Sword and Shinai Parts

Sword Parts

Katana - the sword

1) Tsuka - the hilt.

2) Habaki - the collar fitted around tang of the blade. It fits snuggly in the koiguchi (saya #3) in order to hold the sword in the scabard.

3) Ha - the edge of the blade.

4) Hamon - the visible line separating the hardest steel of the blade from the softer steel in the rest of the sword.

5) Bohi - the groove or grooves in the blade. They serve to lighten and balance the blade. Not all blades have bohi.

6) Shinogi - the ridge on the side of the blade.

7) Mune - the back of the blade.

8) Kisaki - the tip of the blade.

9) Sori - the curvature of the blade. It is described by its amount and location. The amount is the distance from an imaginary line connecting the very tip of the sword and where the mune meets the habaki, and the farthest point on the back of the sword. The location is where this farthest point is located.

10) Nagasa - the length of the blade. It is measured in a straight line from the tip to where the mune meets the habaki.

11) Kashira/Tsuka gashira - the butt end of the tsuka. Also the metal cap at this location.

12) Tsuka ito - the cord wrapped around the tsuka.

13) Same - the shark or ray skin (or a simulation thereof) on the wooden core of the tsuka, underneath the tsuka ito.

14) Menuki - decorative pieces underneath the tsuka ito. They originally served to make the sword easier to grip.

15) Mekugi - a small rod or pin, usually of bamboo, that holds the blade of the sword in the tsuka.

16) Fuchi - the metal collar around top of the tsuka.

17) Tsuba - the sword gaurd.

Saya - the scabbard

1) Kurigata - the small knob/loop where the sageo is attached to the saya itself.

2) Kojiri - a cap, usually made of horn, at the butt end of the saya. It serves to protect the saya against nicks and scrapes. Not all saya have kojiri.

3) Koiguchi - the end of the saya where the blade enters. Also the hole itself.

4) Sageo - the cord attached to the saya. It is used to secure the saya to its wearer.

Shinai Parts

1) Sakigawa - the leather cover on the tip of the shinai.

2) Nakayui - the knotted leather thong tied around the shinai.

3) Tsuru- the string along the back of the shinai, tied to the sakigawa and tsukagawa.

4) Tsuba - the guard.

5) Tsuba dome - the stopper that holds the tsuba in place.

6) Tsukagawa - the lether cover on the hilt of the shinai.

7) Monouchi - the "striking part" of the shinai. Only strikes with this portion of the shinai are considered valid during shiai.

8) Jinbu - the part of the shinai that represents the edge. It is directly opposite the tsuru.

9) Tsuka - the handle.