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Iaito & Shinken Tsuba

Average rating: 4.6/5 - 10 customer reviews

About Iaito & Shinken Tsuba

The Tsuba (鍔) has the function to protect the hand from the opponent's blade but also from having one's hand sliding onto the blade during Tsuki (thrust).
It though has two more qualities: aesthetic and balance adjustment. During the Edo period, the Tsuba turned progressively into a decorative ornament, often generously worked, giving every sword a personal and special touch.

The Tsuba can present one or two holes on the sides that were used to draw the Kogatana (small knife) or Kogai (hair spike) that were fitted inside the sides of the Saya. The Tsuba used to be made by entire dynasties of craftsmen who only specialized in that particular field, almost vanished in the present time.

A heavy Tsuba will tend to shift the balance downwards the handle, making the Iaito easier to handle whereas a light Tsuba will push the balance towards the Kissaki, the tip of the blade. The latter one is recommended if you decide to focus on cutting training. You will find below some photos of all our Tsuba but also details on size, material, and weight.

All models are, of course, entirely handmade in Japan.

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  • Washi Tsuba - TM001

    ¥9,900

    Made in Japan
    Material: Blackened iron
    Size: 75 mm x 70 mm
    Weight: 136 g
    Design: Eagle
    For Iaito & Shinken
    Made to order: ~3 weeks

    No reviews yet
  • Yagyu Tsuba - TM002

    ¥9,900

    Made in Japan
    Material: Blackened copper
    Size: 75 mm x 73 mm
    Weight: 123 g
    Design: Name of a famous Samurai clan. Also called Kuruma Sukashi.
    For Iaito & Shinken
    Made to order: ~3 weeks

    5/5 - 1 customer review
  • Shippo Tsuba - TM003

    ¥9,900

    Made in Japan
    Material: Blackened iron
    Size: 74 mm x 70 mm
    Weight: 135 g
    Design: The 7 treasures (gold, silver, pearls, agate, crystal, coral, lapis lazuli)
    For Iaito & Shinken
    Made to order: ~3 weeks

    No reviews yet
  • Hanjiro Tsuba - TM004

    ¥9,900

    Made in Japan
    Material: Blackened copper
    Size: 79 mm x 65 mm
    Weight: 142 g
    Design: Favored by the famous samurai Hanjiro.
    For Iaito & Shinken
    Made to order: ~3 weeks

    No reviews yet
  • Umetada Tsuba - TM005

    ¥9,900

    Made in Japan
    Material: Blackened iron
    Size: 84 mm x 75 mm
    Weight: 150 g
    Design: Design by a famous blacksmith of the Edo period
    For Iaito & Shinken
    Made to order: ~3 weeks

    No reviews yet
  • Hyotan Tsuba - TM006

    ¥9,900

    Made in Japan
    Material: Blackened copper
    Size: 71 mm x 70 mm
    Weight: 126 g
    Design: Gourd (calabash)
    For Iaito & Shinken
    Made to order: ~3 weeks

    No reviews yet
  • Musashi Tsuba - TM007

    ¥9,900

    Made in Japan
    Material: Blackened copper
    Size: 74 mm x 74 mm
    Weight: 146 g
    Design: Used by the most famous samurai
    For Iaito & Shinken
    Made to order: ~3 weeks

    4/5 - 2 customer reviews
  • Kasuga Tsuba - TM008

    ¥9,900

    Made in Japan
    Material: Blackened iron
    Size: 84 mm x 76 mm
    Weight: 138 g
    Design: Kasuga refers to the shape of the Tsuba.
    For Iaito & Shinken
    Made to order: ~3 weeks

    5/5 - 1 customer review
  • Ameryu Tsuba - TM009

    ¥9,900

    Made in Japan
    Material: Blackened iron
    Size: 81 mm x 77 mm
    Weight: 147 g
    Design: Dragon under the rain
    For Iaito & Shinken
    Made to order: ~3 weeks

    4.3/5 - 3 customer reviews
  • Namako Tsuba - TM010

    ¥9,900

    Made in Japan
    Material: Blackened iron
    Size: 74 mm x 69 mm
    Weight: 90 g
    Design: Holothuroidea (sea cucumber)
    For Iaito & Shinken
    Made to order: ~3 weeks

    5/5 - 1 customer review
  • Muji Tsuba - TM011

    ¥9,900

    Made in Japan
    Material: Blackened iron
    Size: 74 mm x 69 mm
    Weight: 134 g
    Design: Plain (no pattern)
    For Iaito & Shinken
    Made to order: ~3 weeks

    No reviews yet
  • Kagecho Tsuba - TM012

    ¥9,900

    Made in Japan
    Material: Blackened copper
    Size: 74 mm x 72 mm
    Weight: 106 g
    Design: Butterfly shadow
    For Iaito & Shinken
    Made to order: ~3 weeks

    No reviews yet
  • Nami Tsuba - TM013

    ¥9,900

    Made in Japan
    Material: Blackened iron
    Size: 81 mm x 77 mm
    Weight: 145 g
    Design: Waves
    For Iaito & Shinken
    Made to order: ~3 weeks

    No reviews yet
  • Hirata Tsuba - TM014

    ¥9,900

    Made in Japan
    Material: Blackened copper
    Size: 76 mm x 72 mm
    Weight: 120 g
    Design: Design by a famous blacksmith of the Edo period
    For Iaito & Shinken
    Made to order: ~3 weeks

    No reviews yet
  • Higo Tsuba - TM015

    ¥9,900

    Made in Japan
    Material: Blackened iron
    Size: 75 mm x 71 mm
    Weight: 90 g
    Design: A famous design of the Higo province (now Kumamoto)
    For Iaito & Shinken
    Made to order: ~3 weeks

    No reviews yet
  • Shin Umetada Tsuba - TM016

    ¥9,900

    Made in Japan
    Material: Blackened iron
    Size: 85 mm x 76 mm
    Weight: 165 g
    Design: Design by a famous blacksmith of the Edo period
    For Iaito & Shinken
    Made to order: ~3 weeks

    No reviews yet
  • Icho Zogan (Kasuga) Tsuba - TM017

    ¥24,300

    Made in Japan
    Material: Blackened iron
    Size: 84 mm x 77 mm
    Weight: 141 g
    Design: Kasuga shape with silver ginkgo arabesque
    For Iaito & Shinken
    Made to order: ~3 weeks

    5/5 - 1 customer review
  • Mitsuboshi Sansumi Sukashi - TM018

    ¥14,900

    Made in Japan
    Material: Blackened iron
    Size: 77 mm x 77 mm
    Weight: 100 g
    Design: Represents a constellation of 3 stars in triangle
    For Iaito & Shinken
    Made to order: ~3 weeks

    No reviews yet
  • Mokko Namako Sukashi - TM019

    ¥14,900

    Made in Japan
    Material: Blackened iron
    Size: 72 mm x 75 mm
    Weight: 110 g
    Design: Namako (Holothuroidea) within a Mokko shape.
    For Iaito & Shinken
    Made to order: ~3 weeks

    5/5 - 1 customer review
  • Yatsushiro Kagecho Sukashi - TM020

    ¥14,900

    Made in Japan
    Material: Blackened iron
    Size: 77 mm x 75 mm
    Weight: 100 g
    Design: Copy of an ancient Tsuba made by master Yatsushiro. Represents the shadow of a butterfly.
    For Iaito & Shinken
    Made to order: ~3 weeks

    No reviews yet
  • Shiho Namako Sukashi - TM021

    ¥14,900

    Made in Japan
    Material: Blackened iron
    Size: 79 mm x 74 mm
    Weight: 115 g
    Design: 4 Holothuroidea (sea cucumber)
    For Iaito & Shinken
    Made to order: ~3 weeks

    No reviews yet
  • Akasaka Musashino Sukashi - TM022

    ¥20,800

    Made in Japan
    Material: Blackened iron
    Size: 76 mm x 78 mm
    Weight: 100 g
    Design: Japanese pampas grass turned over after a storm, under a moon crescent.
    For Iaito & Shinken
    Made to order: ~3 weeks

    No reviews yet
  • Umetada Hanamon Sukashi - TM023

    ¥20,800

    Made in Japan
    Material: Blackened iron
    Size: 79 mm x 79 mm
    Weight: 90 g
    Design: Flower petals used in the famous Japanese crests called "Katabami" Kamon.
    For Iaito & Shinken
    Made to order: ~3 weeks

    No reviews yet
  • Yotsuwa Sukashi - TM024

    ¥20,800

    Made in Japan
    Material: Blackened iron
    Size: 72 mm x 73 mm
    Weight: 90 g
    Design: 4 imbricated rings.
    For Iaito & Shinken
    Made to order: ~3 weeks

    No reviews yet
  • Ouka Sukashi - TM025

    ¥20,800

    Made in Japan
    Material: Blackened iron
    Size: 77 mm x 82 mm
    Weight: 60 g
    Design: Represent a Sakura flower (cherry blossom). Also the lightest of all Tsuba.
    For Iaito & Shinken
    Made to order: ~3 weeks

    No reviews yet
  • Owari Sukashi - TM026

    ¥20,800

    Made in Japan
    Material: Blackened iron
    Size: 81 mm x 80 mm
    Weight: 100 g
    Design: Tsuba made in the tradition of the Owari province (now Aichi prefecture).
    For Iaito & Shinken
    Made to order: ~3 weeks

    No reviews yet
  • Kuyo Sukashi - TM027

    ¥20,800

    Made in Japan
    Material: Blackened iron
    Size: 86 mm x 86 mm
    Weight: 165 g
    Design: Features the symbolic 9 planets in the Buddhist cosmogony.
    For Iaito & Shinken
    Made to order: ~3 weeks

    No reviews yet
  • Kagi Sukashi - TM028

    ¥24,800

    Made in Japan
    Material: Blackened iron
    Size: 83 mm x 83 mm
    Weight: 100 g
    Design: Japanese hook symbol.
    For Iaito & Shinken
    Made to order: ~3 weeks

    No reviews yet
  • Yatsu Warabite Sukashi - TM029

    ¥24,800

    Made in Japan
    Material: Blackened iron
    Size: 83 mm x 83 mm
    Weight: 130 g
    Design: Curved design based on curling bracken shoots.
    For Iaito & Shinken
    Made to order: ~3 weeks

    No reviews yet
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