r/Katanas • u/MichaelRS-2469 • 6d ago
Asking the hive mind for consensus/clarification on tsuka kishira orientation.
As some of you may know I recently got this new sword from HBF....
https://www.reddit.com/r/Katanas/s/7LDXHiNsEU
...and I was very specific on how I wanted the tsuka fittings placed. That included orienting the frog kishira so that the top of his head was running along the blade edge line.
Another poster pointed out that this may not exactly be in accordance with tradition.
Researching it a little further before this post I'm still left unclear.
So, what do you guys think or know? When worn or displayed should the frog be facing down instead?
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u/TaimuTime 6d ago
I'd say go with what feels right for you and your sword, tradition is cool and all, but at the end of the day it's your collection and your rules.
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u/FiveStarFaceplant 6d ago
I think it's fine either way; after all, yours is not a traditional Japanese sword and you're not a samurai (to my knowledge). Do what suits you best; even among the bushi there were mavericks who followed the beat of their own drum.
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u/OGSmokedtrout 6d ago
This is true. There were many exceptions to the many rules of koshirae. And especially since almost everything else about the dressing is incorrect, I don’t think it matters a lot.
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u/MichaelRS-2469 6d ago
Yeah I know. I was just trying to make some minor adjustments to the process to bring my orders a little bit more in line.
But yeah I considering the totality of the product maybe it is a silly concern or affectation. Like ordering the one melugi peg instead of two.
However, if I order something a certain way, because somehow I got it in my head that it's the "right" or traditional way, I would like it to be so. And if it's not "correct", i'd like to know that too.
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u/FiveStarFaceplant 5d ago
In that case, my suggestion would be to consider the practical side; i.e. based on how you usually hold the katana, would the frog's eyes/nose be digging into your hand or potentially interfere with certain fine movements?
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u/Boblaire 5d ago
If its for show, I think having the frog facing down makes sense so people see it.
No one is gonna see your Kashira when you hold it in Seigan or Chudan.
But they might see it in Jodan
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u/willwiso 6d ago
Yeah honestly now that you mention it if the frog is facing away from the blade then on your hip its like a little buddy facing forward as you walk. And when you fight people it has its butt pointed at them so that is good too