Meito

Meito is an umbrella term for named blades that have earned fame, as a result of having been forged by master bladesmiths and/or being wielded by master swordsmen. The most notable of these blades, called Wazamono, are ranked by the "grade" of their quality.^[1][2]

While most "Meito" are swords, a great variety of blades (including bladed polearms/spears) fall under this category; even non-bladed melee weapons (e.g., clubs) are sometimes regarded in a similar light.^[2][3]

Overview[]

The term "Meito" (名刀, Meitō^?, lit. "Famous Blade") denotes bladed weapons (usually swords) of both renown and superior craftsmanship: sharp and durable blades smithed by masters. Those Meito assigned a definite rank are known as "Grade(d) Blades" (業物, Wazamono^?, lit. "Sharp Blade"). These blades can usually be recognized on sight by those knowledgable on the subject of swords and, given their prestige, tend to be quite valuable, with the Grade Sword Sandai Kitetsu being valued at 1,000,000 and the Great Grade Sword Wado Ichimonji valued at 10,000,000.^[1] In contrast to unnamed, mass-produced bladed weapons, Meito are made individually by master craftsmen and tend to be distinctively designed. Because of this, they generally come into the hands of powerful combatants skilled in the ways of the blade, who bring fame to their blade along with themselves; it is said that a blade chooses its wielder, and blade-wielding skill is an absolute necessity with the highest-graded Meito, which are known for being notoriously difficult to master, some even being labeled as Cursed/Demonic Blades (妖刀, Yōtō^?).^[4][5][3]

There are currently four known "grades" (位列, iretsu^?) of Meito:^[1][2]

1. Supreme Grade Blades (Saijō Ōwazamono), of which there are 12;
2. Great Grade Blades (Ōwazamono), of which there are 21;
3. Skillful Grade Blades (Ryōwazamono), of which there are 50;
4. Grade Blades (Wazamono), of which there is a currently unknown number.

Some Meito are well-known, thus counting as Meito, but have no particular grade.^[6][3]

There is a circumstance where, after countless battles, a sword's blade will permanently turn black, thus becoming what is known as a "Black Blade" (黒刀, Kokutō^?). Black Blades are stronger than ordinary swords and well known for their impressive resilience; a dinosaur could step on one and it would not bend at all.^[7] It has been indicated that Armament Haki is necessary to turn a blade black, given that a Black Blade has the same coloration as weapons imbued with Haki, but it is uncertain if there are other steps needed to achieve the effect permanently.^[3] It is said that should a swordsman be able to turn their blade into a Black Blade, it would become one grade higher.^[8]

Meito by Rank[]

See also the associated category: Meito.

[v · e · ?] Meito
Supreme Grade Blades
Yoru Murakumogiri Ace Shodai Kitetsu Yakuza Kasen
Great Grade Blades
Wado Ichimonji Shusui Nidai Kitetsu Enma Ame no Habakiri
Skillful Grade Blades
Yamaoroshi Kashu Yubashiri (Destroyed)† Kosho (Non-Canon)≠ (Destroyed)†
Grade Blades
Shigure Sandai Kitetsu
Unknown Grade Blades
Gryphon Cat Claws (Half-Destroyed)* Nakiri Swords Daisenso Kiribachi (Partially Destroyed)* Terry Sword (Destroyed)† Bruiser Axe (Destroyed)† Nonosama Bo Bamboo Funkfreed Soul Solid Oto Kogarashi Punishers Warabide Sword Kessui Raiu Franken Kirisame (Destroyed)† Napoleon (Unknown status)? Durandal Same-kiri Bocho (Destroyed)† Konpira Shirauo Pretzel Mogura Soto Muso Takeru ????? ????? ?????
Ungraded
Kikoku Sukesan Kakusan Tsuji Shibai Hassaikai

12 Supreme Grade Blades[]

The 12 Supreme Grade Blades (最上大業物12工, Saijō Ōwazamono Jūnikō^?)^[1][2] are the twelve strongest, highest-quality blades in the world. Through their usage, they have displayed incredible feats of both strength and durability, such as being exposed to the harshest elements without losing their edge and being used to slash through enormous structures with single strokes. Five out of the twelve Supreme Grade Blades have been revealed so far (four swords and one naginata):

• Yoru: a Black Blade (Dracule Mihawk)^[9]
• Shodai Kitetsu: a Cursed Blade of the Kitetsu School^[10]
• Murakumogiri (Edward Newgate)^[11]
• Ace (Gol D. Roger)^[12]
• Yakuza Kasen (Fugetsu Kisaburo (creator) → Issho)^[13]

21 Great Grade Blades[]

The 21 Great Grade Blades (大業物21工, Ōwazamono Nijūikkō^?)^[1][2] are among the highest-quality blades in the world, second only to the 12 Supreme Grade swords. These blades are well known for their incredible power and outstanding balance between strength, sharpness, and durability. In the hands of master swordsmen, they can even stand up to the Supreme Grade Swords in combat. Five Great Grade Blades are currently known (all katana-style swords):

• Nidai Kitetsu: a Cursed Kitetsu Blade (Kotetsu (creator) → Kouzuki Sukiyaki)
• Wado Ichimonji (Shimotsuki Kouzaburou (creator) → Shimotsuki Koushirou → Shimotsuki Kuina → Roronoa Zoro)
• Enma (Shimotsuki Kouzaburou (creator) → Kouzuki Oden → Kouzuki Hiyori → Roronoa Zoro)
• Shusui: a Black Blade (Shimotsuki Ryuma → Roronoa Zoro → Wano Country)
• Ame no Habakiri (Kouzuki Sukiyaki (creator) → Kouzuki Oden → Kouzuki Momonosuke)

50 Skillful Grade Blades[]

The 50 Skillful Grade Blades (良業物50工, Ryōwazamono Gojūkō^?)^[1][2] are blades of a very high quality, outclassed only by the 12 Supreme Grade swords and the 21 Great Grade swords. These swords yield exceptional strength, sharpness, durability, with their light weight being the key factor for their usefulness in speed-based swordsmanship. Three Skillful Grade swords are currently known (all being katana):

• Kashu (Mr. 11 → Tashigi)
• Yubashiri: destroyed (Ipponmatsu → Roronoa Zoro)
• Yamaoroshi (Billy → Tashigi)
• Kosho ^{(Non-Canon)≠} (Trafalgar D. Water Law → destroyed)

Grade Blades[]

The Grade Blades (業物, Wazamono^?)^[1][2] make up the lowest of the four Meito Grades, being outclassed by the 83 blades of the higher (Supreme, Great, and Skillful) Grades; the total number of Grade Swords is unknown. Despite their comparatively lower quality, they are still elite blades that possess far superior attributes than run-of-the-mill blades, such as exceptional resilience and cutting power against sturdy foes. Two Grade blades are currently known (both katana):

• Shigure (Tashigi)
• Sandai Kitetsu: a Cursed Kitetsu Blade (Kouzuki Sukiyaki (creator) → Ipponmatsu → Roronoa Zoro)

Unknown Grade[]

The following is a list of blades of unknown grade (位列不明, iretsu fumei^?); that is, they are known to be Meito, but their Grade is unknown:^[3]

• Gryphon (Shanks)
• Cat Claws (Kuro)
• Nakiri Swords (Yosaku and Johnny)
• Daisenso (Krieg)
• Kiribachi (Arlong)
• Terry Sword (Dorry)
• Bruiser Axe (Brogy)
• Nonosama Bo (Enel)
• Bamboo (T Bone)
• Funkfreed (Spandam)
• Punishers (Killer)
• Warabide Sword (Basil Hawkins)
• Kessui (Hannyabal)
• Raiu (Shiryu)
• Oto and Kogarashi (Shiki)^[14]
• Franken (Franky)
• Soul Solid (Brook)
• Kirisame (Hody Jones)
• Durandal (Cavendish)^[15]
• Same-kiri Bocho (Bastille)
• Shirauo (Charlotte Amande)^[16]
• Pretzel (Charlotte Cracker)^[17]
• Napoleon (Charlotte Linlin)
• Mogura (Charlotte Katakuri)
• Soto Muso (Kawamatsu)
• Konpira (Gion)^[18]
• Takeru (Yamato)

Names Unknown[]

The following swords are confirmed to be Meito, but their names are currently unknown:^[3]

• Silvers Rayleigh's sword
• Vista's swords
• Kouzuki Sukiyaki's sword^[19]

Ungraded[]

Some blades (or other weapons) are confirmed to be ungraded (位列なし, iretsu nashi^?). These blades are not recognized for any special quality, but this does not mean they are not powerful weapons; it has been stated that the kanabo Hassaikai, though ungraded (and not even a bladed weapon), would be renowned as legendary for the many feats Kaidou has performed with it. Named ungraded blades/weapons are:^[20]

• Kikoku (Trafalgar Law)^[6]
• Sukesan and Kakusan (Kin'emon)^[3]
• Hassaikai (Kaidou)^[20]
• Tsuji Shibai (Kurozumi Kanjuro)^[21]

Translation and Dub Issues[]

The term meitō (名（めい）刀（とう）^?) means "famous sword" (名（めい） means having earned fame/a reputation). In the context of Japanese swords, meitō denotes a blade that is famous due to exceptional quality, as a product of a notable smith's superior craftsmanship. In the VIZ manga, meitō has been localized as Legendary Sword(s),^[22][23] Famous/Famed Sword(s)/Blade(s),^[24][25][26] Fine Blade(s),^[27] and Named Sword(s);^[28] the anime's Funimation subs and dub have similarly rendered it as (i.a.) Legendary Sword(s)^[29] and Famous Sword/Famed Blade(s).^[30]

The term wazamono (業（わざ）物（もの）^?) literally translates to "well-performing instrument" (combining 業（わざ） for "performance" and 物（もの） for "object"). In the context of Japanese sword collecting, the word denotes sharp swords, tested by professional sword appraisers to have superlative cutting ability. VIZ has opted to localize Wazamono as Grade Sword(s),^[22][26] while the Funimation subs and dub have rendered the term both as Wazamono^[29] and as Grade Sword(s)/Blade(s).^[31]

• The Wazamono rankings in One Piece are based on the wazamono grading system outlined in the Kaihō Kenjaku (懐宝剣尺^?) sword index, published in 1797 (the late Edo period). The grades in One Piece match the grading system of said index down to the number of swords per grade (12 Saijō Ōwazamono, 21 Ōwazamono, 50 Ryōwazamono); however, the count of Wazamono-ranked swords (80 in said index) is unconfirmed in One Piece. Also, as a defining difference to the real Japanese grading system, which ranks swordsmiths rather than swords, the grades in One Piece rank the swords, not their smiths. Interestingly, however, for the Grade designations in One Piece, -kō (〜工^?) as a counter for smiths is still used.

Trivia[]

• A "Meito" (Famous Blade) does not necessarily need to be a sword. Additionally, even non-bladed weapons can sometimes be considered to have similar (if ungraded) status, examples being the Tsuji Shibai (a brush), Hassaikai (a spiked club), and Takeru (a knobbed club).
• With the destruction of Yubashiri, there are now possibly only 49 Skillful Grade Blades remaining. This circumstance may put into question whether the number of blades in each Grade category is (still) accurate, or if said blades can be replaced in the ranking system.
• Zoro has held the most Meito of any character to date, at five.
• Tashigi's dream is to free all the Meito from the hands of criminals such as pirates. She believes pirate-wielded swords are crying because instead of being used for noble and honorable deeds, they are being used for criminal activity.^[1]
• The anime-only character Eric claimed that the wind scythes created from his Kama Kama no Mi powers are as sharp as a Meito.^[32]

References[]

External links[]

• List of Wazamono – Wikipedia listicle on Japanese Wazamono swords.

Site Navigation[]

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