Nihonto Club Japanese Sword Information Exchange

Double-edged straight sword. Ken form is most commonly seen in tanto, but longer kens also exist.

The part of the shinogi that runs from the yokote to the tip in the kissaki.

'Chestnut-shaped'. The rounded shape of nakagojiri.

It's the one of the most commonly seen shapes.

The end of the nakago.

'Sword-shaped'. Shape of the nakagojiri with two straight lines coming to a point in the center at around 90 degree angle.

It is often seen among works of Masamune and his school, and Shinto swords made in Soshu tradition.

Lit. 'meat'. Ji having niku means that ji area is not flat, but rounded, curved in the cross-section.

Hira-niku - measure to describe the niku of hira area (also: ji-niku)
Ha-niku - niku of the area between the hamon and the cutting edge.

Niku can be described as full (平肉多い - hiraniku oi) or flat (平肉少ない - hiraniku sukunai).

The notch dividing the blade from the tang on the mune side. See machi.

Blade length, measured from the tip to the munemachi.

The hardened area of the blade.

The cutting edge of the kissaki. Also, the curvature of the kissaki. It can be described as rounded or not rounded.