Japanese Sword Terms

Online Nihonto Glossary with English and Japanese Text

The purpose of this glossary is two fold. First, by including the Japanese text as well as English, hopefully this material can be of some assistance to Nihonto collectors who want to learn how to translate sword descriptions from Japanese text. As time permits, more material will be added in an attempt to make this a more comprehensive guide.

Secondly, with the addition of the photos, these pages are designed to serve as a visual glossary of Nihonto as well as a guide to understanding how the activities and formations that create the excellent functional proprieties of the Japanese sword appear in actual blades.