Glossary

Bushidō: samurai code of ideals invented in the modern periodinro: seal container

Chokaro: one of the eight immortals of Daoism; owns a magic mule which he can spawn from a gourd and ride for miles

Guntō: modern military swords used by Japanese soldiers under the imperial army.

Inrō: Vessel to hold seals”(1) or “literally, seal case;”(2) an item similar to an exterior pocket that the user would use to store personal items such as medicinal products or seals for stamping personal documents.

Kyū Guntō: old military sword, used between the years of 1875 and 1934; closely resembled the design of contemporaneous European and American swords

netsuke: toggle, statuette; the piece found at the end of the string which would secure a Sagemono, like an Inro, to the Obi; usually decorative

ojime: bead; the tightener, a small marble size bead in the middle of a string connecting the Inro and Netsuke as a means to tighten the set-in place upon the obi.

Obi: literally sash or belt, a piece of clothing traditionally worn by Japanese individual between the Heian and Edo period

Oni:  A type of Japanese spirit that resembles a demon or ogre. These are typically associated with lightning, and can be evil in nature or are depicted as bringers of prosperity.

Sagemono - “‘hanging things’” (3) typically in reference to an item which would hang loosely from the Obi.

Shin Guntō:  new military sword, produced between 1935 and 1945 and styled after the traditional katana.

Tachi: class of Japanese curved sword.

Tanegashima: matchlock musket, arquebus

Tantō: class of Japanese short sword.

Tengu: A type of Japanese spirit that is typically described as having a large nose and bird-like features. Like many Japanese spirits they can be good or evil in nature.

Tsuishu - meaning carved lacquer, is a style that is made of “carved cinnabar lacquer;”( 4) a lacquer style that was a product of the Kamakura period of Japan between 1185 and 1333.

Yōkai:  class of spirit or demon in Japanese mythology. They can be good or evil in nature.