Amida Yasuri

Radiating lines, starting from the center. These have the appearance of sun rays. Amida means Buhhda and Yasuri means file or rasp.

Ana

A hole. e.g. Nakago ana, Hitsu ana, Udenuki ana.

Aoi

A hollyhock.

Bori

Surface carving

Dai

large, as in Daisho (large/small).

Dote-mimi

A raised rim onthe mimi, Common on Katchushi tsuba.

Fuchi

Fitting that sits on the end of the tsuka, at the tsuba end.

Fukurin

An outer rim cover on a tsuba, usually in Shakado, Gold or some other soft metal.

Gata (Kata)

This means Shape, Maru Gata is Round Shape.

Hako-gaki

An inscription sometimes with attribution applied to wooden fittings boxes

Iroe

Refers to the method of inlaying metal used in pictorial designs, which isof a different colour to the Jigane.

Katachi Bori

Carved with a full motif.

Kibata

The edge. On menuki, it refers to the edge where you might find a mei.

Kashira

Fitting placed at the end of the tsuka.

Kinzogan Mei

Gold mei made by inlay or gold lacquer.

Kodogu

Litterally small fittings

Kogai

Utility for cleaning ears and scratching the head.

Koshirae

A complete set of fittings fo ra Japanese sword.

Kozuka

Handel for a utility knife.

Mimikaki

Ear pick. This is the orante curved end of a Kogai, designed to clean wax from the ear.

Mitokoromono

A set comprising of Kozuka, Kogai and menuki.

Menuki

Small fittings, placed under or on top of ito or same on a tsuka.

Nanako-ji

Nanako are named after fish roe. Small circular lumps in the surface of the fitting. Nanako-ji means a nanako surface (also nanako ground).

Oborogin ji

A hazy silver ground .

Saya

Sacabbard for the sword blade.

Shakudo

An alloy comprising of Gold and copper. Polished, it is a rich black with a wonderful lustre.

Shibuichi

Silver alloyed or coated.

Shumei

A signature or attribution apllied with red lacquer

Takabori iroe

Tekkotsu

Mixtures of iron of different qualities produce distinct texture variations that are visible to the rims of the guards. There are three main variations are fine, granular and linear.

Tetsu

Iron.

Tosogu

Sword fittings. Includes all forms of koshirae and fittings

Tsuba

Sword Guard

Tsuka

The handle of a Japanese sword.

Umbari

Literally, horse needle.

Uttori

A technique using a thin film of gold.

Wabi-sabi

A difficult Japanese concept, Wabi-sabi is an aesthetic sometimes described as one of beauty that is imperfect or incomplete. In tosogu, and for the most part tsuba, Wabi-sabi is a sense of a look more natural than man made. Like it was made by nature.

Yamagane

Unrefined Copper. This copper was made in times when the refining process was not as good as it is now. Other impurities are mixed in. The colur is deeper than modern Copper.

Zu

Figure or theme.