List of Wazamono

is a Japanese term that, in a literal sense, refers to an instrument that plays as it should; in the context of Japanese swords and sword collecting, wazamono denotes any sword with a sharp edge that has been tested to cut well, usually by professional sword appraisers via the art of tameshigiri (test cutting).

The term wazamono has been popularized by two books published during the late Edo period. The first is called , a single-volume authoritative index classifying historic Japanese swordsmiths based on the quality (cutting performance) of their blades; the book's first edition was compiled and published in 1797, with re-publishings made in 1805 and 1815 due to the book's popularity. The contents, written and edited by , a samurai of the Karatsu Domain in Hizen Province, were based on the recorded cutting tests done by , an executioner of the Tokugawa Shogunate and fifth head of the famous line of sword testers; single cuts were performed on the corpses of executed criminals aged 30 to 50, cutting their torsos roughly above nipple height.

A misconception about the wazamono classification is that it is a sword ranking, since the term wazamono itself refers to swords; however, the grades pertain to swordsmiths, graded according to the cutting ability of their blades. See the below list of the swordsmiths listed in the Kaihō Kenjaku.

Twelve (12) Saijō Ōwazamono

The original list of 12 swordsmiths who, based on the cutting ability of their blades, hold the highest rank of Saijō Ōwazamono (Supreme Grade):

= Hidemitsu II
= Masaie IV

thumb|300px|Katana forged by Nagasone Kotetsu. The letters inlaid with gold on the [[tang (tools)|tang (nakago) indicated that , the official executioner of the Tokugawa shogunate and examiner of sword cutting performance, cut four human torsos overlapped.]]

= , AKA
=
=
=
=
Hizen Tadayoshi III =

In the reprinted edition released in 1805 as well as the major revised edition of 1830, the three swordsmiths , , and were added to the list.

Twenty-one (21) Ōwazamono

The original list of 21 swordsmiths who, based on the cutting ability of their blades, hold the second-highest rank of Ōwazamono (Excellent Grade):

Fifty (50) Yoki-/Ryōwazamono

The original list of 50 swordsmiths who, based on the cutting ability of their blades, hold the third-highest rank of Yokiwazamono (Very Good Grade), alternatively pronounced Ryōwazamono (modern reading):

=
=
= =?
(added below)
=

=
, disciple of above.
=

Mixed

The following is the category of sword makers who, per the aforementioned listings, produced a mixture of quality: Ōwazamono, Yoki-/Ryōwazamono, or Wazamono. A total of 65 swordsmiths belong to this category:

In popular culture

In the hit manga One Piece, so-called are prominently featured: bladed weapons (usually - but not strictly - swords) forged by master craftsmen and wielded by powerful pirates and Marines alike. The finest of these fall into a Wazamono grading system, classifying them into four grades that are directly inspired by those defined in the Japanese Kaihō Kenjaku (although notably ranking the swords themselves, rather than their smiths). Namely, there are 12 Saijō Ōwazamono blades, 21 Ōwazamono blades, 50 Ryōwazamono blades, and an unknown number of low-ranking Wazamono blades. One of the main characters, Roronoa Zoro, is notable for wielding three meitō katana at all times - should circumstances allow it - by holding one in his mouth. Other noteworthy characters in this subject are the smiths who make these weapons, many of which happen to be katana.