Japanese

Definition

'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.

Japanese

Definition

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).

Japanese

Definition

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

Japanese

Definition

Blade length, measured from the tip to the munemachi.

Japanese

Definition

The hardened area of the blade.

Japanese

Definition

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

Japanese

Definition

Thickness of the blade. See also: moto-kasane, saki-kasane.

Japanese

Definition

The width of a blade measured from the mune to the cutting edge. See also: moto-haba, saki-haba.

Japanese

Definition

Overall construction of the blade.

Japanese

Definition

See nagasa.