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RAI
雷
thunder · lightning bolt
✎ Editor's glossthunder — a lightning bolt
Naruto · Jutsu · Kanji file 017
Raikiri — Lightning Cutter 雷切
Pronounced ra·i·ki·ri
Raikiri is thought to take its name from a real sword: the treasured blade of the Sengoku warlord Tachibana Dōsetsu, known as Raikiri — the Lightning Cutter — or Raikiri-maru. The delicious part: that sword, the story goes, was originally called Chidori. Dōsetsu is said to have cut down a bolt of lightning with it, and the blade carried the name Raikiri ever after. Nor is it a legend — the actual sword survives today, held by the Tachibana family museum. In Naruto, the name belongs to Kakashi's Chidori. From early in the story it serves as his god-speed thrust — and in the final act, it evolves one step further.
From real swords & martial arts
📖 Databook: Rin no Sho, p. 225
First appears: Vol. 4, Chapter 30
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.
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SETSU
切
cut · cutoff · be sharp
✎ Editor's glossto cut
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.
Quick answers
FAQ
How many strokes is 雷切?
17 in total: 雷 is 13, 切 is 4.
How do you pronounce Raikiri?
Say it ra·i·ki·ri (雷切). 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 Raikiri — Lightning Cutter?
雷切 — 雷, then 切. Core meanings from the KANJIDIC2 dictionary database: 雷 thunder · lightning bolt; 切 cut · cutoff.
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.