stalk (of a mushroom, leaf, etc.)(tsuka/tsuka)
The term refers to the part of the sword that is held by the hand. Inside the hilt is the “stem (nakago, the part of the sword blade to hold). The handle contains the “nakago” (the part of the blade that is held by the hand). Most swords are made of wood, often of magnolia, which is also used for the scabbard.
The handle is wrapped with a leather cord or braided string, which reinforces the handle and makes it comfortable to hold and prevents slipping. There are various techniques for pattern winding, such as “rhombus winding,” in which the pattern is wound into a diamond shape, and “tsukumaki,” in which the overlapping threads of the pattern are plucked to make it taller.
