Tsuka
柄
The grip of a Japanese sword. On a katana it is covered with ray skin and wrapped in a cord that improves the hold. The practice sword shinai has a grip too.
Quick Facts
Term typeEquipment and training aids
LanguageJapanese
Formnoun
Pronunciation[tsoo-kah]
Alternative Namessword grip
Readings and romanizations
Reading (kana)つか
Hepburn romanizationtsuka
Word breakdown
柄tsukagrip
Definition
Tsuka (柄) is the grip of a Japanese sword. On a katana the core is wood, covered with ray skin (samegawa) and wrapped in a silk or leather cord (tsuka-ito). The grip is fastened to the blade with a bamboo peg, the mekugi. It is long enough for both hands. In swordsmanship the sword is held with both hands on the tsuka with a gap between them, and the main force comes from the left hand at the end of the grip. The shinai in kendo has a leather-covered grip and is likewise called tsuka.