Nihontô - Japanese Sword

This site is intended to provide information about Japanese swords (Nihontô)

Site last updated 16th April 2014

Index and Site Guide


Introduction

To understand, date and identify Japanese swords it is important to study the shape and form of blades, the patterning (hada) of the surface metal, the pattern and age of file marks (yasurime) on the tang, the shape and features of the hamon and so on.

It is also very difficult to gain any understanding of Nihontô without being able to decipher Japanese characters (kanji) to read the signatures (mei) and other inscriptions on sword tangs (nakago). There is much information on the site to help you translate mei, together with information to enable you to describe various features of Japanese swords so that you can communicate easily about them.

Please note Meiboku is not a commercial enterprise and valuations can not be undertaken

© 1996 - 2007, 2014 Alan Quinn