Saviez-vous que le fameux “Kotetsu” de Kondō Isami pourrait en réalité être une lame de Minamoto Kiyomaro portant une fausse signature ?

Yes, sources cite a Minamoto Kiyomaro blade with a Kotetsu signature engraved by Hosoda Heijirō. The case illustrates the proliferation of gimei around Kotetsu and the difficulty of authenticating these blades.

Comment les samouraïs « certifiaient-ils » leurs lames ?

By cutting tests (tameshigiri), the results of which were engraved on the silk (tameshi-mei/saidan-mei), sometimes in gold inlay, with the date, type of cut and name of the tester.

Nomenclature of a katana | Practical info #Terressens

Katana nomenclature

Practical info #Terressens

Here are the main terms used to describe katanas. We've selected the most important ones for you, illustrating and listing the words that correspond to the elements that make up Japanese swords, those that characterize the blades and those that refer more specifically to elements of the handle and the extension of the blade.
A search engine makes it easy to understand and learn.

Fuchi (縁): metal part protecting the handle on the guard side
Habaki (ハバキ): brass part extending from the blade and penetrating the scabbard
Kashira (頭): sword pommel or buttcap
Koiguchi (鯉口): scabbard entry (opening)
Kojiri (小尻 / 鐺): scabbard end protection
Kurigata (栗形): ring attached to the scabbard
Mekugi (目釘): pins for holding handle to blade (usually x 2)
Menuki (目貫): decorative metal elements integrated into the handle

Sageo (下緒): fabric cord for holding the scabbard in the belt
Same (鮫肌): stingray skin strip under the handle braid (x 2)
Saya (鞘): scabbard
Seppa (切羽): guard-framing spacer (x 2)
Shito-Dome (鵐目): metal part attached to the retaining ring (x 2)
Tsuba (鍔): guard
Tsuka (柄): handle
Tsuka-ito (柄糸): handle braiding

Shinsengumi's Kotetsu, masterpiece... or false mei?

Did you know that the "Kotetsu" of Kondō Isami, head of the Shinsengumi, might not be an authentic Kotetsu? Sources cite a Minamoto Kiyomaro blade bearing a "Kotetsu" signature engraved by forger Hosoda Heijirō... A perfect story to talk about expertises and gimei and Edo legends. In contrast, the career of Nagasone Kotetsu, a gunsmith turned blacksmith around the Meireki years, nurtures his reputation for formidable steel, "capable of slicing through a helmet". Between technical prestige and a market flooded with forged signatures, the Kondō Isami enigma shows how myth and authentication still respond to each other today.

Sources:
. Wikipedia § Nagasone Kotetsu; reputation, Kondō Isami case and Kiyomaro/Hosoda Heijirō attribution
. Wikipedia § Kondō Isami; "Kotetsu" debated and Minamoto Kiyomaro lead
. Markus Sesko, "A reference to Kotetsu's scholastic background"; from armor to swords, Meireki 1-3

Blades "certified" by cutting tests

In Edo Japan, you didn't just admire a blade: you tested it. The results, tameshigirion straw bales, bamboo or even the corpses of convicts, could be inscribed on silk: tameshi-mei or saidan-mei. Some inscriptions, inlaid with gold (kinzōgan), detailing the date, the cut ("two torsos in one line"...) and the name of the tester, often a family member. Yamano or Yamada (Asaemon). The NBTHK publications attest to this. A highly codified practice that sheds light on the material culture of the samurai.

Sources:
. NBTHK, Sword Journal no. 797 (June 2023)
. NBTHK, Sword Journal no. 725 (June 2017)
. Wikipedia (§ Tameshigiri)

Ha (刃): edge of the blade
Hamon (刃文): tempering line
Hi (樋) / Bo-Hi (棒樋）: grooves in the blade
Kissaki (切先 / 鋒): point of blade
Mono-Uchi (ものうち): main cutting portion of blade (≈ 9 cm)
Mune (棟): back of the blade

Nagasa (長さ）: length of the blade, measured between the notch of the Habaki and the tip of the blade.
Sori (反り): curvature (height of the hollow in the back of the blade in relation to the straight line between the notch in the Habaki and the tip)
Yokote (横手): line between blade and tip

Habaki (ハバキ): brass part extending from the blade and penetrating the scabbard
Hamachi (刃区, 刃関): notch between the sharpened area and the tang of the blade
Mei (銘): swordsmith's signature (Mumei (無銘): no signature)
Machi (区): indentations between the bristle and the visible blade (in two parts, on the back side and on the cutting edge side).
Mekugi (目釘): pins for holding handle to blade (usually x 2)

Mekugiana (目釘穴): holes for the pins (Mekugi), fixing the handle (Tsuka) to the blade.
Munemachi (棟区, 棟関): indentation between the back (Mune (棟)) and the tang of the blade
Nakago (中心, 茎): blade tang (extension of the blade inside the handle: through tang)
Seppa (切羽): guard-framing spacer (x 2)
Tsuka (柄): handle

Rōmaji	Kanji	Description
Fuchi	縁	Metal part protecting the handle on the guard side
Ha	刃	Blade edge
Habaki	ハバキ	Brass part extending the blade and penetrating the scabbard
Hamachi	刃区, 刃関	Notch between sharpened area and blade tang
Hamon	刃文	Quenching line
Hi / Bo-Hi	樋 / 棒樋	Blade throat
Kashira	頭	Sword pommel or buttcap
Kissaki	切先 / 鋒	Point of blade
Koiguchi	鯉口	Sleeve inlet (opening)
Kojiri	小尻 / 鐺	Scabbard end protection
Kurigata	栗形	Ring fixed on the sheath
Machi	区	Notches between bristle and visible blade (in two parts, on the back side and on the cutting edge side)
Mei	銘	The blacksmith's signature on the silk
Mekugi	目釘	Pins to hold handle to blade (generally x 2)
Mekugiana	目釘穴	Holes for pins (Mekugi) securing handle (Tsuka) to blade
Menuki	目貫	Metal decorative elements integrated into the handle
Mono-Uchi	ものうち	Cutting area (≈ 9 cm)
Mumei	無銘	No blacksmith's signature
Mune	棟	Back of blade
Munemachi	棟区, 棟関	Notch between back (Mune (棟)) and blade tang
Nagasa	長さ	Blade length, measured from Habaki notch to blade tip
Nakago	中心, 茎	Blade bristle (extension of the blade inside the handle: through-bristle)
Sageo	下緒	Fabric cord to hold scabbard in place on belt
Same	鮫肌	Stingray skin slat under handle weave (x 2)
Saya	鞘	Sleeve
Seppa	切羽	Guard spacer (x 2)
Shito-Dome	鵐目	Metal part attached to retaining ring (x 2)
Sori	反り	Curvature (height of the hollow in the back of the blade in relation to the straight line between the Habaki notch and the tip)
Tsuba	鍔	Guard
Tsuka	柄	Handle
Tsuka-ito	柄糸	Braided handle
Yokote	横手	Line between blade and tip

Rōmaji

Kanji

Description

Fuchi

縁

Metal part protecting the handle on the guard side

刃

Blade edge

Habaki

ハバキ

Brass part extending the blade and penetrating the scabbard

Hamachi

刃区, 刃関

Notch between sharpened area and blade tang

Hamon

刃文

Quenching line

Hi / Bo-Hi

樋 / 棒樋

Blade throat

Kashira

頭

Sword pommel or buttcap

Kissaki

切先 / 鋒

Point of blade

Koiguchi

鯉口

Sleeve inlet (opening)

Kojiri

小尻 / 鐺

Scabbard end protection

Kurigata

栗形

Ring fixed on the sheath

Machi

区

Notches between bristle and visible blade (in two parts, on the back side and on the cutting edge side)

Mei

銘

The blacksmith's signature on the silk

Mekugi

目釘

Pins to hold handle to blade (generally x 2)

Mekugiana

目釘穴

Holes for pins (Mekugi) securing handle (Tsuka) to blade

Menuki

目貫

Metal decorative elements integrated into the handle

Mono-Uchi

ものうち

Cutting area (≈ 9 cm)

Mumei

無銘

No blacksmith's signature

Mune

棟

Back of blade

Munemachi

棟区, 棟関

Notch between back (Mune (棟)) and blade tang

Nagasa

長さ

Blade length, measured from Habaki notch to blade tip

Nakago

中心, 茎

Blade bristle (extension of the blade inside the handle: through-bristle)

Sageo

下緒

Fabric cord to hold scabbard in place on belt

Same

鮫肌

Stingray skin slat under handle weave (x 2)

Saya

鞘

Sleeve

Seppa

切羽

Guard spacer (x 2)

Shito-Dome

鵐目

Metal part attached to retaining ring (x 2)

Sori

反り

Curvature (height of the hollow in the back of the blade in relation to the straight line between the Habaki notch and the tip)

Tsuba

鍔

Guard

Tsuka

柄

Handle

Tsuka-ito

柄糸

Braided handle

Yokote

横手

Line between blade and tip

Katana nomenclature (pdf)

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侍 #Terressens | Samouraïs & Katanas | Nomenclature of a katana (Practical info) 刀

Samurai & Katanas

Katana nomenclature

Practical info #Terressens

Components of a katana

💡 Did you know?

Shinsengumi's Kotetsu, masterpiece... or false mei?

💡 Did you know?

Blades "certified" by cutting tests

Blade parts

Tsuka and silk

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