|
Rōmaji
|
Kanji
|
Description
|
|
Bōhi
|
棒樋 [ぼうとい]
|
Large or wide groove in a sword blade
|
|
Bokken
|
木剣 [ぼっけん]
|
Wooden practice sword
|
|
Bokutō
|
木刀 [ぼくとう]
|
Wooden practice sword
|
|
Bōshi
|
帽子, 鋩子
[ぼうし]
|
Temper line in kissaki
|
|
Bu
|
分 [ぶ]
|
Japanese measurement (approx 0.12 inch)
|
|
Chōji
|
丁子 [ちょうじ]
|
Oil for the care of swords
|
|
Chokutō
|
直刀 [ちょくとう]
|
Very early straight single edged (sometimes with second
partial edge) straight sword.
|
|
Chu-
|
中 [ちゅう]
|
Medium
|
|
Dai
|
大 [だい]
|
Great or large
|
|
Daishō
|
大小 [だいしょう]
|
A traditional matched pair of long and short swords
|
|
Daitō
|
大刀 [たいとう]
|
Long sword over 2 feet long
|
|
Dōtanuki
|
同田貫, 胴田貫
[どうたぬき]
|
Battle sword similar to a katana with a very thick blade.
|
|
Fuchi
|
縁[ふち]
|
Collar on the handle next the the seppa with the tsuba.
|
|
Fuchi Kashira
|
縁頭 [ふち
かしら]
|
Set of hilt collar (fuchi) and buttcap (kashira)
|
|
Fukura
|
フクラ (ふくら)
|
The fine edge line of the kissaki.
|
|
Guntō
|
軍刀 [ぐんとう]
|
Army or military sword
|
|
Ha
|
刃 [は]
|
Cutting edge of a sword
|
|
Hasaki
|
刃先 [はさき]
|
The extreme point of the edge.
|
|
Habaki
|
鎺 [はばき]
|
Blade collar at the base of the blade ensures a snug fit
with the scabbard.
|
|
Hada
|
肌[はだ]
|
Grain in steel, pattern of folding the steel
|
|
Hakama
|
袴 [はかま]
|
Pleated divided skirt/pants
|
|
Hamachi
|
刃区, 刃関
[はまち]
|
Notch at the beginning of the cutting edge
|
|
Hamon
|
刃文, 刃紋
[はもん]
|
Temper pattern along blade edge. The border of the ha
(the tempered cutting area at the edge) and hara ji.
|
|
Hasaki
|
刃先 [はさき]
|
Cutting Edge
|
|
Hasuji
|
刃筋 [はすじ]
|
Proper sword angle while cutting
|
|
Hi
|
樋 [とい]
|
Grooves in the blade
|
|
Hiraji
|
平地 [ひらち]
|
The curved surface between the hamon and the shinogi.
|
|
Honoki
|
朴ノ木 [ほおのき]
|
Magnolia wood used for saya and tsuka
|
|
Horimono
|
彫り物 [ほりもの]
|
Carvings on sword blades
|
|
Iaito
|
居合刀 [いあいと]
|
Unsharpened practice sword
|
|
Iori
|
庵 [いおり]
|
The top line of the mune.
|
|
Ito
|
絃 [いと]
|
Silk or cotton hilt wrapping cord
|
|
Ji
|
地, 平地[ち]
|
Sword surface between the shinogi and the hamon
|
|
Jihada
|
地肌 [じはだ]
|
Surface pattern of the hada
|
|
Kami
|
上 [かみ]
|
The blade, the part that fits into the saya.
|
|
Kasane
|
重ね [かさね]
|
Thickness of the blade
|
|
Kashira
|
頭 [かしら]
|
Sword pommel or buttcap
|
|
Katana
|
刀 [かたな]
|
Sword worn in the obi, cutting edge up
|
|
Katana Kake
|
刀懸け [かたなかけ]
|
Sword rack
|
|
Keikogi
|
稽古着 [けいこぎ]
|
Training uniform top
|
|
Ken
|
剣 [けん]
|
Sword usually refers to double edged sword
|
|
Kissaki
|
鋒. 切先
[きっさき]
|
Point of blade
|
|
Kodachi
|
小太刀 [こだち]
|
Short sword
|
|
Kogai
|
笄 [こがい]
|
Hair pick accessory
|
|
Koiguchi
|
鯉口 [こいぐち]
|
The mouth of the scabbard or its fitting
|
|
Kojiri
|
鐺 [こじり]
|
End of the scabbard
|
|
Koshinogi
|
小鎬 [こしのぎ]
|
The extension of the shinogi at the tip.
|
|
Koshirae
|
拵え, 外装
[こしらえ]
|
Sword mountings
|
|
Kozuka
|
小柄 [こづか]
|
Accessory knife
|
|
Kubikiri
|
首切り; 首斬り [くびきり]
|
1) decapitation; beheading; 2) small samurai sword used
for decapitation
|
|
Kurigata
|
栗形 [くりかた]
|
Knob at on the saya that the sageo cord goes through
|
|
Machi
|
区 [まち]
|
The notches that divide kami from nakago. Edge side = ha
machi; back side = mune machi.
|
|
Mei
|
銘 [めい]
|
Swordsmith's signature
|
|
Mekugi
|
目釘 [めくぎ]
|
Sword peg
|
|
Mekugiana
|
目釘穴 [めくぎあな]
|
Hole for mekugi in the tang and hilt
|
|
Mekuginuki
|
目釘抜き [めくぎぬき]
|
Tool used to remove mekuki
|
|
Menuki
|
目貫 [めぬき]
|
Hilt ornaments
|
|
Mihaba
|
身幅 [みはば]
|
Width of blade from ha to mune
|
|
Mimi
|
耳 [みみ]
|
Literally "ear". The rim of the tsuba.
|
|
Mitsukado
|
三つ角, 三角
[みつかど]
|
Point where yokote, shinogi and ko shinogi meet
|
|
Mon
|
紋 [もん]
|
Family crest
|
|
Monouchi
|
物打 [ものうち]
|
Main cutting portion of blade
|
|
Motohaba
|
元幅
|
Width at base of blade
|
|
Motokasane
|
元重
|
Thickness at base of blade
|
|
Mumei
|
無銘 [むめい]
|
Unsigned
|
|
Mune
|
棟 [みね]
|
Back ridge of sword blade
|
|
Mune Saki
|
棟先 [みねさき]
|
The point of the mune at the kissaki.
|
|
Munemachi
|
棟区, 棟関
[むねまち]
|
Notch at start of mune
|
|
Nagasa
|
長さ [ながさ]
|
Blade length (from tip of kissaki to munemachi)
|
|
Nakago
|
中心, 茎 [なかご]
|
Sword tang
|
|
Nakagoana
|
中心穴, 茎穴
[なかごあな]
|
The hole in the center of the guard that passes over the
tang of the sword.
|
|
Nakagojiri
|
中心先, 茎尻,
中心尻
[なかごじり]
|
The tip of the tang.
|
|
Nihontō
|
日本刀 [にほんとう]
|
Japanese sword
|
|
Niku
|
肉 [にく]
|
Meat (blade having lots of fullness)
|
|
Nodachi
|
野太刀 [のだち]
|
Very long tachi worn on back
|
|
Nuguigami
|
拭紙 [ぬぐいかみ]
|
Special paper used to clean swords
|
|
O
|
大 [おお]
|
Large
|
|
Obi
|
帯 [おび]
|
Belt sash
|
|
O Dachi
|
大太刀 [おおたち]
|
Extended length tachi
|
|
Oroshi
|
おろし
|
The slope from the iori to the corner of the mune.
|
|
Sageo
|
下緒 (さげお)
|
Cord used for tying the saya to the obi
|
|
Sakihaba
|
先幅
|
Width at tip of blade
|
|
Saki Haba
|
先幅[さきはば]
|
Blade width at yokote
|
|
Sakikasane
|
先重
|
Thickness at tip of blade
|
|
Same
|
鮫 [さめ]
|
Rayskin used for tsuka (handle) covering
|
|
Samegawa
|
鮫皮 [さめがわ]
|
Ray skin wrapping on the hilt.
|
|
Saya
|
鞘 [さや]
|
Sword scabbard
|
|
Sayaguchi
|
鞘口 [さやくち]
|
Mouth of the scabbard (koi guchi)
|
|
Seppa
|
切羽 [せっぱ]
|
Washers or spacers between tsuka and tsuba, and tsuba and
habaki.
|
|
Shaku
|
尺 [しゃく]
|
Japanese unit of measure approximately one foot
|
|
Shinai
|
竹刀 [しない]
|
Bamboo sword used in Kendo
|
|
Shinken
|
真剣 [しんけん]
|
Real sword
|
|
Shinogi
|
鎬 [しのぎ]
|
The ridge line between the edge and the back.
|
|
Shinogiji
|
鎬地 [しのぎち]
|
Sword flat between the mune and shinogi
|
|
Shirasaya
|
白鞘 [しらきさや]
|
Plain wood storage scabbard
|
|
Shōtō
|
小刀 [しょうとう]
|
Wooden wakizashi training sword
|
|
Sori
|
反り [そり]
|
Curvature
|
|
Suburitō
|
素振り刀 [すぶりとう]
|
Heavy wooden sword
|
|
Sun
|
寸 [すん]
|
Japanese measure, approximately 1.12 inch
|
|
Susudake
|
すす竹 [すすたけ]
|
Seasoned smoked bamboo used for mekugi pins
|
|
Tachi
|
太刀 [たち]
|
Long sword worn with cutting edge down
|
|
Tameshigiri
|
試し斬り [ためしぎり]
|
Cutting test
|
|
Tantō
|
短刀 [たんとう]
|
Dagger or knife with blade less than 12 inches
|
|
Tatami
|
畳 [たたみ]
|
Traditional Japanese straw floor mats
|
|
Tatami Omote
|
畳表 [たたみ
おもて]
|
Replaceable tatami mat cover used for tameshigiri
|
|
Tōshin
|
刀身 [とうしん]
|
The whole of the sword.
|
|
Tsuba
|
鍔 [つば]
|
The hand guard between the hilt and the blade.
|
|
Tsuka
|
柄 [つか]
|
Sword handle
|
|
Tsukaito
|
柄糸[つかいと]
|
Handle wrapping or tape
|
|
Tsukamaki
|
柄巻 [つかまき]
|
The wrapping on the hilt, usually silk.
|
|
Uchiko
|
打粉 [うちこ]
|
Fine powder used to clean sword blades
|
|
Udenukiana
|
腕貫穴 [うでぬきあな]
|
The two holes in the tsuba through which the sageo may be
passed.
|
|
Wakizashi
|
脇差 [わきざし]
|
Short sword (blade between 12 and 24 inches)
|
|
Yasurimei
|
鑢銘[やすりめい
]
|
Distinctive file marks on nakago
|
|
Yokote
|
横手 [よこて]
|
The line at right angles to the edge, dividing the
kissaki from the under part.
|
|
Rōmaji
|
Kanji
|
Description
|
|
Bō
|
棒 [ぼう]
|
Stick, club, truncheon, hit, a 6 foot staff.
|
|
Bō Shuriken
|
棒手裏剣 [ぼうしゅりけん]
|
Throwing spikes
|
|
Bokken
|
木剣 [ぼっけん]
|
Wooden practice sword
|
|
Bokutō
|
木刀 [ぼくとう]
|
Wooden practice sword
|
|
Chokutō
|
直刀 [ちょくとう]
|
Very early straight single edged (sometimes with second
partial edge) straight sword.
|
|
Daishō
|
大小 [だいしょう]
|
A matched pair of long and short swords
|
|
Daitō
|
大刀 [たいとう]
|
Long sword over 2 feet long
|
|
Donki
|
鈍器 [どんき]
|
Blunt weapon
|
|
Dōtanuki
|
同田貫, 胴田貫
[どうたぬき]
|
Battle sword similar to a katana with a very thick blade.
|
|
Guntō
|
軍刀 [ぐんとう]
|
Army or military sword
|
|
Hira Shuriken
|
平手裏剣 [ひらしゅりけん]
|
Flat throwing blades, usually star shaped
|
|
Iaitō
|
居合刀 [いあいと]
|
Unsharpened practice sword
|
|
Kama
|
鎌 [かま]
|
Sickle
|
|
Kamayari
|
鎌槍 [かまやり]
|
Spear with one or two curved secondary blades
|
|
Katana
|
刀 [かたな]
|
Sword worn in the obi, cutting edge up
|
|
Ken
|
剣 [けん]
|
Sword usually refers to double edged sword
|
|
Kodachi
|
小太刀 [こだち]
|
Short sword
|
|
Kusarigama
|
鎖鎌 [くさりがま]
|
Chain and sickle weapon
|
|
Kyoketsu Shoge
|
距跋渉毛 [きょけつしょうげ]
|
Weapon consisting of a hooked dagger, a long rope and a
weighted ring
|
|
Kyoketsushoge
|
距跋渉毛 [きょけつしょげ]
|
Chain weapon with a sickle on one end and a ring on the
other
|
|
Kyōki
|
凶器; 兇器
[きょうき]
|
Dangerous weapon
|
|
Makibishi
|
撒き菱; 撒菱
[まきびし]
|
Caltrop (spiked device scattered to maim infantry and
horses);
|
|
Manrikigusari
|
万力鎖 [まんりきぐさり]
|
Ninja weighted chain weapon
|
|
Mantō
|
萬刀; 卍刀
[まんとう]
|
Ninja weapon disguised as a pair of garden shears
|
|
Nagamaki
|
長巻 [ながまき]
|
Polearm with sword blade
|
|
Naginata
|
薙刀 [なぎなた]
|
Polearm with curved blade
|
|
Nihontō
|
日本刀 [にほんとう]
|
Japanese sword
|
|
Nodachi
|
野太刀 [のだち]
|
Very long tachi worn on back
|
|
O-dachi
|
大太刀 [おおたち]
|
Extended length tachi
|
|
Sai
|
釵 [さい]
|
Sai (an Okinawan weapon)
|
|
Sasumata
|
刺股; 刺叉;
指叉
[さすまた]
|
Two-pronged weapon for catching a criminal; man-catcher
war fork
|
|
Shikomizue
|
仕込み杖 [しこみづえ]
|
Sword cane
|
|
Shinai
|
竹刀 [しない]
|
Bamboo sword used in Kendo
|
|
Shinken
|
真剣 [しんけん]
|
Real sword
|
|
Shōtō
|
小刀 [しょうとう]
|
Wooden wakizashi training sword
|
|
Tachi
|
太刀 [たち]
|
Long sword worn with cutting edge down
|
|
Wakizashi
|
脇差 [わきざし]
|
Short sword (blade between 12 and 24 inches)
|
|
Yari
|
槍 [やり]
|
Japanese spear
|
|
Yumi
|
弓 [ゆみ]
|
Japanese style bow (for shooting arrows)
|
|
Rōmaji
|
Kanji
|
Description
|
|
Aka
|
赤
|
Red
|
|
Akai No Kachi
|
赤の勝ち
|
Red wins
|
|
Akai Yama No Koshi
|
赤山の公示
|
Red has left a mountain cut
|
|
Battō
|
抜刀
|
Drawing the sword
|
|
Chiburi
|
血振り
|
Action of removing blood from the blade
|
|
Dame
|
駄目
|
Don't, bad, not like that
|
|
Furikaburu
|
振りかぶる
|
Raising the sword to cut
|
|
Ganbatte
|
頑張って
|
Hold out, persevere, do your best, good luck.
|
|
Hai
|
はい
|
Okay
|
|
Hajime
|
始め
|
Start.
|
|
Hantei
|
判定
|
"Judgment" or "decision." a command by the referee to the
judges to choose the winner of a match when neither
contestant has scored or if the score is tied.
|
|
Hayaku
|
早く
|
Quick, fast
|
|
Iaigoshi
|
居合い腰, 居合腰
|
Step forward with the right foot and backwards with the
left foot going into the proper sword posture.
|
|
Kiwotsuke
|
気を付け
|
(Stand to) attention!
|
|
Kumitachi
|
組太刀
|
Partner practice with swords.
|
|
Nōtō
|
納刀
|
Returning the sword to its scabbard.
|
|
Sanpo
|
散歩
|
Walk – command to move into the starting position of a
kata.
|
|
Sayabiki
|
鞘引
|
Pulling the scabbard back, Saya control, usually pulling
back
|
|
Seiza
|
正座
|
"Correct sitting." A kneeling position sitting on both
calves.
|
|
Senshu Maeni
|
選手前に
|
Competitors, come close
|
|
Shidachi
|
仕太刀
|
Defender who must react to a confrontation
|
|
Shinpan Rei
|
審判 礼
|
Bow to judges
|
|
Shiro
|
白
|
White
|
|
Shiro No Kachi
|
白の勝ち
|
White wins
|
|
Shiro Yama No Koshi
|
白山の公示
|
White has left a mountain cut
|
|
Tagaini Rei
|
互いに礼
|
Bow to each other
|
|
Tatehiza
|
立て膝
|
Sitting with one knee drawn up
|
|
Uchidachi
|
打太刀
|
Attacker who initiates confrontation
|
|
Yame
|
止め
|
Stop
|
|
Rōmaji
|
Kanji
|
Description
|
|
Chu-dan No Kamae
|
中段の構え
|
Chu-dan no Kamae is a middle guard posture with point of
sword level with throat. The arms are held forward with only
a slight bend at the elbow. This is the most common kamae
(posture).
|
|
Gedan No Kamae
|
下段の構え
|
Gedan no Kamae is a low guard posture with point of sword
held just below the waist level.
|
|
Hassō No Kamae
|
八双の構え
|
Similar in form to hidari
Jōdan,
but the kamae is slightly above the right shoulder instead
of overhead. The right hand is even with and about one fist
away from the mouth, the left hand is aligned with the
centerline of the body, sword at 45 degree angle.
|
|
Hidari
Jōdan No Kamae
|
左上段の構え
|
Overhead kamae, left foot forward, sword at 45 degree
angle, left hand one fist from the forehead. The left hand
is positioned above the left eye, so the tip is slightly to
the right, behind the head.
|
|
Jōdan No Kamae
|
上段の構え
|
Jōdan no Kamae is an upper guard
posture with point of sword pointed up and slightly back.
The hands are over the head with the Kashira in the edge of
the peripheral vision.
|
|
Kamae Toku
|
構え解く
|
Kamae with lowered, slightly turned sword (of conquered
opponent)
|
|
Migi Jōdan
No Kamae
|
右上段の構え
|
Overhead kamae, right foot forward, sword at 45 degree
angle, left hand one fist from the forehead.
|
|
Seigan No Kamae
|
正眼の構え
|
Seigan Kamae is a middle guard with point of sword
pointed at the opponent's eyes. The arms are held forward
with only a slight bend at the elbow. This is a variation of
Chu-dan no Kamae.
|
|
Wakigamae
|
脇構え
|
Hidden guard posture. Step back with the right foot, and
position the sword so that it angles down with the tip
hidden from the opponent, with the left hand near the right
hip.
|
|
Rōmaji
|
Kanji
|
Description
|
|
Chu-dan
|
中段
|
Middle vertical cut ending with kissaki even with throat
|
|
Dōgiri
|
胴切り
|
Cutting horizontally into the torso (with a sword)
|
|
Gedan
|
下段
|
Low vertical cut ending with kissaki even with knee
|
|
Gyaku Kesa
|
逆袈裟
|
Reversed rising diagonal cut
|
|
Hidari ichimonji
|
左一文字
|
Horizontal cut going to the left
|
|
Hidari Kesa
|
左袈裟
|
Downward diagonal cut going to the left
|
|
Hidari Kesa
Gyaku Kesa
|
左袈裟 逆袈裟
|
Downward diagonal cut going to the left followed by
upward reverse cut
|
|
Hidari mayoko giri
|
左真横斬り
|
Horizontal cut going to the left
|
|
Jōdan
|
上段
|
High vertical cut ending with right hand even with
shoulder
|
|
Katate Tsuki
|
片手突き
|
One handed thrust
|
|
Katate Uchi
|
片手打ち
|
One hand cut
|
|
Kesa Giri
|
袈裟斬り
|
Diagonal cut.
|
|
Kiri Age
|
切上
|
Upward cut
|
|
Kiriotoshi
|
切り落とし
|
Vertical, forward cut, Cutting drop.
|
|
Migi ichimonji
|
右一文字
|
Horizontal cut going to the right
|
|
Migi Kesa
|
右袈裟
|
Downward diagonal cut going to the right
|
|
Migi Kesa
Gyaku Kesa
|
右袈裟 逆袈裟
|
Downward diagonal cut going to the right followed by
upward reverse cut
|
|
Migi mayoko giri
|
右真横斬り
|
Horizontal cut going to the right
|
|
Morote tsuki
|
諸手突き
|
Double-handed thrust.
|
|
Morote Uchi
|
双手打ち
|
Two hand cut
|
|
Nukitsuke
|
拔付
|
Drawing cut.
|
|
Nukiuchi
|
抜き打ち
|
Drawing and attacking in the same stroke
|
|
Suihei
|
水平
|
Horizontal cut – Warm up cut goes from to the right
followed by reverse cut going back to the left
|
|
Tsuki
|
突き
|
Thrust
|
|
Yokomenuchi
|
横抜き
|
Cut to the side of the head
|