How Japanese Swords Are Counted: Furi, Kuchi, Koshi and Hon

Japanese Swords Have Multiple Ways of Being Counted

Japanese swords are counted using different counters depending on the context: ichifuri, ikkou, hitokoashi, ippon, and others. Even when referring to the same sword, the terminology differs between spoken and written language, between everyday conversation and cultural property records. This distinction is said not to have been established by rule, but rather to have developed through the customs of how swords were carried and used, and the language conventions of different eras. Below, we organize four representative ways of counting—furi, kou, koshi, and hon—along with the origin explanations commonly introduced in dictionaries, and guidelines for when they are used. Since all have backgrounds in historical language customs, and multiple theories coexist regarding their origins, we present them here in the form of "it is said that..." or "there is a theory that..."

Japanese has a custom of using specialized counters for different objects based on their shape or qualities, and swords and blades are among those with the most varieties of counting methods. From the era when swords were carried at the waist as weapons to the present day when they are recorded as works of art and cultural properties, the breadth of contexts in which swords have been placed is reflected directly in the breadth of counting methods.

Furi - The Most Common Way of Counting, Derived from Action

The most widely used is "furi" (振), counted as ichifuri, nifuri, etc. It is said to derive from the action of swinging a sword, and it is a highly versatile counter that can be used for all types of swords and blades, including tachi, uchigatana, and wakizashi (the differences between uchigatana and wakizashi are explained here). It is used without hesitation in both colloquial and written language, and is commonly seen in modern sword dealers' product descriptions and articles. The fact that the reading is consistently "furi" is also a reason it is more widely used than other counting methods, with less ambiguity.

In museum display explanations and newspaper articles—texts that do not presume specialized knowledge—this "furi" is first chosen, and among the four, it holds the position of being the practical standard. The high versatility of being able to be used regardless of the type or era of sword is seen as resulting in high frequency of use.

Kou - A Way of Counting That Retains Old Characters, Also Used in Cultural Property Designation Names

There is also a way of counting written as "kou" (口) but read as "furi". One theory says this derives from the "kiri-kuchi" (cut opening) created when a sword is brought down, and it is said to be an example of old-era characters that have remained as-is to the present day. It is almost never used in everyday conversation, but it remains in formal written language and record-keeping situations.

As a practical example, in the Agency for Cultural Affairs' Cultural Heritage Online database, the quantity section of the National Treasure "Tachi Signed Masamitsu" is written as "ikkou" (一口) (Cultural Heritage Online "Tachi Signed Masamitsu"). This is an example of the "kou" way of counting being used in the most formal record-keeping situation of cultural property designation names. While the "quantity" section is an item that shows the number of cultural properties regardless of type, in the case of swords and blades, examples can be seen where the character "kou" is used. Some dictionaries also list readings of "hitokuchi" or "ikkō," but in the field of swords and blades, the reading "furi" is widely introduced.

Koshi - A Way of Counting Derived from the Style of Wearing at the Waist

"Koshi" (腰) is counted as hitokoashi, and the general theory is that it derives from the style of carrying a sword at the waist. It is a way of counting that makes one conscious of at what position on the body a sword was located, such as tachi that are worn suspended from the waist by cord (haibutō), or uchigatana and wakizashi that are thrust into the obi (taito). Like "furi," it is an old way of speaking, but it has more of a written-language quality than an everyday-language quality.

The way of wearing the sword at the waist differs between tachi and uchigatana, with tachi expressed as suspending or wearing by cord (haku), and uchigatana expressed as thrusting into the obi (sasu). Both have the sword blade at the waist position in common, and the "koshi" way of counting is thought to be language that captures this shared feature of carrying. The expression "koshi no mono" (sword accessories) used in explanations of sword fittings and koshirae is an extension of this same way of thinking.

Hon - A Versatile Way of Counting Not Limited to Swords and Blades

"Hon" (本) is a general counter used for counting stick-like objects, used not only for swords and blades but also for everyday items. As warriors were described as wearing "daisho nihon-zashi" (two swords of different lengths at the waist) when they carried both long and short swords at the waist, the practice of counting swords as "hon" itself dates back long ago. In situations where one wants to avoid specialist terminology or wishes to show only quantity when listing with other objects, "hon" is the easier choice.

While "furi," "kou," and "koshi" all have origins unique to swords and blades, "hon" is distinctive in that it can be commonly used for thin, long items like umbrellas or pencils. It is a way of saying that tends to be chosen when one wants to separate swords and blades from their specialist context and simply treat them as quantitative information about "how many thin, long objects there are."

Guidelines for Choosing by Situation

The four ways of counting are easier to understand when considered not as if one is "correct," but rather as being chosen depending on the situation. Guidelines can be organized as follows:

• General conversation or introductions: "furi" (most versatile)
• Provenance notes, old records, formal written language: "kou," "koshi"
• When you want to show only quantity concisely: "hon"
• When expressing with awareness of the style of wearing at the waist, like with tachi: "koshi"

There is no single correct answer, and dictionaries may place different emphasis in their explanations. When reading explanations or catalogs of swords and blades, paying attention to these differences in counting methods allows one to see the situation in which the text was written and the character of its writing style.

In fact, among websites dealing with swords and blades, "furi" is a commonly used way of counting. This can be said to reflect the fact that this most versatile way of counting is the standard also in places that handle swords and blades on a daily basis.