Tombo Menuki - M041

This made in Japan Menuki features a dragonfly. Japan is sometimes called the Island of the Dragonfly, which says much about the number of dragonflies you can come across in summer. Swords pieces and arrow quivers were commonly decorated dragonflies for their symbolic: fearless, swift and courageous. Dragonfly is also known as the "victory insect,” or kachimushi, because of its hunting prowess and also because its nature forbid him from retreating (moving backwards). There is an old legend that explains the victorious and good fortune beliefs associated with the dragonfly. The 21st Emperor Yuryaku had a horsefly bites him on the arm while out hunting. Before further harm could come to him, a dragonfly swooped down and captured the offending bug. It impressed and pleased the emperor very much and decided to rename the region Akitsu-no (Dragonfly Plain) in honor of his rescuer. (Akitsu being the old word for Tombo).

• Available materials (options):
  Silver plated brass
  Blackened copper plated brass with gold & silver gilding
  Solid Silver
• Dimensions:
  Omote: 12.5 mm x 34.5 mm x 3 mm
  Ura: 11 mm x 36 mm x 3 mm