Naruto · Jutsu · Kanji file 014

Kagutsuchi 加具土命

Pronounced ka·gu·tsu·chi

Kagutsuchi is a male god of Japanese mythology — said to be the last child born to Izanagi and Izanami. Izanami died of the burns she suffered giving birth to him, and the enraged Izanagi cut Kagutsuchi down with a totsuka blade. In Naruto, the name belongs to Sasuke's jutsu that gives shape to the black flames of Amaterasu — a sword of black fire, among other forms. It is a Blaze Release technique. And to Japanese mythology fans, the name Kagutsuchi means one thing: fire techniques of the very top class.

⛩ From Japanese mythology

📖 Databook: Jin no Sho, p. 236

Speed

Breaking down the kanji

Here's what each character means — and how to write it. In Japan, following the correct stroke order is considered the key to writing kanji beautifully. Readings, stroke counts and core meanings below come directly from the KANJIDIC2 dictionary database. The red ✎ line is the editor's gloss — the meaning that is actually alive in this name, chosen by our editors from a Japanese kanji dictionary.

1 / 4 KA

加

add · addition · increase

✎ Editor's glossto add; to increase

Kun / On: kuwa(eru) / kuwa(waru) · KA
Strokes: 5
Level: Taught in grade 4 in Japan

2 / 4 GU

具

tool · utensil · means

✎ Editor's glossto be furnished — complete, nothing missing

Kun / On: sona(eru) / tsubusa(ni) · GU
Strokes: 8
Level: Taught in grade 3 in Japan

3 / 4 DO

土

soil · earth · ground

✎ Editor's glossearth; the land

Kun / On: tsuchi · DO / TO
Strokes: 3
Level: Taught in grade 1 in Japan

4 / 4 MEI

命

fate · command · decree

✎ Editor's glosslife — and the honorific title attached to the names of gods (read "mikoto")

Kun / On: inochi · MEI / MYŌ
Strokes: 8
Level: Taught in grade 3 in Japan

What's next

Which term should we write next?

We write in order of demand. Every name and jutsu in the official databooks is listed in our Master Index — find the one you want, and tell us via the Contact page.

Original artwork — free to save

The kanji, on one sheet

A reference card we drew ourselves — the characters in Japanese brush style.

加具土命 (kagutsuchi) written in Japanese brush style — 加具土命 in brush style — kagutsuchi

Free to save — terms (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Quick answers

FAQ

How many strokes is 加具土命?

24 in total: 加 is 5, 具 is 8, 土 is 3, 命 is 8.

How do you pronounce Kagutsuchi?

Say it ka·gu·tsu·chi (加具土命). Japanese has no strong word stress: give each syllable about the same length and weight, and keep the vowels short and clear — a as in “father,” i as in “machine,” u as in “food,” e as in “met,” o as in “go.”

What characters make up Kagutsuchi?

加具土命 — 加, then 具, then 土, then 命. Core meanings from the KANJIDIC2 dictionary database: 加 add · addition; 具 tool · utensil; 土 soil · earth; 命 fate · command.

Can I use the copied kanji anywhere?

Yes — it's standard Unicode text and works on any modern OS. One caution before you print or ink it: make sure the font is a Japanese one. Some fonts render the same characters in Chinese style, and the difference shows.