How does the silver crosshatch saya finish get its texture?

The hardwood saya is finished using a traditional Japanese shinogizukuri paper-wrapping technique, then coated in piano lacquer. This process creates the tight silver-and-black crosshatch pattern visible across the 30.7-inch scabbard.

How is the white saya decorated and what holds it closed?

The white hardwood saya is finished in natural lacquer and features five gold floral mon motifs spaced along the body. A deep green sageo cord is tied through the kurikata, matching the green ito handle wrap for a unified color scheme.

What does the dragon saya design look like up close?

The hardwood saya is lacquered gloss black and features a raised gold-on-black dragon embossment across the full body, with gold band accents near the koiguchi. A black-and-white sageo cord ties at the kurigata, completing the contrast palette.

Is the tsuka wrap leather or synthetic cord?

The handle uses black pebbled leather wrapping - the same material and texture as the saya - rather than traditional cord ito. Silver fuchi and kashira collars secure the wrap at both ends of the tsuka.

What color is the sageo and how does it attach?

Updated Mar 2026

The sageo is a two-tone brown-blue braided cord looped and knotted at the kurikata on the black lacquer hardwood saya. The warm brown and cool blue tones contrast the saya finish and echo the koshirae's overall color palette.