65| The Sword Observation Process

This chapter shows the process of the sword examination.

1. Wear white gloves or hold a handkerchief in each hand.

2.  Bow lightly. Then hold the Tsuka (hilt) with your right hand and the Saya (scabbard) with your left hand.  Pull the Saya.   In this process, keep the Saya at the right angle to the floor.  The Mune must face down.  The Mune should be resting on the inside of the Saya.  The Ha should face up.  Pull the blade carefully, not let the Ha touch the inner wall of the Saya so that it does not accidentally get scratches.

3.  Set down the Saya on the left of the sword.  Prepare a small hammer made for the sword.

4.  Using a sword tool, push the mekugi (peg) out.

5.  Place the Mekugi in the hole of Tsuka so that you won’t lose it.

6.    Pull Tsuka and Habaki out (metal piece just above the Tsuka, a gold piece in the picture below) and set them down on the right.

  

7.  Hold the Nakago with your right hand.  Support under the blade with washi (Japanese rice paper), or handkerchief or tissue paper with your left hand.

8.  Using the light reflection on the blade’s surface, look at Jigane, Hamon, Boshi, and Mei, etc.  To see Hamon, Jigane, and Boshi well, move the sword up and down, sideways and rotate it to reflect the light in the right position.

9.  When you finish looking at the sword, bow lightly and reassemble it by reversing the process.