An Inscribed mirror (銘帯鏡, Meitai-kyō, also "variant character inscribed mirror" (異体字銘帯鏡, ita ijime itai kyō))[1] is a type of Chinese bronze mirror in which an inscription band is the main design on the reverse side.[2] The name variant characters (異体字, itaiji) refers to the unique design of the inscription, but they are sometimes simply called an inscribed mirror (銘帯鏡, Meitai-kyō).[1] Okamura Hidenori attributes the mirror to the late Pre-Han period, from the early 1st century BC to the early 1st century CE[1] They entered Japan in the mid- to late Yayoi period, mainly through northern Kyushu, and were later produced in Japan.[3][4] Not all mirrors with Chinese character inscriptions fall into this category but rather ones with variant characters (異体字, itaiji) with specific characteristics are considered to be in the category.[5][2]