Samurai Glossary

Here you will find the essential Japanese terms explained in English, covering topics such as samurai, samurai swords and Katana:

AIKUCHI

Aikuchi (literally “matching mouth”) is a form of koshirae mount for Japanese tanto blades (up to 12 inches), where the handle and the scabbard meet without any intervening guard.

ARA-NIE

Name for large and coarse “nie”. Nie are martensite crystals formed during the heating and quenching process (What Is Clay Tempering?).

ASHI

Protrusions or short lines of soft steel that run from the edge of the hamon (pattern of nie or nioi) to the edge of the blade. The literal translation is “leg or foot”.

AYASUGI

A typical grain pattern (hada) on the katana blade, which forms regular wavy lines. This grain pattern is primarily used by the Gassan and Satsuma-Naminohira schools.

BOHI

Wide blood rill that nearly fills the shinogi surface. (What Is a Blood Groove / Bo-Hi?)

BONJI

Occasionally etched Sanskrit characters on the blade surface.

BOSHI

The shape of the temper line at the tip of the sword.

BO-UTSURI

Slight mirror reflections of the temper line.

BUSHIDO

Literal translation: “Way (dō) of the Warrior (bushi)”. It refers to an unwritten code of moral principles that all samurai were obligated to adhere to. Inazo Nitobe wrote “BUSHIDO: The Soul of Japan” in 1900, a highly recommended book for anyone wishing to learn more about BUSHIDO.

CHIKEI

Term for a bright, curved line (like nioi) that occurs in the ji (grain of the sword).

CHOJI

A type of hamon (temper line) that resembles the form of a cloverleaf. Swords typical of the Bizen tradition feature temper lines with choji patterns.

CHOJI-MIDARE

Term for a cloverleaf-shaped temper line mixed with irregular shapes.

CHU-KISSAKI

Chu means “middle”. This is a designation for a blade tip of medium length in relation to the width of the blade near the tang. (see also: What Does “Full Tang” Mean in a Katana?)

CHU-SUGUBA

Chu means “middle”. This is a term for a hamon (What Is a Hamon?), which is straight with a medium width.

DAISHO

This is a matched pair of swords (usually katana and wakizashi with koshirae fittings). Only samurai wore a daisho.

DAITO

Literally, a large sword.

FUKURA

The cutting edge of the sword tip.

FUKURE

Defects on the sword or the blade.

FUMBARI

A term to describe a blade that noticeably widens as it approaches the handle. A characteristic of koto blades.

FURISODE

A tang shape with a deeply curved end backward, resembling a kimono sleeve.

GINSUJI

A silvery kinsuji line in the temper line (yakiba).

GISHI

A man of righteousness. “Righteousness is the power to decide upon a certain course of conduct in accordance with reason, without wavering; to die when it is right to die, to strike when it is right to strike.” (Inazo Nitobe, BUSHIDO, The Soul of Japan, page 46).

GUNOME

A type of hamon (temper line) that resembles regular semi-circles.

GUNTO

Guntō (literally translated as “military sword”) refers to Japanese military swords. Guntō swords were primarily manufactured and used during the Second World War. Guntō swords are a variation of samurai swords (katana).

HA

The edge of the sword.

HABAKI

The habaki is the collar around the blade above the tang, ensuring the blade sits securely in the scabbard (blade collar).

HA-BUCHI

The borderline between ji and yakiba.

HADA

The surface grain of the blade of Japanese swords. There are many types and more than one type can be present on the same blade.

HAGANE

Steel from which a Japanese sword is made. It can also be referred to as tamahagane (the raw steel).

HAGIRI

A manufacturing defect where the blade edge is completely torn through the blade edge at a right angle to the edge.

HAKIKAKE

A feature of the hardened edge where nie appears in a curved or brush stroke pattern.

HAKO BA

A box-shaped hamon on a blade. (What Is a Hamon on a Katana?)

HAMACHI

The edge notch where the blade is connected to the tang.

HAMON

The temper line of a blade. (See also: Hamon – The Temper Line of a Katana Blade)

HANDACHI

A katana that is partially equipped with tachi parts.

HI

A rill in the sword blade.

HIRA

Flat surface of a blade.

HIRA-ZUKURI

A flat blade shape without shinogi ridges.

HITATSURA

Name for a blade with a hamon pattern (temper line) known as “full temper”. The blade resembles a tiger.

HITSU ANA

One or two holes in the sword guard (Tsuba), through which the kozuka and/or kogai are inserted into the scabbard (saya).

HORIMONO

A general term for engravings on the blade surface.

IKUBI-KISSAKI

A short and stout tip, meant to resemble the neck of a wild boar.

INAZUMA

Bright lines in the yakiba or hada that visually resemble lightning.

ITAM HADA

Wood grain pattern on the surface of the steel.

JI

The surface of the blade between the yakiba and the shinogi.

JIHADA

Surface texture. The various grain patterns of hada.

JI-NIE

The presence of a nie in the ji.

JINJA

A shrine (jinja) is a sacred place where Kami reside and showcases the power and nature of the Kami. In Japan, it is common to refer to Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples – but Shinto shrines are actually temples, even though they do not use this name. Every village, town, or district in Japan has its own Shinto shrine dedicated to the local Kami.

KAEN

A flame-shaped boshi pattern.

KAERI

The shape of the reversal of the boshi pattern.

KAI GUNTO

Term to describe modern Japanese naval swords.

KAJI

A Japanese swordsmith or katana smith.

KAKU-MUNE

A square shape on the backside of the mune.

KAMI

Kami primarily refers to spirits or gods venerated in Japanese Shintō (Shintoism). Kami can be elements of the landscape or forces of nature.

KANJI

Chinese characters that are used in Japan.

KANTEI

The study and appreciation of Japanese swords (for example, katana).

KASANE

General term for the thickness of a blade.

KATANA

The katana is the Japanese longsword (daitō). In modern Japan, the term “KATANA” is also used as a general term for swords. Today’s manufactured samurai swords for practical use are also called shinken katana (“real sword”). In our Samurai Swords Online Shop, you can buy genuine, Original Japanese Katana. Feel free to visit.

KATANA KAJI

A katana kaji is referred to as a katana swordsmith.

KATANA MEI

Name of the signature on the side of the tang (blade) that is away from the body when the blade is worn with the edge facing up.

KATANA TOGISHI

A katana togishi is a Japanese sword polisher.

KATANA KAKE

A Katana Kake is a horizontal sword stand for displaying katana.

KATAKIRIBA

A sword shape with a ridgeline on one side and the other side being flat.

KEN

A ken is a straight samurai sword that is double-edged.

KENGYO

A blunt end of the tang with a symmetrical V-shape.

KINSUJI

Whitish-gold lines along or in the yakiba.

KISSAKI

Kissaki refers to the tip of a katana blade. There are many different forms of kissaki.

KITAE

Kitae refers to the forging style of different katana.

KIZU

Various manufacturing flaws or defects in a blade. Literal translation: “Cut or scratch.”

KODACHI

Term for short tachi blades, usually 24 inches or less, from the Kamakura period.

KODOGU

This is the collective term for all the “fittings” of a katana sword, except for the tsuba.

KOJIRI

Details (“fittings”) at the lower end of the scabbard (saya).

KO-KISSAKI

A blade tip of short length in relation to the width of the blade near the tang.

KOMARU

A small round boshi.

KO-NIE

Tiny nie crystals (martensite) along the hamon. (What is a Hamon?)

KOSHIRAE

Details of a katana sword including scabbard (“saya”), decorative elements, and handle.

KOSHI-ZORI

A type of blade curve where the maximum point of curvature is closer to the tang than to the middle.

KOTO

Ancient swords. Usually refers to Japanese swords made before 1596.

KO-WAKIZASHI

A short Wakizashi.

KOZUKA

A small utility knife that fits into the pocket of the scabbard.

KURI-JIRI

Chestnut shaped tang end. A rounded, asymmetrical shape.

KURIKATA

Button on the side of the scabbard for the belt cord.

MACHI

Notches in the blade to stop the habaki. The edge side of the blade is called hamachi; the back side is called munemachi.

MAKI ITO

The braiding used for wrapping handles (tsuka).

MARU MUNE

Rounded backside of the blade.

MASAME-HADA

Straight, grainy pattern on a katana blade.

MEI

Signature on a Japanese Samurai sword.

MEKUGI

The pin that secures the handle of the katana.

MEKUGI-ANA

The hole for the mekugi.

MENUKI

Menuki are decorative elements under the handle wrapping to improve grip.

MIDAREBA

Irregular hamon patterns.

MIHABA

The general term for the width of a sword blade (from the back edge to the cutting edge).

MITSU MUNE

Term for a three-sided back edge of the blade.

MIZUKAGI

This is the white diagonal stripe at the base of a hardened blade.

MONO-UCHI

This is the striking area of the katana blade, generally 4.5 to 6.3 inches below the tip (kissaki).

MOROHA

A moroha is a double-edged Japanese sword.

MOTOHABA

This is the width of the blade measured at the habaki (blade collar).

MUMEI

A sword blade without a signature.

MUNE

The back edge of the blade.

MUNE MACHI

The notch in the back of the blade to stop the habaki.

MUNEYAKI

This is the term for a blade pattern along the back edge of the blade.

MUSORI

A blade with no curvature (sori).

NAGAMAI

A type of koshirae used on a naginata during the late Kamakura and early Muromachi period. It originated from the handle being wrapped with a cord or leather strap for the long blade.

NAGASA

The length of the blade.

NAGINATA

A naginata (Japanese 薙刀, “mowing down sword” or outdated 長刀, “long sword”) is a Japanese polearm, similar to the European glaive. The naginata has been produced in Japan since the 12th century and was used by monks (sōhei), warriors (bushi), foot soldiers (ashigaru), and female warriors (onna-bugeisha).

NAKAGO

The tang of the blade. The part of the blade that fits into the handle.

NAKAGO JIRI

A general term for the rear end of the tang.

NAKAGO MUNE

The rear edge of the tang.

NAMBAN TETSU

Collective term for foreign steel.

NAMBOKUCHO

The period of the northern and southern dynasties, approximately 1333 to 1392.

NAOSHI

Repaired or corrected sword blade.

NIE

During the clay tempering / quenching process, martensite crystals are formed. Nie are crystals that are large enough to be considered as individual particles. (See also: What Is a Clay Tempered Katana Blade?)

NIOI

The same as nie, except these particles are too small to be seen with the naked eye and appear on the blade like a mist or haze.

NOTARE

A term that refers to a wavy hamon outline

O-CHOJI

A hamon with large choji patterns.

OMOTE

The side of the sword facing away from the body when it is carried. The opposite side is called the ura or back.

ORIGAMI

A valuation or certificate of a Japanese sword.

ORIKAESHI-MEI

Blade signature folded into the opposite side of the tang when shortening the blade.

O-SURIAGE

A shortened sword with all or most of the original tang missing.

O-WAKIZASHI

Long wakizashi sword, almost 2 shaku (24 inches) long.

SAGEO

The cord or braid attached to the kurikata on one side of the scabbard (saya).

SAIHA

Term for a rehardened edge of a blade.

SAKI-HABA

The width of the blade at the kissaki (tip of the blade).

SAKI-ZORI

Curvature of the blade with stronger curvature to the tip.

SAME

Rayskin which is used on sword handles of katana and sometimes on scabbards (saya).

SAMURAI

Samurai warriors were the elite of four classes of Japanese feudal society; samurai, peasants, craftsmen and then merchants. Samurai were expected to bring security to members of the other three classes. The term samurai is a derivative of the Japanese verb for service, “saburau”. Samurai literally means “one who is a servant,” and so they began in the 7th century as “servants” of Emperor Tenmu.

Samurai were inspired by bushido “military knight ways” is an unwritten code of moral principles that the knights (samurai) were obliged or instructed to follow. Bushido made the sword his symbol of power and skill. The mere possession of such an instrument gives him a sense and air of self-respect and responsibility. What he carries in his belt is a symbol of what he carries in his head and heart – loyalty and honor.

The weapon or sword of a samurai warrior was the katana. You want to Buy a Real Katana? Then take a look at our Katana Shop.

SANBONSUGI

A pattern of the type “three-trees” hamon (temper line). For this, the swordsmith Kanemoto from Mino Province (now Gify Prefecture) was famous.

SAYA

Saya is called the scabbard of a katana.

SEPPA

The washers that fill the space between the tsuba and the sword.

SEPPUKU

The literal translation of seppuku is: “belly cutting” (also known as hara-kiri). It is a form of Japanese ritual suicide by disembowelment.

SHAKU

The Japanese unit of measurement is equal 11.93 inches. A tanto measures less than 1 shaku, a wakizashi measures between 1 and 2 shaku, and a katana is 2 or more shaku long.

1 Shaku = 11.9303 inches
1 Shaku = 10 Sun
1 Sun = 1.193 inches
1 Sun = 10 bu
1 bu = 0.119303 inches
1 bu = 10 rin
1 Rin = 0.0119303 inches

SHINAE

Small cracks across one blade. A manufacturing defect.

SHINOGI

Rills on both sides of the blade.

SHINOGI-ZUKURI

These are swords with a ridge line, the most common type of sword.

SCHINTO

These are “new new swords”. Swords made between 1596 and about 1800.

SCHINTOISMUS

The essence of Shinto is the Japanese devotion to invisible spiritual beings and forces called Kami. Shintoism has no known founder or single sacred scripture. Shintoism is completely dedicated to life in this world and emphasizes the essential goodness of human beings.

SHIRASAYA

White wooden scabbard, mostly made of Japanese Honoki wood.

SHOWA-TO

These are handmade blades made after 1926.

SORI

The term for the curvature of the katana.

SUGUBA

This is a katana with a straight hamon parallel to the edge curve.

SUN

The Japanese measure of a tenth of a shaku.
1 Shaku = 11,93 inches (30,30 cm)

1 Shaku = 10 sun
1 sun = 1,193 inches (3,03 cm)

1 sun = 10 bu
1 bu = 0,119 inches (0,3030 cm)

1 bu = 10 rin
1 Rin = 0,01193 inches (0,03030 cm)

SUNAGASHI

Curved lines along the hamon like floating sand ridges.

SUN-NOBI

A wakizashi or tanto that is longer than average.

SURIAGE

A shortened blade. Generally performed from the base of the blade by cutting the nakago.

TACHI

The general term for Japanese hanging-blade swords carried mainly on horseback. Tachi swords were made mainly during the Heian period (794 to 1185) and the Kamakura period (1185-1333).

TACHI KAKE

This is a sword stand or a stand for a tachi.

TACHI MEI

This is the name given to a sword whose signature (mei) is on the side of the blade facing away from the body when the blade is worn with the edge down.

TAMESHIGIRI

Term for the cutting test of a Japanese samurai sword. (See also: What Is Tameshigiri?).

TANTO

Tanto are short Japanese daggers with a length of less than a shaku (11,93 inches). In our store you can Buy a Real Tanto.

TOGI

The polish of a Japanese sword.

TORII ZORI

The curvature of the sword with the deepest part in the middle of the blade.

TSUBA

The Tsuba is the stitch sheet on traditional Japanese swords. This part of the katana, wakizashi, tachi or tanto is often richly decorated plates made of metals such as iron, brass, copper or zinc.

TSUKA

The handle of a sword (katana handle).

TSUKA ITO

The braid for the winding handle, usually made of Japanese silk.

TSUKA MAKI

The sword handle sheath.

TSUNAGI

This is the name for the “mirror” wooden sword that keeps the koshirae intact when the blade is in the shirasaya.

UBU NAKAGO

An original unmodified tang.

UCHIZORI

A type of curve that bends slightly toward the cutting edge rather than away from it.

URA

The side of the sword next to the body when the sword is worn.

UTSURI

A misty reflection found on the ji and shinoji of samurai swords of all possible surface grit. These faint lines seem to reflect the hamon.

WAKIZASHI

A wakizashi sword is a Japanese sword similar to the katana, but with a shorter blade of one to a maximum of two shaku, that is between 11.8 and 23.7 inches. In our store you can Buy a Real Wakizashi.

YAKIBA

The hardened surface of a blade.

YAKIDASHI

The final section of the hamon near the erl.

YAKINAOSHI

Blades which have not been clay tempered. (See also: What Does Clay Tempering Mean for a Blade?)

YARI

Yari is a Japanese lance with long nakago.

YOKOTE

The line that separates the blade part of the sword from the tip part.

ZAIMEI

A tang with signature (mei).

ZEN

Zen is the Japanese equivalent for dhyana, which is “the human effort to reach, through meditation, zones of thought that transcend the realm of verbal expression.” (Lafcadio Hearn, Exotics and Retrospectives, p. 84)

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