What Is a Saya on a Katana?
A saya is the fitted wooden scabbard, or sheath, that holds a katana blade when the sword is not in use. That answer is simple. The buying decision is not. On a product page, the saya is easy to judge…
Blog
Can You Buy a Katana in Japan and Bring It to the US?
Yes, you can buy a katana in Japan and bring or ship it to the US in many cases. The answer changes once you know what kind of sword you are buying. A modern replica is mostly a packing, airline,…
How to Take Apart a Katana Safely
If you are looking at the small pegs in the handle and wondering whether they come out, start with the handle, not the blade. The tsuka, mekugi, and fittings tell you whether this katana was built to be opened. This…
How to Sheathe a Katana Without Cutting Your Hand
The moment that catches new owners is often not drawing a katana. It is putting the blade back into the saya. The edge is close, the tip is moving, and the support hand is near the opening. There is not…
How to Store a Katana for Months?
If your katana is going away for more than a few weeks, start by identifying the blade in the saya. A modern carbon-steel katana, a display sword, and an inherited blade should not all get the same treatment. For most…
Decorative vs Functional Katana: Don’t Trust Looks Alone
The hard part is not spotting a beautiful katana. It is knowing what that sword is actually built to do. A decorative katana and a functional katana can share the same curve, wrap, tsuba, and polished product photos, but they…
How to Prevent Your Katana from Rusting
Preventing your katana from rusting comes down to one missed thing: moisture left on polished steel. After handling or cutting, wipe the blade, dry it fully, and add a thin coat of mineral oil or choji oil. Display blades can…
How to Wrap a Katana Handle With Ito and Hishigami
Learning how to wrap a katana handle usually starts with loose ito, crushed diamonds, or a display sword that no longer looks right. The basic work is to anchor the ito near the fuchi, cross over samegawa, add hishigami under…
Iaido vs Kendo: Which Should Beginners Learn First?
Iaido vs kendo sounds like a choice between two sword arts. For a beginner, it is usually a choice between two rooms: a loud room where partners test your timing, or a quiet room where every draw, cut, and return…
How to Clean a Katana with Household Items
A fingerprint on the blade is usually where this starts. You notice smudges or cloudy old oil, but the cleaning kit is not nearby. For a modern production katana, a few household items can handle routine surface care. The mistake…