This site is intended to assist collectors of Japanese swords and their associated fittings in translating the kanji characters commonly encountered. 

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Robinson Character Tables

These characters are the basis for the tables on this site.  

They are from the book "The Arts of the Japanese Sword" by B.W. Robinson

Faber and Faber; London and Boston
ISBN #0 571 04723 8

Appendix A	56 characters used in dates (Nengo)
Appendix B	32 characters used for numbers & zodiac dates
Appendix C	84 characters used to represent provinces
Appendix E	279 Characters used in signatures (Mei)
Table X	50 common characters - miscellaneous

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Copyright © 2002 - 2008 Jim Meyer
Last modified: January 21, 2008

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