Japanese Sword Terminology Quiz — Test Your Knowledge

Understanding terminology is essential for sword appreciation. Test your knowledge.

Beginner: - What is hamon? → The boundary pattern between edge and body created during quenching - What is tsuba? → The sword guard - What is shirasaya? → A plain wood scabbard for storage

Intermediate: - Difference between nie and nioi? → Particle size in the hamon - What is utsuri? → A whitish phenomenon in the jihada, characteristic of Bizen - Can you name all five Gokaden? → Yamato, Yamashiro, Bizen, Soshu, Mino

Advanced: - Can you name 5+ of Masamune's Ten Pupils? - Boundary years between koto/shinto/shinshinto? → 1596 and 1764 - NBTHK's four grades in descending order? → Tokubetsu Juyo, Juyo, Tokubetsu Hozon, Hozon