How does the blue ito and white samegawa handle look in person?

The 10.23-inch handle pairs blue cotton ito cord with PU white samegawa underneath. The traditional diamond-pattern wrap lets white rayskin show through at regular intervals, creating a clean blue-and-white contrast that coordinates with the blue sageo on the saya.

What is engraved on the white saya?

The white lacquered hardwood saya features a large ink-style mermaid figure engraved across its mid-section, rendered in black-and-white linework with a traditional Japanese woodblock-influenced aesthetic. It runs along a significant portion of the scabbard's length.

What does the teal saya design look like up close?

The saya is lacquered hardwood in a vivid teal color with hand-applied gold vine motifs - interlocking diamond shapes and floral nodes running the full length, paired with a blue-and-white braided sageo.

How does an orange lacquer saya differ from an orange hardwood saya?

An orange hardwood saya is finished to highlight the natural grain of the timber itself. The color comes from the wood species or a stain applied to enhance the existing grain, resulting in a warm, matte surface where the material's organic character remains visible. An orange lacquer saya, on the other hand, is coated with multiple layers of lacquer to build a smooth, often glossy finish that obscures the base wood grain. Lacquered saya have a more formal and polished appearance, consistent with classical Japanese mounting traditions used in ceremonial and display contexts. Some lacquer saya in this collection also feature engraved decoration added over the lacquer layer, providing additional surface detail. The choice between the two largely depends on whether a collector prefers natural material textures or refined, formal presentation aesthetics.

How is the hand-painted camouflage saya made?

Updated Feb 2026

The saya is built from hardwood with a piano lacquer base finish. The camouflage pattern is hand-painted directly onto the surface using teal blue, black, and gold metallic tones, making each scabbard visually unique. It measures 30.7 inches and includes a blue and yellow braided sageo cord.