The main terms of the Japanese sword

[Aldebaran]

Here are the words absolutely essential to enter the wonderful world of Japanese sword, learn these and you will see that the forum discussions will be much less confusing!

- The Blade -

Hamon
is by far the most used term, the hamon is the plan created by the hardened blade from the edge. Are the famous "ripples" present on the blade, perhaps the most striking feature of Japanese swords.





Hada
Japanese steel blade is not perfectly smooth but has a texture quite similar to wood grain. The type of plot is called hada





Nakago
is part of the blade corresponding to the handle. Contains important information about the history of the blade.






Boshi & kissaki
For boshi means the area of the tip of the blade, the general shape and dell'hamon at that point. The kissaki instead is just the tip of the blade.






Ji - ji shinogi - common
are the various faces of the blade:
Ji is the face angle where are the hada and hamon
Shinogi-Ji (or simply shinogi) is the polished face of the blade from the back.
Mune is the back of the blade.

Mach
are the steps on the blade, which mark the boundary between nakago and the blade itself, and they maintain the Habak.
Hamachi is the step from the edge
Munemachi is the step from the back

- Other parts of the sword -

Habak
is the collar of copper (usually decorated with gold and silver) that sits between the blade and nakago serves to hold together the handle to the blade and sheath seal when closed.





Koshirae
The Koshirae has all the details of the blade: sheath, handle, hilt etc.



Saya is the sheath
Tsuka handle is
Tsuba guard has hilt
Drones is decorated collar that is just under the tsuba
Kashira is the cap which is decorated at the bottom all'impugantura

Shirasaya
The Shirasaya is a particular type of koshirae used to hold the blade, not for practical use as a weapon. Basically looks like a simple sheath of wood, without ornaments.