Jōko No Jōi

[Stephen]

meaning of? seen before Akihide in index

[SwordGuyJoe]

I might be wrong but I think it means that a joke wasn't funny. Just like that one.

[Guido]

Jōkō no jōi  (上工の上位) is a WWII smith ranking.

[SwordGuyJoe]

I was close

[Surfson]

Joe jo, I got joy out of your joko!

[Stephen]

edit

[cisco-san]

from Markus book:

When it comes to gendaitō and especially WWII-era smiths, this publication includes the ranking of about 300 contemporary smiths carried out by Kurihara Akihide (栗原昭秀) in 1942 under the title Seidai Tōshō Iretsu Ichiran (聖代刀匠位列一覧). He introduced seven ranks:
shinpin no retsu (神品の列) Supreme masterworks
kihin-jōi (貴品上位) Superior precious works
kihin no retsu (貴品の列) Precious works
jōko no jōi (上工の上位) Superior master
jōkō no retsu (上工の列) Master
ryōkō no jōi (良工の上位) Superior skilled artisan
ryōkō no retsu (良工の列) Skilled artisan

[Stephen]

Thank you Klaus san