Laugh at your friends as they attempt to remember all the parts of the Samurai Sword. Most modern swords will have two of these, but only one is required, the other provides a safety net. Mekugi: The peg that keeps the sword in place.Same: In Japanese the word for shark is the SAME as the word for rayskin.Fuchi: The fuchi is the handle collar.Ito: The Ito is the handle wrap and holds it together.Only the very best sword SAGE can work out the OH-so-difficult knot used to tie the cord. Sageo: The sageo is the cord found on samurai swords.I like to think of a Koi carp opening it’s mouth for food. Koiguchi: The koiguchi makes up the mouth of scabbard.There are no clever ways to remember this, you’re going to have to rely on brain power alone. Traditionally, it would be made from buffalo horn. Kurigata: The cord is tied around this knob.Saya: Everyone should remember this one: it’s the wooden scabbard.If you were a samurai, you might commit SEPPuku by thrusting the sword into yourself, all the way up to the Seppa. This can be themed, decorated, or plain, depending on the style of the sword. Tsuba: This one’s easy: it's the hand guard.It would be a lot easier if there were a MENU to help remember them all. To help you remember, think about how many parts there are to the sword. They will most often be related to the theme of the sword. You can get dragons, sunsets, or really whatever strikes your fancy. Menuki: This part of the sword is ornamental and can depict almost anything.You might think of it as a money jar ‘KASHira’. Kashira: The Kashira is the very end bit of the sword, basically the butt cap.They say a picture is worth a thousand words. So, without further ado, let’s get started. To make things easier, we’re going to divide this article up into three easy-to-digest sections, and I’ll give you my own personal tips (mnemonics) to aid with memorizing the bits and bobs. You may be relieved to know that the vast majority of the Japanese population do not know Samurai Sword terminology, so even after reading this article, if you remember only a few of the parts, you’ll still know more than most people. Japanese is not an easy language to understand for most of us, so don’t worry too much if you forget what a Kissaki is. You’ll be forgiven for not remembering every single part of a samurai sword.

Katana parts