Tsuka (Handle)
The tsuka must provide a secure and comfortable grip during use. Its thickness must be properly balanced—too thick or too thin will reduce effective control. The length of the handle also affects the overall balance of the sword.
The most difficult aspect of sword handling is achieving both power and speed simultaneously. A sword with great power often sacrifices speed, while one designed for speed may lack sufficient power. These two factors are inherently contradictory. Therefore, the design of the tsuka plays a crucial role in determining whether the sword’s full functional potential can be realized.
Beyond practicality, the tsuka is also an artistic expression of a samurai’s dignity, taste, and personal style. Structurally, the tsuka is formed by enclosing the tang with two wooden halves, which are then wrapped in samegawa (ray skin). Over the ray skin, silk cord is tightly wrapped. Although this process may appear simple, it is not—each step is completed by skilled craftsmen and involves a high level of complexity.
Samegawa (Ray Skin)
Commonly referred to as “shark skin,” samegawa is in fact a completely different material. Ray fish originate primarily from the East China Sea to the South China Sea region and are typically about one and a half feet in length.
Their skin is covered with sharp, stone-like nodules—some as small as grains of rice, others as large as pearls. The natural color is beige, but the skin can be dyed in various colors according to preference. The sharp nodules are carefully polished to prevent injury to the hand.
Due to its naturally coarse surface, samegawa provides excellent grip, reducing the risk of the sword slipping during combat. Silk cord is wrapped over the ray skin to secure it firmly. The silk absorbs sweat and helps prevent excessive friction between the hand and the ray skin, protecting the user’s palm.
At the exact center of the back of the ray skin is a single nodule roughly the size of a pearl—each ray has only one. Surrounding this large central nodule, the adjacent nodules gradually decrease in size, forming a pattern often described as “stars encircling the moon.” This central area is the most valuable section of the entire skin and commands the highest price.
Tsuka-maki (Handle Wrapping)
The cord wrapped over the samegawa is known as tsuka-maki. It is most commonly made of silk, referred to as silk tsuka-maki, though leather versions also exist and are known as leather tsuka-maki.
Among silk wrappings, those hand-braided using brocade material and finished in a golden-yellow color are considered the highest grade. Such premium wrappings were traditionally reserved for ceremonial tachi swords used by the imperial court or preserved in shrines, as well as guard swords carried by palace officials.
There are more than a dozen recognized tsuka-maki wrapping styles. Common examples include Hira-maki, Morohineri-maki, Katate-maki, and Morotsukami-maki.
Some sword handles omit tsuka-maki entirely and are wrapped only in samegawa. These are typically found on tanto and are known as De-same tsuka.
It is common for a single sword to have multiple tsuka. Samurai often changed handles to match different attire or to suit various formal occasions, treating the tsuka as an element of personal fashion and status.