Samekawa for Iaito Tsuka riskyproduct Kumi-ai Kaku ni Kikyo (balloon

Kumi-ai Kaku ni Kikyo (balloon flower in intertwined squares)

brass Ryu (dragon) Menuki

but the 3-leaf variation is the most common

cosmetic grade

Samekawa for Iaito Tsuka riskyproduct Kumi-ai Kaku ni Kikyo (balloonSamekawa Ray Skin for Iaito The Samekawa or "shark skin" is the part under the Tsukaito. Despite being called a "Samekawa", and because shark hunting isn't really a thing nowadays, stingray skin is used instead. Its main purpose is to keep the Tsukaito in place and to reinforce the Tsuka structure. The same is sanded and polished in order to produce a durable high quality type of leather. On live blades (Shinken) mount, the Same is a "Maki Same"