用語集

A–Z Reference of Japanese Arms & Armor Terminology

Glossary

Search and browse definitions for Japanese sword, fittings, armor, and historical terminology. Supports both macron and non-macron spellings.

28 terms

足

Ashi

'Legs' of the hamon

Technique

Beginner Explanation

Small lines of tempered steel reaching down from the hamon toward the edge.

丁子

Chōji

Clove-shaped hamon

Technique

Beginner Explanation

A hamon pattern resembling clove buds, with rounded forms and narrow 'necks'.

丁子乱

Chōji-midare

Irregular clove-blossom hamon

Blade

Beginner Explanation

An irregular temper pattern shaped like clove blossoms.

互の目

Gunome

Rounded wave hamon

Technique

Beginner Explanation

A hamon pattern of regularly spaced rounded 'beads' or waves.

刃縁

Habuchi

Boundary line of the hamon

Technique

Beginner Explanation

The exact line where the hardened edge meets the softer body of the blade.

映り出し

Hadori

Polishing style revealing the hamon

Craft

Beginner Explanation

A modern polishing technique that emphasizes the hamon as a bright, white line.

刃文

Hamon

Tempering pattern

Technique

Beginner Explanation

The tempering pattern along the edge of the blade, created during quenching.

働き

Hataraki

Visual activity in the hamon or jihada

Blade

Beginner Explanation

A collective term for visual activities in the hamon or blade surface.

姫鶴一文字

Himetsuru Ichimonji

Named Ichimonji sword; hamon style associated with it

Blade

Beginner Explanation

A celebrated named sword of the Ichimonji tradition, known for its flamboyant chōji-based hamon.

姫鶴一文字

Himetsuru Ichimonji

Ichimonji-school (Bizen) hamon — complex undulating choji-midare

Blade

Beginner Explanation

A hamon style of the Ichimonji school of Bizen — a complex, undulating, slightly irregular temper line of choji-based patterns.

稲妻

Inazuma

Lightning-like hamon activity

Technique

Beginner Explanation

A zig-zag, lightning-bolt-like bright line within the hamon.

兼定

Kanesada

Kanesada-school hamon — clear, wavy temper line

Blade

Beginner Explanation

A hamon style associated with the Kanesada (兼定) smiths of Mino/Seki — a clear, wavy temper line along the edge.

兼定

Kanesada

Hamon style associated with the Kanesada smiths of Mino

Blade

Beginner Explanation

A hamon style associated with the Kanesada lineage of Mino Province, typically featuring notare-based patterns with nie activity.

金筋

Kinsuji

Golden streak in the hamon

Technique

Beginner Explanation

A bright, golden-looking line running within or across the hamon.

国広

Kunihiro

Kunihiro-style hamon — rolling mountain-like choji-midare

Blade

Beginner Explanation

A hamon style associated with Horikawa Kunihiro (堀川国広) — a distinct, rolling, mountain-like wave (choji-midare) temper pattern.

乱刃

Midareba

Irregular hamon

Technique

Beginner Explanation

A hamon with an irregular, varied pattern.

宗近

Munechika

Munechika-style hamon — faint, subtle temper line

Blade

Beginner Explanation

A hamon style associated with Sanjō Munechika (三条宗近) — a faint, subtle, understated temper line.

宗則

Munenori

Hamon style associated with Munenori-attributed swords

Blade

Beginner Explanation

A hamon style associated with Munenori-attributed blades, featuring flowing notare with activity.

匂

Nioi

Fine misty hamon line

Technique

Beginner Explanation

A fine, misty line of hardened steel forming the hamon, too fine to see as individual grains.

湾

Notare

Wavy hamon

Technique

Beginner Explanation

A hamon with gentle, rolling waves.

三帳母

Sanchomo

Hamon style; flamboyant irregular pattern

Blade

Beginner Explanation

Sanchomo refers to a distinctive highly active, complex hamon style associated with specific attributed blades.

直刃

Suguha

Straight hamon

Technique

Beginner Explanation

A hamon that runs in an essentially straight line along the edge.

直刃

Suguha

Straight temper line (hamon)

Blade

Beginner Explanation

A straight hamon running evenly and parallel to the cutting edge along the length of the blade.

助広

Sukehiro

Hamon style associated with Tsuda Sukehiro

Blade

Beginner Explanation

A distinctive hamon style featuring large, dramatic tōran-notare waves, associated with the Edo-period smith Tsuda Sukehiro of Osaka.

助広

Sukehiro

Sukehiro-style hamon — large rolling waves (toran-ba)

Blade

Beginner Explanation

A hamon style associated with the smith Sukehiro — large, rolling, wave-like shapes (toran-ba).

砂流し

Sunagashi

Sand-like nie lines in the hamon

Blade

Beginner Explanation

Lines of nie resembling wind-swept sand.

濤瀾乱

Tōran-midare

Surging-wave irregular hamon

Blade

Beginner Explanation

A dramatic irregular hamon resembling surging waves.

葉

Yō

Leaf-like formations in the hamon

Blade

Beginner Explanation

Leaf-shaped formations of hardened steel in the hamon.