The term "toji" (刀自) represented an archaic Japanese word "tonushi" (written as 戸主 in Japanese) which meant a housewife who managed all housekeeping duties, and this word was an antonym of the word "tone," written as 刀禰 in Japanese, which represented a male worker.
刀自とは、日本古語では戸主（とぬし）といい、家事一般をとりしきる主婦のことを指し、働く男を指したという刀禰の対語にあたる。