Believe in the Yokote ... Believe, young Budo-ka
The yokote is a geometric feature, not a cosmetic one. Yes, these may seem to be strict interpretations, but that is what a definition is, after all – a strict interpretation. So, on with the rant … The kissaki is defined not merely as the tip of a Japanese sword, but as the portion of the sword forward of the yokote (a unique edge, and the intersection of two planes – the ji and the kissaki surfaces), as delineated by the change in geometry from the shinogi, the ji, the shinogi-ji, and the ha as well as by the presence of that geometrically definable yokote. No line or plane that contacts the yokote will continue past the yokote without abrupt change in direction (and curves do not count): in essence, the end of that plane or line. If it does, the yokote is not a yokote. Therefore, by definition, the kissaki does not exist if the yokote is either sloppy or cosmetically “scratched on”. If the lines are sloppy, or if the geometry does not change, there is no kissaki. If the planes defined by the shinogi-ji and the ji – and the lines defined by the shinogi and the ha - do not end abruptly at the yokote, then there is no kissaki, because the erstwhile kissaki is not a geometrically unique structure. Without changing geometry at a well defined, geometric yokote there is no kissaki, so most of this argument is superfluous at best – if the geometries do not change, then there is no yokote, therefore, no kissaki, so the argument that the yokote is cosmetic, and defined structures are not necessary for a working kissaki is fallacious. Without good geometry, the yokote does not stand up to definition, does not exist, and there is no kissaki. This – of course – leads us directly to an altogether different conclusion. If a sword is defined by its maker as Shinogi-Zukuri, it must – by definition – have a kissaki and yokote (among other features). When a production sword has a cosmetically and non-geometric yokote, then there is no kissaki. Without kissaki, the blade design can not be said to be Shinogi-Zukuri. It is something completely different. If all properly made Japanese swords fall into strict categorization (and they generally do) and if this sword falls into none of the classical categories because it fails to adhere to the strict, defining characteristics of the major divisions of labeled blade geometries, then it is not – by definition – a Japanese sword. It may be Japanesque or Japanese influenced, but it is not a Japanese (or Japanese-styled) sword by definition.		Mind you, Chinese, European, African, Northern Asian, etc swords are not Japanese either, and they all cut pretty damned well if made well. Performance is not the issue in the above – merely definitions. A sword without a well-defined yokote where geometries change abruptly and definitively, the sword does not have a kissaki. If an otherwise Shinogi-Zukuri blade has no kissaki and therefore no yokote, then it is not Shinogi-Zukuri and would be hard pressed to fit into any other Japanese classification of sword shape. That failing, it is not a Japanese sword, and arguing Japanese features on a non-Japanese sword is a moot point. My broadsword has no yokote either – but so what? That aside … the specific geometric structure lends strength to the structures it supports – ask any architect. It therefore will impact performance. However, there is a misconception that performance is defined solely as how well the sword passes through a give target in a cut. So many people forget that if a sword passes through targets flawlessly, but then breaks, it has failed to perform. Therefore, structural soundness is a factor of performance. Imagine a wall with poorly defined sides - it doesn't stand very well, nor can it support the stress of a roof's weight bearing down from above it. Just throwing up any plain, flat surface without care as to defining and strengthening the edges and sides, the footer and the header ... well, it just isn't strong enough to do its job properly. In the case of the kissaki, the point of the sword undergoes tremendous stresses during - for instance - any stabbing or tip-slashing. A kissaki with uniquely and well defined geometry is stronger and more geometrically sound than one with either sloppy or non-existent yokote. So … the yokote is terribly important to the defining factors that make a katana a katana to begin with. It is also very important to the structural integrity of the tip of the sword, as it helps to absorb shock, dissipate force, and define geometries that aid in structural integrity, strength, and overall reliability.