Why focus on Mei? Many Japanese swords have inscriptions on the tang. It is recorded that in the Nara period (710-794), a swordsmith’s name was required by law to be inscribed on the tang. However, it is said that the...

Read more...

What is Koshirae? Japanese swords can be roughly divided into two types: Tachi and Uchi-gatana. Aikuchi Koshirae This is a type of sword without a tsuba and is made so that the mouth of the saya and the fuchigane of...

Read more...

What is Yasurime? Yasurime is a rasp applied to the hiraji and shinogiji of a sword's tang to prevent it from slipping off the tsuka handle. Ancient swords had marks that looked as if they had been simply hammered out,...

Read more...

What is Hamon? Even those seeing a Japanese sword for the first time are captivated by the vividness of the hamon (blade pattern). The hamon refers to the part that is tempered with extra heat, so it is actual proof...

Read more...