Nomenclature

Kichi-jitsu Culture

Kin Manufacture

Kin Mei

Kinsuji Nomenclature Litt. "gold strips"; Bright streaks in the hamon. See Hamon

Kinzgan mei Nomenclature

Kissaki Nomenclature

Kitaeru ManufactureKiyo Mei Litt. "pure". A character used in proper nouns. See Mei

Ko- Nomenclature

Kbuse Manufacture

Kgai Nomenclature

Ko-gatana Nomenclature

Kojiri Nomenclature Butt-end fitting on scabbards. Also called saya-jiri. See Saya-jiri

Koma-nagura Manufacture

Kona-zumi Manufacture

Title, comparable to "sir" or "lord", used in combination with a name.

Anvil. Also called kanatoko (more common). See Kanatoko

Most common appellation for an anvil. Also called kanashiki. See KanashikiLitt. "gold". Also read kin. A character used in proper nouns. See Mei

A type of sword shape, which has a shinogi running only one third to a half of the length in a curve from the tip to the mune. See Shinogi-zukuri, ShinogiThickness of a sword at either the shinogi or the mune. See Shinogi, MuneLitt. "head"; Pommel. Used specically for katana, wakizashi and tant, and usually matches the fuchi in style. It is called Kabuto-gane on tachi. See Fuchi, Kabuto-gane, TachiLitt. "one-sided cutting edge"; A type of sword shape in which there is a ridgeline only on one side and it is nearer to the edge than to the back.Litt. "sword", "blade", knife", etc; A sword. Defined as any blade with a nagasa over two shaku (>60.6cm), and usually refering to those worn edge up and inserted in the obi belt. See Shaku, Nagasa

- Slenting on one side; Usually a prefix modifying the description of a hamon. See Hamon

Respect. litt. "harmony" and "one". Characters used in proper nouns. See MeiSponge iron; The actual product of the kera-oshi process; A lump of a mixture of wrought iron, various grades of steel and cast steel. See Kera-oshi, Zuku, sentetsu, Zuku-oshiA type of archaic low-furnace iron smelting process which produces a lump of sponge iron, a mixture of wrought iron, various grades of steel, and cast steel. See Kera, Zuku, Sentetsu, Zuku-oshi

Litt. "cosmetic filing"; Decorative filemarks; Usually applied on sword tangs and on one side of ko-gatana. See Ko-gatana

Litt. "lucky day"; An auspicious day. Used in the inscription of dates in the mei. See Mei

Gold.

Litt. "gold". Also read kane. A character used in proper nouns. See Mei

A mei inlayed in gold; Usually performed by an appraiser long after the making of the sword, but not always. See Mei

/ Point. See BoshiTo forge(v.).

Small; Often used as a prefix to modify or precize a noun, such as in ko-kissaki (small kissaki).A type of sword construction involving the shaping in U of harder steel and the inserting of softer steel in it.Implement inserted on the side of the scabbard and thought to be used in arranging the samurai hair knot and also for cleaning one's ears.

Litt. "small knife"; A pocket knife; A knife. Refers to a type of utilitarian pocket knife inserted on the side of japanese sword scabbards. They were usually of the kata-kiri-ha shape, thus having one side finely polished and the other left with kesho-yasuri. Their hilt, called kozuka, were usually highly decorated. See Kata-kiri-ha, Kessho-yasuri, Kozuka

A type of polishing stone used in the fine shaping of a sword, and more precisely to remove the marks of the chu-nagura stone. See Nagura, Chu-Nagura

Powdered charcoal.

Kong Manufacture

Kore Culture

Kore Mei

Koshi-gatana Nomenclature

Koshirae Nomenclature

Koshi-zori Nomenclature

Ktetsu Manufacture

Kot Culture

Kozuka Nomenclature

Ku Mei

Kuni Mei

Kurikata Nomenclature

Kyu / Ku CultureM

Machi Nomenclature

Maro Mei A character used in classical male names. See Mei

Masa Mei

Masame Nomenclature

Masu Mei

Matsuba-kado Nomenclature

Matsuba-saki Nomenclature

Mei Nomenclature

Mei-kiri Manufacture

Mekugi Nomenclature

Mekugi-ana Nomenclature Peg hole in the tang.Mekugi-nuki Nomenclature Specialized hammer used to push the mekugi out.

Menuki Nomenclature

Mi Nomenclature Refers to the section of the sword above the machi. See UeMichi Mei

Midare / Midare-ba Nomenclature

Midare-utsuri Nomenclature

Mihaba Nomenclature Litt. "body width"; In sword appreciation, the width of the sword.

Minamoto Mei

A type of polishing stone used in the rough shaping of a sword. Grit equiv. approx. #120-220. The roughest stone in sword polishing.

This; As in "made this". Used in the mei. See Mei

Litt. "right"(opp. of wrong). A character used in proper nouns. See Mei

Usually a shorter sword worn edge up and simply inserted in the obi belt. Uchigatana and wakizashi are koshi-gatana, technically speaking. However, koshi-gatana were often in ai-guchi mounting. These differences seem to find their origins in popular use rather than actual proper definition. See Uchigatana, Wakizashi, Ai-guchi

Mountings of a sword, incl. the scabbard, the metal fittings, the hilt, etc.Litt. "hip curvature"; Describes a sword curvature which is strongest at the base of the sword. See SoriLitt. "steel iron"; Steel. More commonly refered to as hagane. See Hagane, Tetsu, Sentetsu, Tamahagane

AD987-1596; Litt. "old swords"; Period in japanese sword history. Also refers to the actual swords made during this period.

Litt. "small hilt"; Refers to the hilt of a ko-gatana. Usually highly decorated. See Ko-gatanaLitt. "a long time". Also read hisa. A character used in proper nouns. See MeiLitt. "country" or "province" (modern form in parenthesis). A character used in proper nouns. See Mei

Litt. "marron shape"; Piece of fitting through which is inserted the sageo; Intended as a fixture to attach the sageo. See Sageo

Nine. Used in the mei. See Mei

Notch; Both notches at the junction between the tang and the sword itself. See Ha-machi, Mune-machi

Respect. litt. "correct", "prosperous", "government" and "way". Characters used in proper nouns. See MeiA pattern characterized by relatively straight, parallel lines. Used to describe Jihada. See Jihada

Litt. "pine-needle edge"; Used to describe the shape of the mune at the kissaki. See Matsuba-sakiLitt. "pine-needle tip"; Used to describe the shape of the mune at the kissaki. See Matsuba-kado

The signature of a sword; Usually engraved with a punch on the tang. May include the name of the maker, the date, the place, the name of the commissioner, a thought, a poem, a saying, results of cutting tests performed with the sword, etc.

The actual action of engraving a signature in the tang of a sword with the help of a hammer and a specialized chisel. See Tagane

Peg used to hold the tsuka on the tang, and thus all fittings together.

Piece of fitting. Intricately decorated button-size bas-reliefs placed under the hilt wrap in order to provide texture and thus better grip. See Koshirae

Litt. chaotic; Used as a modifyer in describing an irregular hamon. In fact most hamon are midare since only a hanful actually follow a book definition-like pattern. See HamonA type of utsuri; A more or less exact reflection of the hamon in the ji. See Utsuri, Hamon, Ji

Litt. "origin"; A legendary family name in Japan. A character used in proper nouns. See Mei

Mine Mei Litt. "peak". A character used in proper nouns. See Mei

Mine Nomenclature

Min-den Culture

Mitsu Mei Litt. "light". A character used in proper nouns. See MeiMitsu-kashira Nomenclature See Mitsu-kado

Miya Mei Litt. "Shint shrine". A character used in proper nouns. See Mei

Mizu-heshi / Mizu-beshi Manufacture

Mochi Mei

Mokume Nomenclature

Momoyama Culture

Mori MeiMoro MeiMoto MeiMuk-zuchi Manufacture Litt. "hammer across"; Sledge hammer.

Mumei Nomenclature Refers to an unsigned a sword; A sword without a mei. See Mei

Mune Nomenclature Back; BackridgeMune Mei

Mune-machi Nomenclature

Mune-saki Nomenclature

Mura Mei Litt. "village".Mura-nie Nomenclature Litt. "bush nie"; Small agglutinations of nie. See Nie

Muromachi Culture

N

Naga Mei

Nagamaki Nomenclature

Nagasa Nomenclature

Naginata Nomenclature

Nagura Manufacture A type of polishing stone used in the fine shaping of a sword.Nakago Nomenclature Tang

Nakago-jiri Nomenclature

Nakago-saki Nomenclature See Nakago-jiri

Nambokuch Culture

Nana Culture Seven; Also pronounced shichi. Used in the mei. See Mei, Shichi

Nao Mei Litt. "straight".Nari Mei

Litt. "back ridge of a sword". More commonly called mune. See MuneOne of the five main traditions according to the Kunzan-Kanzan school (NBTHK). Present-day Gifu. See Yamashiro, Yamato, Bizen, Soshu-den(Sagami)

A process involving the flattening of chunks of tamahagane into 3-5mm plates, which are then quenched and broke into pieces. These pieces are then sorted according to their quality (carbon content, purity, structure, etc) and used as raw material for tanren. See Tamahagane, Tanren

A pattern resembling wood burl. Used to describe jihada. See JihadaAD1573-1600 Period in japanese history. Full name is Azuchi-momoyama ().

Notch at the junction between the tang and the mune; Where the mune starts. See Machi; Ha-machiThe very edge of the mune (the edge created by the two faces on a iori-mune; the top surface of a mitsu-mune, it is less clearly defined in the case of a maru-mune but should be obvious enough).

AD1392-1573 Period in japanese history. Saw important wars and much trouble, including the Sengoku period when the various warlords were constantly struggling for power. Saw the birth of the uchi-gatana, which became the wakizashi and katana. See Sengoku, Uchigatana, Wakizashi, Katana

Litt. "long wrap"; A peculiar type of long sword with a disproportionately long hilt, or haft, which is wrapped in a way similar to tsuka-maki. Its overall length is in-between the long sword (tachi) and the naginata or yari. See Tsuka-maki, Tachi, Naginata, YariRefers to a specific length measured in a straight line from the tip to the mune-machi. See Zen-nagasaLitt. "mow sword"; A polearm weapon similar the the european glaive and fauchard.

/ Tang butt; bottom-end of a tang, its shape being important in Nomenclature.

AD1333-1392 Period in japanese history. Saw the existence of two imperial courts, that of the North, and that of the South.

Narutaki Manufacture A type of polishing stone. Used to make Jizuya. See JizuyaNata Manufacture Small hachet in the shape of a sturdy kitchen knife.

NBTHK - Culture

Nendo-j Manufacture

Ni Culture Two. Used in the mei. See MeiNichi Culture Day. See Hi (Culture)

Nie Nomenclature

Nie-deki Nomenclature

Nie-utsuri Nomenclature A type of spot-like utsuri in the ji. See Utsuri, Ji

Culture

Nihon Tken Hozon Kai Culture

Culture

Nioi Nomenclature

Nioi-deki Nomenclature

Nittho Culture

Nobu MeiNori Mei

Noro Manufacture

Notare Nomenclature

NSK - Culture Acronym for "Nihont Bunka Shink Kykai". See related entry

NTHK - Culture Acronym for "Nihon Tken Hozon Kai". See related entry

NTHK-NPO - Culture

Nugui Manufacture Oil-based iron oxyde mixture used in the final stages of polishing.

O

- Nomenclature

Obi Nomenclature

Obi-tori Nomenclature

-dachi Nomenclature

Oite Culture

Oka MeiOki Mei

Acronym for "Nihon Bijutsu Tken Hozon Kykai". See related entryLitt. "clay soup"; Refers to the clay slurry used during tanren. Clay softened in water to a creamy consistency is applied on the steel during tanren in order to create a coating that permeates against oxydizing. See Tanren

Refers to martensite crystals, either in the hamon or in the ji, big enough to be visible to the eye individually, and usually appearing black. See nioiLitt. "made in nie"; Refers to a sword which hamon's main constituant is nie. See nie

Nihon Bijutsu Tken Hozon Kykai

Litt. "Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords"; Founded as a merging of several sword organizations after the war in the hope of preserving and promoting the japanese sword, its culture and crafts in the aftermaths of the war devastations.

Litt. "Society for the Preservation of Japanese Swords". The oldest such society in Japan, founded in October 1912. Eventually split into two factions, now refered to as the NTHK and NTHK-NPO, both claiming to be the actual society. A court ruling recognized the NTHK.

Nihont Bunka Shink Kykai

Litt. "Society for the Promotion of the Culture of the Japanese Sword". Founded on December 1st, 2008.Refers to martensite tiny martensite crystals forming a whitish cloud along the hamon, each crystal being usually too small to be seen by the naked eye. See nieLitt. "made in nioi"; Refers to a sword which hamon's main constituant is nioi. See nioiAbbreviation for "NIHon Bijutsu Tken HOzon Kykai". See Nihon Bijutsu Tken Hozon Kykai

Slag found at the bottom of the forge after performing tanren. It is composed of melted clay and straw ash and contains scale and charcoal to a certain extent.A type of hamon pattern. Refers to long sinusod curves. See Hamon

An independent faction of the Nihon Tken Hozon Kai. See related entry

Big; Often used as a prefix to modify or precize a noun, such as in o-kissaki (big/long kissaki).

The traditional belt used to hold the kimono together. Uchi-gatana, koshi-gatana, katana, wakizashi and tant are all inserted in it. See Uchi-gatana, Koshi-gatana, Katana, Wakizashi, Tant

Litt. "obi belt hanger"; Fittings installed on tachi koshirae to allow their hanging from the waist. See Tachi, Koshirae

Litt. "great sword"; Extravagantly grand swords, either for religious purposes or sometimes for actual use, although probably more for the visual effect on the battlefield than actual fencing. Some -dachi's lengths would measure in meters.

At; In; On, As for; On one's part. Used in the mei when describing a location such as in "in Edo" -- "Edo (ni) oite" (the "ni" is always pronounced although not inscribed). See Mei

Omote Nomenclature

Origane Nomenclature

Ori-kaeshi mei Nomenclature

Ori-kaeshi-tanren Manufacture

Oroshigane Manufacture

-suriage Nomenclature

P

R

Rai Mei Litt. "come".Renk Manufacture Litt. "refined steel"; Wrought steel. See HaganeRentetsu Manufacture Litt. "refined iron"; Wrought iron. See Tetsu

Rin Nomenclature

Roku Culture Six. Used in the mei. See MeiS

Sabi NomenclatureSada Mei

Sagami Culture

Sage Manufacture

Sageo Nomenclature

Saka-ashi Nomenclature A type of hamon pattern; Slented ashi. See AshiSaka-chji Nomenclature A type of hamon pattern; Slented chji. See ChjiSaki Mei

Sakite Manufacture

Saki-zori Nomenclature

Saku Culture Litt. "make"; Made by-. Used in the mei. See Mei, Z, Tsukuru

San Culture Three. Used in the mei. See Mei

Sanbonsugi Nomenclature

Sane Mei

Sanj Culture

Face, in opp. to ura, back. In relation to swords, it refers to the side of the sword that facing forward when worn, meaning tachi and katana have a different omote, explaining expressions such as "tachi-mei" and "katana-mei", the maker's name always being on the omote.

Litt. "juncture metal"; A tiny piece of metal fitting often made in the shape of a water drop and placed on the side of the scabbard at about its center lengthwise. Its purpose is to prevent the scabbard from slipping out of the obi belt when the sword is unsheathed. Those made of horn are rather called kaeri-tsuna. See Obi, Kaeri-tsuno

On a sword that has had o-suriage performed, the part with the mei was bent and inlayed on the ura of the tang. See Mei, -suriageRefers to what is commonly called tanren, the forge folding of steel. See TanrenLitt. "wholesale metal"; Recycle smelting of iron and steel. Refers to both the process and the type of steel created through it. It implies the re-smelting of pieces of iron and steel, such as old tetsubin, into a regular forge in order to either raise or lower their carbon content. See Tetsubin

Type of work involving the shortening of a sword by cutting off a section of its nakago. It is called -suriage (great suriage) when it has been shortened to the point that the mei has had to be removed or displaced. See Suriage

A traditional unit of length measurement. Equival. to 0.03cm. 10 rin make 1 bu, 100 rin make 1 sun and 1000 rin make 1 shaku. See Shaku, Sun, Bu

Rust.

Name of a province in ancient Japan; Present-day Kanagawa. See Soshu-denLitt. "the lowering of"; In sword making, refers to the decarburization of zuku-oshi pig iron, thus the lowering of its carbon content. See Zuku, Zuku-oshi, sentetsu

Litt. "lowering cord"; Cord. Attached to the scabbard through its kurikata and used to prevent the entire sword from sliding off the obi, or to prevent only the scabbard from following the sword and sliding off the obi. See Kurikata, Obi

Litt. "first hand"; Assistant; Helper. Refers to the apprentice(s) working around their master at work, usually proving him with forge fuel, tools, assisting him at work by pumping the bellows, holding the work or hammering it with the muk-zuchi. See Muk-zuchiLitt. tip-curvature; Describes a sword curvature which is strongest at towards the tip of the sword. See Sori

A type of hamon pattern based on gunome. Originally found in the work of Mino smith Kanemoto. See Hamon, Gunome, Min

A school of the late Heian and early Kamakura period, often linked with that of Gojo; Refers to a famous "third avenue" in the old capital of Kyoto. See Gojo

Saya Nomenclature ScabbardSaya-jiri Nomenclature Butt-end fitting on scabbards. Also called kojri. See KojiriSeid Manufacture Bronze.

Seik Manufacture

Seiren Manufacture

Sekkaboku Nomenclature Solid ink used on nakago in the making of oshigata.

Seme-gane Nomenclature

Sen Manufacture A drawknife. There are many types used. See Hi-sen, Hira-sen

Sentetsu Manufacture

Shaku Nomenclature

Shi Culture Four; Also pronounced yon. Used in the mei. See Mei, Yon

Shichi Culture Seven; Also pronounced nana. Used in the mei. See Mei, Nana

Shige MeiShinogi Nomenclature Ridgeline

Shinogi-ji Nomenclature

Shinogi-zukuri Nomenclature

Shinsakut Culture Litt. "newly made swords"; Used to refer to newly made swords.

Shin-shint Culture

Shint Culture

Shirasaya Nomenclature

Shiro Mei

Shobu-zukuri Nomenclature

Shumei Nomenclature

Sori Nomenclature

Sosh-den Culture

Sugata Nomenclature

Suguha / Suguba Nomenclature

Suji Nomenclature Line; Streak, Vein; For reference the shinogi is a suji by definition.

Steel manufacture. Used generally in reference to the industrial process. The traditional process is refered to as tatara. See Tatara

Litt. "manufactured refined"; Steel smelting. Used generally in reference to the industrial process. The traditional process is refered to as tatara. See Tatara

Litt. "torture metal"; Metal collar applied mostly on tachi scabbards at a short distance from the butt-end. See Tachi

Litt. "pig iron-iron"; Refers to all cast steels, including the product of the zuku-oshi tatara; the actual pig iron; also called zuku. sentetsu contains a very high rate of carbon which makes it brittle and unusable as is in a forge. It must pass through a decarburizing process called sage. See Zuku, Zuku-oshi tatara, Kera, Kera-oshi tatara, SageA traditional unit of length. Equival. to 30.3022cm. It is divided in 10 sun, 100 bu and 1000 rin. See Sun, Bu, Rin

The surface between the shinogi and the mune on shinogi-zukuri swords. See Shinogi, Mune, Shinogi-zukuriType of sword; Refers to those swords with a ridgeline running about one third of their width from the back.

AD1781-1867; Litt. "new new swords"; Period in japanese sword history. Also refers to the actual swords made during this period.

AD1596-1781; Litt. "new swords"; Period in japanese sword history. Also refers to the actual swords made during this period.

Litt. white scabbard; Refers to an undecorated plain wooden storage scabbard. See Saya

A type of sword shape which is similar to shinogi-zukuri, but doesn't display a yokote, the shinogi simply runs directly to the tip. The name shobu was given after the name of a plant which leaves have a similar blade shape. See Shinogi-zukuriA mei calligraphied in urushi lacquer on the tang; Usually performed by an appraiser long after the making of the sword. See MeiCurvature; Its length is measured at the widest from the mune-saki to an imaginary straight line running from the very tip to the mune-machi.One of the five main traditions according to the Kunzan-Kanzan school (NBTHK). Present-day Kanagawa. Also refered by the actual name of the province at that time, Sagami. See Sagami, Yamashiro, Yamato, Bizen, MinoShape; Refers to all aspects of the shape and profile of a sword: its curvature, length, width, proportions, etc.

A type of hamon pattern. Refers to a straight hamon, parallel to the edge. It can then be described as having all sorts of additional characteristics, such as ashi. See Hamon, Ashi

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