The red circle indicates the area we discuss in this chapter
It is rare to find a tanto (短刀 dagger) made during the Heian period. During the middle Kamakura period, many high-quality tanto were produced. They were called takenoko-zori shaped tanto, with “takenoko” meaning bamboo shoot. The back of the tanto curves inward slightly.
Middle Kamakura Period Yamashiro School Tanto
Sugata (shape)———-Hirazukuri. This means there is no shinogi, no yokote line. See the illustration above. The standard tanto length is approximately ten inches. The width is neither too wide nor too narrow, making it well-proportioned. The body is slightly thick. High gyo-no-mune (行の棟) and shin-no-mune (真の棟).
Hamon (刃文) ——————— The tempered area is narrow. Nie base. Suguha-midare (a straight-line pattern with an irregular wavy shape) or suguha-choji (a straight-line pattern with small choji). The tempered edge line may display a frayed pattern.
Boshi(tempered line at Kissaki area) ———Yakizume, Kaen, Nie-kuzure.
Engravings (彫刻) ———- Often, various types of engravings are applied to the lower part of the body. These may include one or two grooves, Sanskrit, suken (spear), dragon, etc. For the Sanskrit and spear, refer to the illustration in Chapter 8.
Tanto Swordsmiths in the Middle Kamakura Period
Awataguchi group(粟田口)———————————Awataguchi Yoshimitu (粟田口吉光) Rai group (来) ——————————————————————-Rai Kunitoshi(来国俊) Soushu Group (相州) ——————————————Shintougo Kunimitu (新藤五国光) Bizen group (備前) —————————————————— Bizen Kagemitu (備前景光) Bungo no Kuni Group (豊後の国) ——————–Bungo-no-kuni Yukihira (豊後の国行平)
来国光（Rai Kunimitsu）
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Study of Japanese Sword 