How To Use Japanese Sword Repair Kit

Housings and associated fittings that hold the blade of a Japanese sword

Sword fittings. Tsuba (top left) and fuchigashira (top right) made by Ishiguro Masayoshi in the 18th or 19th century. Kogai (center) and kozuka (lesser) made by Yanagawa Naomasa in the 18th century, Edo period. Tokyo Fuji Art Museum.

Japanese sword mountings are the various housings and associated fittings (tosogu)^[1] that hold the bract of a Japanese sword when it is being worn or stored. Koshirae ( 拵え ) refers to the ornate mountings of a Japanese sword (e.g. katana) used when the sword blade is being worn past its owner, whereas the shirasaya is a plain undecorated wooden mounting equanimous of a saya and tsuka that the sword blade is stored in when not beingness used.

Components [edit]

A diagram of a katana and koshirae with components identified.

Fuchi ( 縁 )': The fuchi is a hilt collar betwixt the tsuka and the tsuba.
Habaki ( 鎺 ) : The habaki is a wedge shaped metallic neckband used to keep the sword from falling out of the saya and to back up the fittings below; fitted at the ha-machi and mune-machi which precede the nakago.
Kaeshizuno ( 返し角 ) : a hook shaped fitting used to lock the saya to the obi while drawing.
Kashira ( 頭 ) : The kashira is a butt cap (or pommel) on the end of the tsuka.
Kōgai ( 笄 ) : The kōgai is a fasten for hair arranging carried sometimes as part of katana-koshirae in another pocket.
Koiguchi ( 鯉口 ) : The koiguchi is the oral cavity of the saya or its plumbing fixtures; traditionally made of buffalo horn.
Kojiri ( 鐺 ) : The kojiri is the end of the saya or the protective plumbing fixtures at the end of the saya; also traditionally made of buffalo horn.
Kozuka ( 小柄 ) : The kozuka is a decorative handle plumbing fixtures for the kogatana; a pocket-size utility knife fit into a pocket on the saya.
Kurigata ( 栗形 ) : The kuri-kata is a knob on the side of the saya for attaching the sageo.
Mekugi ( 目釘 ) : The mekugi is a small peg for securing the tsuka to the nakago.
Menuki ( 目貫 ) : The menuki are ornaments on the tsuka (by and large under the tsuka-ito); to fit into the palm for grip and originally meant to hibernate the mekugi.
Mekugi-ana ( 目釘穴 ) : The mekugi-ana are the holes in the tsuka and nakago for the mekugi.
Sageo ( 下げ緒 ) : The sageo is the string used to tie saya to the belt/obi when worn.
Same-hada ( 鮫肌 ) : literally the pattern of the ray skin.
Same-kawa (samegawa) ( 鮫皮 ) : same-kawa is the ray or shark skin wrapping of the tsuka (handle/hilt).
Saya ( 鞘 ) : The saya is a wooden scabbard for the blade; traditionally done in lacquered forest.
Seppa ( 切羽 ) : The seppa are washers to a higher place and below the tsuba to tighten the fittings.
Shitodome ( 鵐目 ) : an emphasis on the kurikata for aesthetic purposes; often done in gold-ish metal in modern reproductions.
Tsuba ( 鍔 or 鐔 ) : The tsuba is a hand guard.
Tsuka ( 柄 ) : The tsuka is the hilt or handle; made of wood and wrapped in samegawa.
Tsuka-maki ( 柄巻 ) : the art of wrapping the tsuka, including the most mutual hineri maki and katate maki (boxing wrap). There are also more than elaborate and artistic wrapping techniques, like Jabara maki.
Tsuka-ito ( 柄糸 ) : Tsuka-ito the wrap of the tsuka, traditionally silk but today most ofttimes in cotton fiber and sometimes leather

Kogai (bottom) , kozuka (top right), and menuki (superlative left) made by Gotō Kenjō. Early on Edo period. Designated every bit Special Important Fitting by NBTHK.
Fuchigashira (elevation) and tsuba (bottom) made by Ishiguro Masayoshi. Late Edo period. Designated as Special Important Fitting by NBTHK.
Tsuba with the Koi and Seaweed Motif, fabricated by Kansai, Edo menses, The Metropolitan Museum of Fine art.
A tsuba created by Sunagawa Masayoshi. 1800s. The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
A tsuba carved with a sika deer made by Fujiwara Toshiyoshi. 1800s. The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Shirasaya [edit]

A shirasaya ( 白鞘 ), "white scabbard",^[2] is a obviously wooden Japanese sword saya (scabbard) and tsuka (hilt), traditionally fabricated of nurizaya wood and used when a blade was not expected to come across use for some time and needed to be stored. They were externally featureless relieve for the needed mekugi-ana ^[three] to secure the nakago (tang), though sometimes sayagaki (bract information) was as well nowadays. The need for specialized storage is because prolonged koshirae mounting harmed the blade, owing to factors such as the lacquered wood retaining moisture and encouraging corrosion.

Such mountings are non intended for bodily combat, equally the lack of a tsuba (guard) and proper handle wrappings were deleterious; as such they would likely never make their mode onto a battlefield. However, there have been loosely similar "subconscious" mountings, such every bit the shikomizue. Also, many blades dating back to earlier Japanese history are today sold in such a format, forth with modern-day reproductions; while most are purely decorative replicas, a few have functional blades.^[4]

Shirasaya gallery [edit]

A daisho set of Japanese sword storage mounts (shirasaya) for katana (acme) and wakizashi (bottom).
A typical shirasaya with sayagaki (attribution or appraisal written on a shirasaya)
Naginata shirasaya
Tanto shirasaya
Wakizashi mounted in shirasaya
Yari shirasaya

Koshirae [edit]

The word koshirae is derived from the verb koshiraeru ( 拵える ), which is no longer used in current speech. More commonly "tsukuru" is used in its place with both words significant to "make, create, manufacture." A more authentic word is tōsō ( 刀装 ), pregnant sword-furniture, where tōsōgu ( 刀装具 ) are the parts of the mounting in general, and "kanagu" stands for those made of metal. Gaisō ( 外装 ) are the "outer" mountings, equally opposed to tōshin ( 刀身 ), the "trunk" of the sword.

A koshirae should be presented with the tsuka (hilt) to the left, specially in times of peace with the reason being that you lot cannot unsheathe the sword easily this way. During the Edo period, many formalized rules were put into place: in times of war the hilt should be presented to the right allowing the sword to exist readily unsheathed.

Koshirae were meant non merely for functional but too for aesthetic purposes, ofttimes using a family unit monday (crest) for identification.

Types of koshirae [edit]

Tachi [edit]

The tachi style koshirae is the master style of mounting used for the tachi, where the sword is suspended edge-down from 2 hangers (ashi) fastened to the obi.^[five] The hilt often had a slightly stronger curvature than the blade, continuing the classic tachi increase in curvature going from the tip to the hilt. The hilt was usually secured with ii pegs (mekugi), as compared to one peg for shorter blades including katana. The tachi style koshirae preceded the katana fashion koshirae.

Katana [edit]

Katana mounting with a polished black lacquer sheath, Edo period. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

The katana style koshirae is the almost normally known koshirae and information technology is what is most associated with a samurai sword. Swords mounted in this manner are worn with the cutting edge up every bit opposed to the tachi mounting, in which the sword is worn with the cutting edge downwardly.

Han-dachi (half tachi) [edit]

The han-dachi koshirae was worn katana-manner simply included some tachi related fittings such as a kabuto-gane instead of a kashira.

Aikuchi [edit]

The aikuchi ( 合口 or 匕首 ) is a course of koshirae for small swords in which the hilt and the scabbard come across without a crossguard between them.^[6] The word literally means ai ("coming together") + kuchi ("mouth; opening"), in reference to the fashion the hilt fits direct against the scabbard.^[7] ^[8] Originally used on the koshigatana (a precursor to the wakizashi) to facilitate close wearing with armour,^[6] ^[9] it became a fashionable upper-class mounting style for a tantō (literally, "modest sword", present regarded every bit a dagger) from the Kamakura period onwards.

Shikomizue [edit]

The shikomizue ( 仕込み杖 , "prepared pikestaff") or jotō (杖刀, "staff sword")^[10] is a Japanese swordstick. It is well-nigh famous for its use past the fictional swordmaster Zatoichi. The sword blade was placed in a pikestaff-like mounting (tsue) every bit darkening. These mountings are not to exist confused with the Shirasaya (白鞘, "white scabbard"), which were just plain wooden mountings with no decoration other than (sometimes) a short description of the contents.

Some shikomi-zue likewise concealed metsubushi, chains, hooks, and many other things. Shikomi-zue could be carried in public without arousing suspicion, making them perfect tools for shinobi.

Kaiken [edit]

The kaiken is an 8–10 inch long, single- or double-edged dagger^[11] without ornamental fittings housed in a plainly mount, formerly carried by men and women of the samurai class in Japan. It was useful for self-defense indoors where the long katana and intermediate wakizashi were inconvenient. Women carried them in their kimono either in a pocket similar fold or in the sleeve ^[12] for self-defense or for suicide past means of slashing the jugular veins and carotid artery in the left side of the neck.^[xiii] ^[xiv]

Koshirae gallery [edit]

Tantō mounted in aikuchi style koshirae
Shikomizue koshirae
Tachi and tachi koshirae
Kaiken (kwaiken) tanto
Wakizashi koshirae
Tanto koshirae

Parts of the koshirae [edit]

Saya [edit]

Saya ( 鞘 ) is the Japanese term for a scabbard, and specifically refers to the scabbard for a sword or knife. The saya of a koshirae (scabbards for applied use) are normally manufactured from very lightweight wood, with a glaze of lacquer on the exterior. The wood is low-cal enough that slap-up intendance must be taken when drawing the sword; incorrect form may result in the bract of the sword slicing through the saya and injuring one or more fingers. Correct drawing and sheathing of the blade involves contacting the mune (the back of the blade) rather than ha (the border) to the inside of the scabbard. The saya besides has a horn knob ( 栗形 , kurigata ) on one side for attaching a braided cord (sageo), and may take a shitodome (mounting loop) to emphasis the kurigata as well equally an end cap ( 小尻 , kojiri ) fabricated from metal. Traditionally the koiguchi (the throat of the scabbard) and kojiri (the chape) were made from buffalo horn.

Katana saya
Naginata saya
Tanto saya
Wakizashi saya

The Saya is divided in parts:

Sageo

A sageo ( 下緒 or 下げ緒 ) is a hanging string fabricated of silk, cotton fiber or leather that is passed through the hole in the kurigata (栗形) of a Japanese sword's saya. At that place are a number of different methods for wrapping and tying the sageo on the saya for display purposes. Other uses for the sageo are tying the sword to the samurai and hojojutsu. The samurai felt the sageo formed a spiritual bond between them and the sword, and they were very item well-nigh tying it correctly when the sword was not in use.^[15]

A matched set (daisho) of sageo

Kuri-kata

The kurikata is a knob that is attached to the scabbard of a Japanese sword. The sageo (cord) that secures the saya of the sword to the obi (belt) goes through a hole in the kurikata.

Kojiri

The kojiri is the end cap of the scabbard or the protective fitting at the cease of the scabbard.

Kogatana and kozuka

Kogatana, a small utility pocketknife that fits into a pocket on the scabbard, the kozuka is the decorative handle for the kogatana.

kōgai

The kōgai is a fasten for hair arranging that fits into a pocket on the saya.

Tanto koshirae showing a kōgai in its pocket

Umabari

The umabari is a small knife that is a variation of the kogatana, information technology fits into a pocket on the saya.

Tsuka [edit]

The tsuka is the hilt or handle of a Japanese sword.

2 tsuka katana (top), wakizashi (bottom) in the course of a daisho (matched set)
Katana tsuka
Tachi tsuka
Wakizashi tsuka
Tsuka constructed every bit a single piece and does not have individual separate fuchi, kashira, and menuki

The tsuka is divided in the following parts:

Menuki

The menuki are ornaments on the tsuka (more often than not under the tsuka-ito); to fit into the palm for grip.

Tsuka with a menuki in the shape of standing goose with bamboo
Menuki with horse and rider

Samegawa

Samegawa is the ray skin used to comprehend or wrap the handle.

Tsuka showing the samegawa
Tanto tsuka showing the samegawa

Tsuka-ito

Tsuka-ito is the wrapping of the tsuka, traditionally silk but today more often cotton and sometimes, leather.

Fuchi

Fuchi, a cap blazon collar or ferrule which covers the opening in the tsuka of a Japanese sword. The tang of the sword goes into the tsuka through the opening in the fuchi.

Katana fuchi
A daisho pair of fuchi
Fuchi with dragon
Fuchi with crouching lions

Kashira

The kashira is the end cap (pommel) on the tsuka.

Katana kashira
Daisho kashira, wakizashi and katana
Kashira with samurai
Kashira with herons and reeds

Tsuba [edit]

The tsuba ( 鍔 , or 鐔) is usually a circular (or occasionally squarish) guard at the end of the grip of bladed Japanese weapons, similar the katana and its variations, tachi, wakizashi, tantō, naginata etc. They contribute to the balance of the weapon and to the protection of the hand. The tsuba was more often than not meant to be used to forbid the hand from sliding onto the blade during thrusts every bit opposed to protecting from an opponent's blade. The chudan no kamae baby-sit is determined by the tsuba and the curvature of the blade. The bore of the average katana tsuba is 7.5–eight centimetres (three.0–3.i in), wakizashi tsuba is half dozen.2–half dozen.6 cm (2.iv–2.6 in), and tantō tsuba is four.v–6 cm (ane.8–ii.iv in).

During the Muromachi period (1333–1573) and the Momoyama period (1573–1603) Tsuba were more for functionality than for decoration, being made of stronger metals and designs. During the Edo period (1603–1868) there was peace in Nihon then tsuba became more ornamental and made of less practical metals such equally aureate.

Tsuba are ordinarily finely busy, and nowadays are collectors' items. Tsuba were made past whole dynasties of craftsmen whose only craft was making tsuba. They were normally lavishly decorated. In improver to being collectors items, they were often used as heirlooms, passed from one generation to the next. Japanese families with samurai roots sometimes accept their family crest (mon) crafted onto a tsuba. Tsuba can be found in a variety of metals and alloys, including iron, steel, brass, copper and shakudō. In a duel, ii participants may lock their katana together at the point of the tsuba and push, trying to gain a better position from which to strike the other downwardly. This is known as tsubazeriai (鍔迫り合い), lit. pushing tsuba against each other. Tsubazeriai is a common sight in modern kendō.

In modern Japanese, tsubazeriai (鍔迫り合い) has also come up to mean "to exist in trigger-happy competition."

Tsuba made by Tsuchiya Yasuchika. Mid-Edo period. Designated equally Special Of import Plumbing equipment by NBTHK.
Lotus pond
Shakudo tsuba - Chidori in flight.
Tsuba with autumn flowers
Tsuba with a monkey teasing an elephant with a stick

Seppa [edit]

The seppa are washers used in front of and behind the tsuba to tighten the fittings. Seppa can exist ornate or plain.

Tanto tsuba and two seppa
Tanto tsuba and two seppa
Yari tanto tsuba and two seppa
Tsuba and 2 seppa
Wakizashi tsuba and a single seppa

Habaki [edit]

The habaki ( 鎺 ) is a piece of metallic encircling the base of the blade of a Japanese sword. Information technology has the double purpose of locking the tsuba (guard) in place, and to maintain the weapon in its saya (scabbard).

The importance of the habaki is seen in drawing the katana from the scabbard. Information technology is fatigued by grasping the scabbard about the top and pressing the guard with the thumb to emerge the bract just plenty to unwedge the habaki from inside the scabbard in a process called koiguchi no kirikata ( 鯉口の切り方 ) "cut the koiguchi". The bract, being freed, can exist drawn out very rapidly. This is known as koiguchi o kiru ( 鯉口を切る ), nukitsuke ( 抜き付け ), or tanka o kiru ( 啖呵を切る ) "clearing the tanka". This is plainly an extremely aggressive gesture, since a fatal cut can exist given in a fraction of a second thereafter (meet iaidō). Information technology is similar in connotation and effect as cartoon back the hammer of a handgun, chambering a round on a pump-action shotgun, or pulling dorsum and releasing the charging handle on other firearms.

The expression "tanka o kiru" is now widely used in Nihon, in the sense of "getting fix to brainstorm something", or "getting set up to speak", particularly with an ambitious connotation.

The habaki will cause normal wear and tear inside the scabbard, and either a shim or a total replacement of the scabbard may be needed to remedy the upshot equally it volition become also loose over time. Removing the habaki and oiling it after cutting or once every few months is recommended.

It is starting time inserted on the blade
Then the tsuba is inserted too

See likewise [edit]

List of National Treasures of Japan (crafts-swords)
Tsuba in the drove of Wolverhampton Fine art Gallery, England

Notes [edit]

^ The New Generation of Japanese Swordsmiths, Authors Tamio Tsuchiko, Kenji Mishina, Publisher Kodansha International, 2002, P.191&P.191 ISBN 978-4-7700-2854-nine
^ In this context, "white" could be inferred every bit plain or undecorated.
^ Holes in the hilt, meant for the mekugi (pegs) that secure the blade (Run into katana).
^ Most manufacturers will note that such mountings are only meant for storage, brandish and transport purposes, not bodily usage.
^ [one] Art of the samurai: Japanese arms and armor, 1156–1868, Authors Morihiro Ogawa, Kazutoshi Harada, Publisher Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2009, ISBN 1-58839-345-3, ISBN 978-1-58839-345-6 P.193
^ ^a ^b [2] The Japanese sword,Kanzan Satō, Kodansha International, May 30, 1983 P.196
^ 1988, 国語大辞典（新装版） (Kokugo Dai Jiten, Revised Edition) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan
^ 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, ISBN 4-385-13905-9
^ [iii] Samurai: The Weapons and Spirit of the Japanese Warrior, Clive Sinclaire, Globe Pequot, Nov 1, 2004 P.88
^ Seishinkai Bujutsu. "Concealed and Trick Weapons". Archived from the original on July 28, 2022. Retrieved January v, 2022.
^ A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Apply of Arms and Armor: In All Countries and in All Times, George Cameron Stone, Courier Dover Publications, 1999, ISBN 0-486-40726-viii, ISBN 978-0-486-40726-5. p. 405.
^ Samurai: The Weapons and Spirit of the Japanese Warrior, Clive Sinclaire, Earth Pequot, Nov 1, 2004 P.88
^ The consummate encyclopedia of arms & weapons: the nearly comprehensive reference piece of work always published on artillery and armor, Claude Blair, Publisher Bonanza Books, 1986, ISBN 0-517-48776-4, ISBN 978-0-517-48776-1 P.306
^ The sword book in Honchō gunkikō and The book of Samé, Kō hi sei gi of Inaba Tsūriō, Authors Hakuseki Arai, Tsūryū Inaba, Publisher C. E. Tuttle, 1963 P.42
^ "The Sageo and How to Wear Your Katana". martialartsweaponstraining. Martial Arts Weapons and Training. Baronial half dozen, 2022. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022.

References [edit]

C. U. Guido Schiller. "Koshirae: Japan Token Gaiso The Mountings of Japanese Swords". Archived from the original on 2008-07-04. Retrieved 2008-06-17 .

External links [edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Koshirae.

History of the Development of Koshirae
Habaki – On Japanese Swords
Martial Arts Weapons and Grooming – The Sageo and How to Wear Your Katana
Nihonto Antiques – Step by step guide to tying a Sageo (photos).
Usagiya Sword Shop – Step by step guide to tying a Sageo (photos).
TakumiWarrior Sword Shop – Exploration of Japanese Tsuba Designs (photos).