Making a Japanese Sword: The Handle Part-2 #martialarts #samurai

It takes over four weeks to make one handle or tsuka for a Japanese sword or katana. This is Iiyama Kensen, a Japanese sword handle maker, also known as a handle wrapper. There are very few artisans left in Japan who have the skill and knowledge to make a beautiful handle that matches the quality of a swordsmiths Katana. The sword handle is made by hand from a single block of magnolia wood to the final wrapping. The wooden handle is wrapped in the skin of a Ray-fish which has nodes that increase it’s grip to the silk cord. In the final stage during the wrapping of the silk cord, a Menuki or small ornament is entombed within the handle - this ‘bump’ helps the grip of the hands of a samurai when wielding the sword. Make sure you watch both parts 1 and 2 of this video. To watch the Art of the Japanese Sword go to emptymindfilms.com