In order to understand the Japanese sword, and to understand where to start collecting, There are a few things that you should be familiar with. First of those are certain terms that are associated with a Japanese sword. I’m going to begin at the tip of the sword and work to the bottom.
Lets begin:
Kissaki: this is the point or tip of the sword. it is used for slashing as well as penetrating objects when stabbing.
Boshi: the boshi is the pattern of the hardened edge on the point.
Yokote: the yokote is the line deviding the point from the body of the blade.
Shinogi: the shinogi is the ridgeline of the blade, below which, lies the cutting surface of the blade, and above which lies the back of the blade.
Shinogiji: the shinogiji is the blade surface above the ridgeline.
Ji(or Jigane): the ji is the blade surface below the ridgeline and above the hamon.
Hamon: the hamon is the pattern of the hardened edge.
Yakiba: the yakiba is the hardened edge of the sword.
Utsuri: the utsuri is the whitish effect on the ji, or the surface of the blade that is above the hamon. this effect is not present on all swords.
Mune: the mune is the back surface of the blade. If you were to point the sword away from your body with the cutting edge facing the floor, the mune would be the top of the blade. In other words it is the seciton that is facing the sky.
Hamachi: the hamachi is a notch marking the beginning of the sharpened edge.
Mune-machi: the mune-machi is a notch on the back or mune marking the top of the tang.
Nakago: the nakago is the tang or section of the blade that fits inside the handle. the most commonly used of the two words is tang, not nakago.
Mekugi-ana: the mekugi-ana is a rivet hole that has been placed in the tang. It is used to fasten the handle to the tang by means of a bamboo peg. some swords have two holes for a more secure handle.
Mei: the mei is the signature of the swordsmith that is etched into the tang of the blade. Not every blade is signed however, and throughout history different smiths have used the same signatures.
Some other common terms associated with a Japanese sword:
Motohaba: the motohaba is the width of the blade at the machi.
Sakihaba: the sakihaba is the width of the blade at the yokote.
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There are other terms that are associated with a sword as well. Besides those terms above that are associated with the blade itself, there are those terms which apply to the fittings and other functional parts of the sword. Below is a list of the most prominent.
Tsuka: The tsuka is the handle of the sword. It is fastened to the tang via the mekugi-ana, and mekugi.
Kashira, or Tsuka-gashira: The kashira is the butt-end cap on the hilt/handle.
Fuchi-gane: The fuchi-gane is the collar at the fore end of the hilt.
Ito(Tsuka-ito): The Ito is a cotton or leather cord that is wrapped around the hilt in a twist pattern. It aids the users grip on the sword as well as adding asthetic appeal.
Menuki: menuki are a pair of hilt ornaments positioned underneath the Ito wrapping. Menuki are used to enhance the grip of each hand on the handle as well as add asthetic appeal.
Mekugi: The mekugi is a hilt-retaining peg that is inserted into the mekugi-ana to help fasten the tsuka to the tang of the blade.
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And yet more sword terms! (courtesy of Kevin K., thanks Kevin!)
Habaki: The blade collar. Keeps the blade snugly in the saya, protects the ha-machi, and helps keep other koshirae in place.
Seppa: Washers used on either side of the tsuba to promote a snug fit.
Koshinogi: Shinogi of the kissaki.
Samegawa: literally, “Sharkskin” The pebble-textured skin usually under the ito. More commonly reffered to as “rayskin”.
Bo-hi: Fuller used to lighten the blade while retaining most of the structural integrity. Sometimes considered a horimono.
Horimono: Decorative carving in the blade, often in the form of sanscrit, deities, and dragons.
Kasane: Thickness
Hada: The “wood grain” pattern in the steel; a by-product of the forge-fold “purification” method.
Saya: Sheath
Kurigata: Knob to hold the tying cord.
Sageo: Tying cord
Koiguchi: Saya opening
Kojiri: Special cap at the end of the saya opposite the koiguchi used to protect the wood.
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