sword hunt; sword confiscation
Historical term referring to the confiscation of swords from non-samurai classes, most famously ordered by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1588.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi carried out a sword hunt in 1588.
Weapons were confiscated from farmers through the sword hunt.
Variant with okurigana; also common.
Compound of 刀 (katana, 'sword') and 狩り (kari, 'hunt'). The reading katana-gari reflects rendaku voicing of kari to gari.