noun
sword hunt; sword confiscation
Historical term referring to the confiscation of swords from non-samurai classes, most famously ordered by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1588.
豊臣秀吉は1588年に刀狩を実施した。
Toyotomi Hideyoshi carried out a sword hunt in 1588.
刀狩によって農民から武器が取り上げられた。
Weapons were confiscated from farmers through the sword hunt.
刀狩令 specifically refers to the edict or decree ordering the sword hunt, while 刀狩 is the event or policy itself.
Compound of 刀 (katana, 'sword') and 狩り (kari, 'hunt'). The reading katana-gari reflects rendaku voicing of kari to gari.