///ARTWORK///          "The Five Schools"
    KOTO                    YAMATO
  Face Card 
//////////// 
              ///MAP - Japan with YAMATO overlay///

              /////ARTWORK - Block Diagram// ///ARTWORK///
                   Schools:                  Sword Profile
////////ARTWORK////        AMAKUNI           /////////////
    Hand with Cards        SENJUIN
     Early YAMATO          TAIMA               GO KINAI steel
///////////////////        SHIKKAKE              Dark-clear
                                                ------------
////////ARTWORK////        SHIZU            Earlier masters show
    Hand with Cards        TEGAI           greater complexity and
     Later YAMATO          SUE-TEGAI         subtlety of color
///////////////////        HOSHO
                           KANABO



                         The Five Schools
                            YAMATO

YAMATO Tutor: General Technical

SUGATA 
The most important feature that distinguishes YAMATO from 
YAMASHIRO is raised SHINOGI and MUNE ridge lines. Both provinces 
used TORIIZORI and have wide SHINOGI-JI, but the raised SHINOGI 
and MUNE of YAMATO blades will differ markedly. Note: Raised 
SHINOGI can also be found on BITCHU blades, SATSUMA, SUWO, the 
2nd BIZEN KANEMITSU and the MINO lines, KANEMOTO and KANESADA.

HADA 
The HADA differs as well.YAMATO blades exhibit MASAME or an ITAME
MASAME mix (YAMASHIRO used KO-MOKUME almost exclusively). 
REMINDER: MASAME "straight grain" can appear in a mix but was 
also often used as the structural basis of a laminate. MASAME 
along the HA or the SHINOGI may be the sword structural plan in 
view. YAMATO used KO-MOKUME or ITAME, but MASAME at play shows a basic
structural distinction from YAMASHIRO. Both YAMATO and 
YAMASHIRO can have the well-worked HADA that reminds of NASHIJI.

HAMON 
Early swords are in SUGUHA, SUGU KO-MIDARE or KO-MIDARE BA in NIE.
Some have ASHI. YAKIBA of later blades may be wider. O-MIDARE 
GUNOME, KO-MIDARE mixes are seen - with, perhaps, less pronounced
NIE.

BOSHI
NIE and some KAEN. Mostly without turnback. Later BOSHI might be
MIDARE (some full temper in KANABO school).

NAKAGO
YAMATO NAKAGO is much like that of YAMASHIRO. They have length 
and gentle curve. A few of the older pieces are KIJI. Famous 
YASURI for YAMATO is TAKANOHA (falcon feathers) and HIGAKE.