horimono

thumb|280px|Wakizashi forged by Koyama Sōbei Munetsugu with a horimono engraved on the blade by Shōji Zenbei Nobutatsu. A [[vajra is engraved to pray for the protection of the offspring. Edo period]] right|thumb|100px|Antique Japanese wakizashi sword blade showing the horimono, of a chrysanthemum Horimono (, , literally carving, engraving), also known as chōkoku (, "sculpture"), are the engraved images in the blade of a nihonto () Japanese sword, which may include katana or tantō blades. The artist is called a chōkokushi (), or a horimonoshi (, "engraver").

There are a variety of designs, which include tsume () "claws", kusa kurikara () (Arabesque style), Munenagabori (created in Munenaga), renge () (lotus blossom) and rendai () (lotus pedestal), fruit, dragons, and many others as auspicious motifs.