scabbard(SAYA)
A cylinder in which the sword blade is kept. It serves to protect the blade from moisture and dust. The scabbard itself may be made of bamboo or rattan wrapped around the top to make it sturdy enough to be used as a weapon. While some sword sheaths in Europe and other parts of the world are made of metal or leather, most Japanese swords are made of wood. The wooden scabbard is called shira-saya (white scabbard) or rested scabbard, and the lacquered scabbard is called nuri-yasaya (lacquered scabbard) or body scabbard. The sheaths were sometimes decorated for fun or to mark the status of a noble or warrior family.
