Existence of names which are unique to Japanese swords and associated with metallurgical phenomena makes description of the features of each sword possible, and transmission of work styles by letters, comparison, and consideration of different swords and academic research more than physical appreciation have also become possible.
冶金学的現象に対応した日本刀独自の名称が存在する事で、個別の刀の特徴を言い表す事が可能となり、文字による作風の伝承、異なる刀の比較考量、即物的な観賞を超えた学問的研究が可能となった。