Horimono

Horimono (彫り物, 彫物, literally carving, engraving), also known as chōkoku (彫刻, "sculpture"), are the engraved images in the blade of a nihonto (日本刀) Japanese sword, which may include katana or tantō blades.

[1] The artist is called a chōkokushi (彫刻師), or a horimonoshi (彫物師, "engraver").

There are a variety of designs, which include tsume (爪) "claws", kusa kurikara (草倶利伽羅) (Arabesque style), Munenagabori (created in Munenaga), renge (蓮華) (lotus blossom) and rendai (蓮台) (lotus pedestal), fruit, dragons, and many others.

This type of tattoo is traditionally done using a tebori (手彫り) - an instrument constructed of a bundle of needles affixed to a bamboo rod.

Public knowledge on this style of tattooing is limited, and one must enter an apprenticeship under a master in order to learn.