Horimono (Japanese: 彫り物, Japanese: 彫物, literally carving, engraving), also known as chōkoku (Japanese: 彫刻, "sculpture"), are the engraved images in the blade of a nihonto (Japanese: 日本刀) Japanese sword, which may include katana or tantō blades.[1] The artist is called a chōkokushi (Japanese: 彫刻師), or a horimonoshi (Japanese: 彫物師, "engraver"). There are a variety of designs, which include tsume (Japanese: 爪) "claws", kusa kurikara (Japanese: 草倶利伽羅) (Arabesque style), Munenagabori (created in Munenaga), renge (Japanese: 蓮華) (lotus blossom) and rendai (Japanese: 蓮台) (lotus pedestal), fruit, dragons, and many others.
Horimono can also refer to the practice of traditional tattooing in Japanese culture; while irezumi usually refers to any tattooing (and often has negative connotations in Japan), "horimono" is usually used to describe full-body tattoos done in the traditional style.[2] In some cases, these tattoos can cover the whole body, including the arms and legs.
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.[3]