Composition of Katana

Close‑up photograph of nihonto blade showing yasurime file marks near habaki area, black background with technical annotation

What Are Yasurime: File Marks on Traditional Japanese Katana

Yasurime are characteristic hand‑filed marks positioned close to the habaki on traditional Japanese nihonto. These craft details served both practical and aesthetic purposes, with multiple recognis...

Black‑background studio photograph of katana blade with white measurement markup defining sori, nihonto curvature demonstration

Katana Sori: Understanding Blade Curvature of Japanese Nihonto

Sori describes the characteristic curvature built into every traditional Japanese katana. This guide walks through four major sori classifications, explaining how each curve form evolved through hi...

Black background studio photograph of nihonto nakago tang, white dimension leader lines marking the full tang section of japanese katana

Nakago: The Essential Tang Structure of Traditional Japanese Nihonto

The nakago forms the hidden core of every traditional Japanese katana. This guide introduces major tang silhouettes and classic kuri-jiri tip shapes valued by sword collectors.

Close-up studio shot of polished katana kissaki blade tip against solid pure black background, nihonto detail photograph

Kissaki: Guide to the Tip Styles of Japanese Nihonto Blades

The kissaki is the distinct pointed tip of any Japanese nihonto blade. Each variation, including ko-kissaki, chu-kissaki, ikubikissaki, kamasu-kissaki and o-kissaki, carries unique aesthetic traits...

Labeled full view of ornamental katana and matching lacquered saya with all external fitting terminology marked for sword collectors, black minimalist studio background

Katana Parts Terminology: Complete Glossary Of Japanese Sword Fittings & Blade Structure

For collectors, cosplay enthusiasts and Japanese sword culture lovers, mastering the professional terminology of every katana component is essential. A standard ornamental katana is composed of doz...