Kanna part names … or, it's called a what?!!

[Des.K.]

I thought it might be worthwhile to give a list of the Japanese names for the various parts of the kanna and blade. This way we can generally be on something like the same page when we talk about the kanna.

I normally use the English term where a reasonable one exists, but there are parts of the kanna that have no Western plane equivalent, so this is where knowing the Japanese term can be handy. A Classic case is that the front of a Western plane is the back of a kanna, and vice versa, so I always find it much easier to use dai-jiri and dai-gashira.

The names in the attached JPEG files are the terms generally used in the Kanto region, centring on Tokyo. The Kansai region around Osaka has different terms for some of the parts. And some shokunin from some areas may call some parts by yet different names, so this is by no means a definitive list. And I've no intention of getting into an argument about whether it's senaka, omote, or kō.

Hope this is of some use.

Des

[Sheets]

Thanks Des. I know I've seen a similar diagram somewhere, but never bookmarked it, so I'll make a copy of those you've posted for future reference.

[yojimbo]

Thanks, Des. Never had that information. Bookmarked... and will be printed out (I'm a Luddite, remember?) when my infernal machine stops acting like a dull tool.

[NeilS]

Thanks, Des....

[Pops]

Hi Des,

What they said. Onya.

Cheers
Pops