Katana Glossary — Complete A-Z Guide to Japanese Sword Terminology
Share
Introduction
Japanese sword terminology can be intimidating for newcomers. This complete A-Z glossary covers all the essential katana terms you need to understand product descriptions, collector discussions, and historical texts. Bookmark this page as your permanent reference guide.
Browse our handmade katana collection with confidence — you'll know exactly what you're looking at.
A – B
Ashi: Lines of nie extending from the hamon toward the edge — a sign of quality differential hardening.
Bo-hi: A groove (fuller) running along the blade — reduces weight while maintaining strength.
Bokken: A wooden practice sword. See our bokken guide.
Boshi: The hamon pattern within the kissaki (tip).
D – F
Daisho: The paired katana and wakizashi — the exclusive symbol of samurai status.
Fuchi: The collar at the base of the handle where it meets the guard.
G – H
Gunome: A regular, repeating semi-circular hamon pattern.
Ha: The cutting edge of the blade.
Habaki: The metal collar at the base of the blade that holds it in the scabbard.
Hada: The grain pattern of the steel created by folding. Types: itame (wood grain), mokume (burl wood), masame (straight grain).
Hamon: The temper line — the visible boundary between hard edge and tough spine. See our hamon guide.
Horimono: Engravings on the blade — dragons, Buddhist deities, Sanskrit characters.
I – K
Iaido: The Japanese martial art of drawing the sword. See our iaido guide.
Iaito: An unsharpened practice sword for iaido training.
Ji: The flat surface of the blade between the shinogi and the hamon.
Kabuto: The samurai helmet.
Kashira: The pommel cap at the end of the handle.
Kissaki: The tip of the blade. Types: ko-kissaki (small), chu-kissaki (medium), o-kissaki (large).
Koshirae: The complete set of fittings for a katana.
M – N
Mei: The swordsmith's signature inscribed on the nakago (tang).
Mekugi: The bamboo peg that secures the handle to the tang.
Menuki: Decorative ornaments placed under the handle wrapping.
Mune: The spine (back edge) of the blade.
Nagasa: The blade length — measured from tip to base.
Nakago: The tang — the portion of the blade that extends into the handle.
Nie: Visible bright points within the hamon — like stars in the night sky.
Nioi: Misty brightness within the hamon — like the Milky Way.
Notare: A gentle, wave-like hamon pattern.
O – S
Odachi: Japan's great sword — an oversized katana. See our odachi collection.
Sageo: The cord attached to the scabbard.
Same: Ray skin wrapped around the handle core.
Saya: The scabbard.
Shinken: A real, sharpened katana — as opposed to an iaito.
Shinogi: The ridge line running along the upper portion of the blade.
Sori: The curve of the blade.
Suguha: A straight hamon pattern — the simplest and most classical form.
T – Y
Tachi: The predecessor of the katana — longer, more curved, worn edge-down.
Tamahagane: Traditional Japanese blade steel. See our tamahagane guide.
Tanto: The short sword/dagger. See our tanto collection.
Tsuba: The hand guard. See our tsuba guide.
Tsuka: The handle.
Tsuka-ito: The cord wrapped around the handle.
Wakizashi: The companion sword. See our wakizashi collection.
Yaki-ire: The hardening process — heating and quenching the clay-coated blade.
Yokote: The line separating the kissaki from the main blade.
Yoroi: Samurai armor.
Summary
This A-Z glossary covers all essential katana terminology — from blade geometry (sori, kissaki, shinogi) to fittings (tsuba, tsuka, saya) to steel and heat treatment (hamon, nie, nioi, yaki-ire). Bookmark this page as your permanent reference guide.