Higo Koshirae 肥後拵

The Higo Koshirae 肥後拵 is a customizable Iaito with a light (standard) blade and superior finish quality.

With its Tsuka refined in its center (concave), its Tsuka Kashira rounded, this iaito offers a very pleasant and dynamic grip, Its light blade (Standard) and its balance allow an easy practice, making Jidai Koshirae a safe bet whether you are a novice or more experienced. It also allows prolonged practice without too much strain on the muscles and tendons of the arms, limiting the risk of tendon injuries.

This montage was created from the swords of Hosokawa Tadaoki (1563-1646), Lord of the ancient province of Higo, now Kumamoto, on the island of Kyushu. Son of daimyo, he appeared on the battlefield at the age of 13-15 years under the aegis of Oda Nobunaga. He married Tamako, daughter of Akechi Mitsuhide, one of Nobunaga's war generals. He then approached Hideyoshi Toyotomi, then Tokugawa Ieyasu. The latter will give him the Higo estate in gratitude for his participation in the victory of Sekigahara.
Hosokawa Tadaoki was also an experienced swordsman, excelling in poetry, painting, and particularly in the art of the tea ceremony. Rallying the power of the sword to the refinement of the arts of tea, he was an artist, expert and aesthete confirmed.

The Menuki of this montage include the Mon of the Hosokawa clan, the Kuyomon design, representing nine 'planets' of the solar system.
The blackened Fuchi and Kashira are carved with the golden Karakusa pattern (ivy), a pattern typical of the work of artisans in Higo Province.

All customization options are possible on this Iaito, we advise you to keep specifically the Fuchi and Kashira which make, with the bending of the Tsuka, the specificity of the Higo Koshirae.
Like all iaito, for practice, the Higo Koshirae needs to be adapted to the practitioner. You must choose the blade length and handle length according to your size, but also according to the type of practice (ask your teacher or senior officers of your club).

The blade type for this fixture is a light (standard) blade, approximately 820g.
Nagasa length possible from 2.20 尺 (66.6cm) to 2.55 尺 (77.3cm).

size charts (see attached table of recommended sizes)

Standard (Basic) Mounting Specifications:
Hamon: Suguha (straight line).
Habaki: Muji (without frame), made of brass.
Tsuba: Nami no Zu 波の図 (Wave Design) Four-lobed (Mokko gata) Iron.
Fuchi/ Kashira: Kin No Karakusa 金の唐草 (golden arabesque patterns), rounded Kashira, blackened copper pieces.
Same : Galuchat (Roussette or Raie), White.
Menuki : Kuyomon 九曜紋, Mon of the Hosakawa Clan of Kyushu, representing the planets of the solar system.
Tsukaito : Hineri Maki handle braiding in black cotton.
Sageo : Cotton Black.
Saya : Kuroro 黒呂塗り, Saya glossy black lacquered, Magnolia wood, with golden Shitodome and rounded Kojiri.

The Minosaka Workshops:
The Iaito we offer come from Minosaka workshops in Gifu, Japan, and are manufactured in their workshop in Japan.
Gifu is one of the top places known for the forging of traditional sabers, including the Mino tradition, dating from the 14^th century. Minosaka workshops are Iaito's leading producers of tradition.
This traditional workshop manufactures its chrome-plated Zamak Iaito (Zinc and Aluminum alloy with some Copper) which is stainless.
This non-ferrous alloy makes the Iaito blunt and unsharpenable:
They are practical tools for Kata, without contact between the blades.