互の目乱れ (Gunome Midare)

What is Gunome Midare in Japanese Katana terminology?

Gunome Midare refers to a type of blade pattern (Hamon) in Japanese swords. It is characterized by a wave-like pattern that resembles a series of Go stones. The name ""互の目乱れ"" (Gunome Midare) comes from its resemblance to the pattern of Go stones when viewed from the side, and it was originally written as ""碁の目乱れ"". It is said that the Takeya school, a lineage of sword polishers, referred to ""互の目乱れ"" as ""横乱れ"" (Yoko Midare).

There are various names for ""互の目乱れ"" depending on the shape.

""尖り互の目"" (Togari Gunome), also known as ""三本杉"" (Sanbonsugi), refers to a pattern where the distinctive Gunome, which is pointed like the tip of a cedar tree, is tempered in a series of three. This pattern is known to have been tempered by ""孫六兼元"" (Magoroku Kanemoto), a famous swordsmith of the Mino tradition, one of the five traditions (Gokaden).

""片落ち互の目"" (Kataochi Gunome), also written as ""肩落ち互の目"" (Katagochi Gunome), refers to a type of Gunome that is said to have been initiated by ""備前長船景光"" (Bizen Osafune Kagemitsu), a swordsmith who was active in Bizen Province (now eastern Okayama Prefecture). In this pattern, the 'shoulder' (head) of the Gunome Midare is suppressed from the cutting edge side, and it is inclined towards the collar side.