What is Tokubetsu Hozon?
TOKUBETSU HOZON – Especially Worthy of Preservation (brown paper) TOKUBETSU HOZON is the second of four levels of honorable distinction. For a sword to receive TOKUBETSU HOZON, the sword would have had to clear the above seven HOZON criteria to such a fantastic degree to realize such importance.
What is Hibaki in Katana?
The habaki is the metal piece that wraps around the base of the blade next to the tsuba. The habaki helps lock the tsuba in position, sometimes with the aid of seppa or spacers. The habaki also locks the blade into the saya (scabbard) holding it in place so the katana will not easily slide out.
Why is Ray skin used in katana?
The skin of the common Stingray has been used on Japanese Sword handles for centuries, mostly due to its rough texture which, when wrapped with cord, prevents the cord from slipping.
What is a Fuchi & Kashira?
Fuchi Kashira is a kind of metal fitting of the Japanese sword, which improves the strength of the handle. Fuchi Kashira is a combination of two parts; Fuchi and Kashira. Fuchi was put next to Tsuba (hand-guard), and Kashira was put on the bottle of the grip.
What is Samegawa Katana?
The same translates to “shark” or samegawa as “shark skin”. This is an important component of the katana located on the handle or tsuka. The wooden handle is carved flat on either side so a panel of samagawa can be placed under the handle wrap.
What is a Sageo?
A sageo (下緒 or 下げ緒) is a hanging cord made of silk, cotton or leather that is passed through the hole in the kurigata (栗形) of a Japanese sword’s saya. There are a number of different methods for wrapping and tying the sageo on the saya for display purposes.
What is a menuki?
In Japanese sword culture, menuki are handle charms, often tucked under the silk wrappings of stingray skin grips. Like all aspects of Japanese swords, the charms are handmade—fashioned one at a time, sculpted, carved and engraved.
Why do katanas use Rayskin?
As a side note, the reason for using rayskin is to help bind the handle and the bumpy surface helps the ito grip to the handle as well.
Do katanas get fuller?
Koshi-hi: This fuller style used in the katana and other traditional Japanese swords features a short groove towards the bottom of the blade that’s rounded on all sides.
What hamon is real?
Real hamon is the product of differential hardening. This is the process where the blade is quenched so that the edge is harder than the spine or body of the blade. The spine of the blade is coated with a clay mixture, then heated and quenched.
What is the rope on my katana sheath?
Sageo is a cord that was traditionally used (and is still used today by students of the Japanese sword arts) to secure the scabbard of a Katana to the belt (Obi) of the person who will wield it.
What is a Kashira?
A kashira is a pommel cap mounted at the end of a sword hilt, usually made as part of a set with a matching fuchi (hilt collar).
What is Tokubetsu Kicho?
Tokubetsu Kicho means “especially precious”. TOKUBETSU KICHO was, in fact, the top rank until the Juyo paper was introduced in May of 1958 (Showa 33). The green paper and the round seal bearing the kanji of “Toku” was first used on Tokubetsu Kicho papers starting in July of 1950 and it remained this way until 1982.
When did Tokubetsu Kicho paper come out?
TOKUBETSU KICHO was, in fact, the top rank until the Juyo paper was introduced in May of 1958 (Showa 33). The green paper and the round seal bearing the kanji of “Toku” was first used on Tokubetsu Kicho papers starting in July of 1950 and it remained this way until 1982.
What is tokubetsu hozon?
TOKUBETSU HOZON is the second of four levels of honorable distinction. For a sword to receive TOKUBETSU HOZON, the sword would have had to clear the above seven HOZON criteria to such a fantastic degree to realize such importance. When swords achieve such standing, their value increases substantially.
What does tokubetsu juyo mean?
Started in December of 1971 (Showa 46) Tokubetsu Juyo means “especially important”. This is a fake Koshu Tokubetsu Kicho paper that was published by the NBTHK in 1979 to alert people the problem of false origami. This image was published in black and white.