Measuring Japanese Swords, Naginata and Yari

Nagasa

The blade length is measured from the munemachi to the kissaki along a straight line. Older books on the Japanese sword will reference the nagasa as the length to the end of the nakago.

Sori

The sori is the curvature of the sword from the line used to measure the nagasa and the deepest part of the curve along the mune.

Kasane & Mihaba

Kasane referes to the thickness of the Mune from side to side (see drawing). The Kasane at the Munemachi is called the motokasane and the thickness of the mune at the kissake is sakikasane. The area behind the motokasane on the nakago will usually show the original thickness of the blade.

Measurements of Kissaki

This defines the length of the kissaki.

Nagako

​The nakago is measured from the munemachi (notch in the back of the blade) to the nakagojiri (tip of the tang).