Iaito Minosaka Jidai Koshirae | Special Edition | 2.45 Shaku

Name: Iaito Minosaka Jidai Koshirae | Special Edition | 2.45 Shaku
Brand: Seido
SKU: MS-N101S
Price: 766.0 USD
Availability: InStock

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How to choose your Iaito
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Jidai Koshirae Minosaka Iaito Special Edition (2.45 Shaku)

Made in Japan (Gifu)
Hamon: Midare
Habaki: Muji (Brass) | Seppa: Brass
Tsuba: Special Namako | Fuchi/Kashira : Special Black Ishime | Menuki: See product options
Tsukaito & Sageo: Cotton, Tetsukon (blue-grey) | Saya: Kuroishime | Shitodome: Silver

The Jidai Koshirae is of a standard Japanese quality that offers a very good quality/price rate and one of our best sellers for many years.
Our team has been recommending this model for several years to Iaido beginners. It also makes a fine choice for Aikidoists looking for a practical Iaito.

In honor of this flagship model's success, Minosaka has decided to release a special edition with unique and individual details curated by our team (depending on the reception of this special release, the workshop may look to introduce more unique iterations in the future).

Available exclusively in a 2.45 shaku (74.2 cm) blade length, these Special Jidai Koshirae Models features a Midare blade Hamon (pattern).
The fittings feature a brass Habaki and Seppa, and a special edition Namako (sea cucumber) Tsuba with a delicate pattern. Please note that this exclusive Tsuba is not available on other Iaito or as a standalone product. Both Tsukaito and Sageo are crafted from traditional Tetsukon (blue-grey) Kakucho weaved cotton, while the Fuchi and Kashira are a special-edition Ishime set in an elegant black finish.
The Saya is coated in highly durable Kuroishime (black sand-textured) lacquer, which is the strongest, most scratch-resistant lacquer available. In addition, the Saya is accented with a silver Shitodome.

Each Iaito in this limited run is a unique piece, with its individual identity defined by the distinct Menuki set you choose from our product variants:

Ichiringiku (一輪菊) - Chrysanthemum
Botan (牡丹) - Peony flower
Sansho (山椒) - Japanese pepper
Suisen (水仙) - Narcissus
Botangiku (牡丹菊) - Peony Chrysanthemum flower
Natamame (なた豆) - Sword bean

The blade is made of reinforced high quality zinc/aluminium bubble-free alloy (duralumin). Note: Alloy blades do not cut and cannot be sharpened.
Just like the blade, all fitting parts are handmade in Japan and result in a 100% made in Japan product.

**Technical Specifications**
Weight - Ichiringiku	~830 g without Saya \| ~1,080 g with Saya
Weight - Botan	~830 g without Saya \| ~1,100 g with Saya
Weight - Sansho	~840 g without Saya \| ~1,090 g with Saya
Weight - Suisen	~840 g without Saya \| ~1,100 g with Saya
Weight - Botangiku	~790 g without Saya \| ~1,030 g with Saya
Weight - Natamame	~830 g without Saya \| ~1,100 g with Saya
Motohaba	32 mm
Sakihaba	20 mm
Motokasane	6 mm
Tsuba	Special Namako (7.6 x 7.2 cm, 4.1 mm thickness)
Saya	Magnolia wood, Kuroishime lacquer

**Size Table**
Your size (cm)	Blade (shaku / cm)	Tsuka (sun / cm)
~ 175 cm	2.45 / 74.2	8.5 / 25.8

*This size table is based on the official Japanese Iaido federation recommendation, for information purpose only.

Disclaimer: Non Returnable Item

Because considered as a weapon by the Japanese legislation, the reimportation of the item is impossible. Therefore, this product is non-returnable/exchangeable.

Information on choosing your Iaito Size, Model & Options

July 08th, 2022
A non-disclosed agreement between a key player in the industry and the Jisei brand (Murayama Token workshop) resulted in the termination of our relationship with the workshop. Accordingly, Seido has removed all Jisei products from its catalog, except inStock products, which will be discontinued once out of stock. We invite you to consult our blog article for more information on this situation: History of our collaboration with the Murayama Token Workshop (Jisei brand)

Unlike Dogi, Hakama or Obi, the use of poor quality materials to manufacture Iaito can be dangerous and lead to serious injuries. Seido is very attentive to safety and our Iaito are especially selected for their high quality.

Contrary to a popular belief in the West, steel Iaito do not exist in Japan. The possession of weapons is strictly prohibited by law and owning a steel weapon is only possible with a legal circumvention that categorizes the Katana as an object of art, not as a weapon. Because of this very restrictive law, the vast majority of practitioners tends to use Iaito, even those owning a real and expensive steel Katana. Iaito are usually made of aluminum/zinc alloys, which can be produced via different processes. Minosaka blades are manufactured through a proprietary process that yields a high quality, "bubble-free" alloy.

The first thing to determine when choosing a Iaito is your type of practice. Will you use your Iaito only from time to time? Do you use it in every class? What type of Budo do you practice?

Beginners and casual practitioners will opt for low-cost but reliable materials. Those can be found in the Tokusei or Jidai models by Minosaka. More seasoned practitioners and collectors will opt for superior models with a better finnish. High level practitioners will appreciate heavy-weight (large blade) models such as the Hon Koshirae. Please note that heavier Iaito, which are balanced toward the kissaki (tip) are difficult to handle. They should be reserved for experienced practitioners.

The purpose of this guide is to give you an overall presentation of possible customizations. Details about each possible option, depending on whether or not it is available for a specific model, can be found on each Iaito’s product page.

Importation restrictions in UK, Russia and Brazil
In those countries, customs are very strict about weapon importation (which includes Iaito). We discourage placing an order without pre-approval from your local customs and we will not assume responsibility for those packages.

Contents

The weight of a Iaito depends on the blade, Tsuka length, and options

How to determine the correct size

The blade length is measured in a Japanese traditional unit called Shaku. One Shaku equals 30.3 cm, or roughly 1 feet (0.994 Ft.). Its subunit is the "Sun". There are ten "Sun" in one "Shaku", so 5 Sun can also be written 0.5 Shaku. Note that the length of a blade does not include the Habaki (see pictures), but is measured in a straight line from the tip (Kissaki) to what is called the Munemachi (base of the blade), hidden under and covered by the Habaki.

The blade length is usually determined by the size of the practitioner.
Be careful though: depending on schools and teachers, the recommendations may vary slightly from what we suggest in this table. In general, for Aikido practitioners for whom the Noto (sheathing of the sword) does not seem crucial, we advise to choose a Iaito 0.5 Shaku shorter than what is suggested on the table.
The blade length is given according to the size of the practitioner and following the guidelines suggested by the Japanese Iaido Federation. The Tsuka lengths are suggested by our team so as to preserve the balance of the weapon, but it also takes into account the fact that the hands of western practitioners are generally bigger than those of the Japanese.
If you are a beginner, you can stop here, you do not need any other information to choose your Iaito.

The following table does not take into account the weight variations that occur when choosing Tsuba and Menuki.

Blade Length, Tsuka Length, Size Table & Weight

**Iaito Size & Weight Comparative Table**
Height (men/women)	Recommended Blade length	Recommended Tsuka length	Standard Weight	Heavyweight Weight
150 cm / 155 cm	2.20 Shaku (66.6 cm)	7.5 ~ 8 Sun (22.7 ~ 24.3 cm)	~780 g	~900 g
155 cm / 160 cm	2.25 Shaku (68.2 cm)	7.5 ~ 8 Sun (22.7 ~ 24.3 cm)	~790 g	~915 g
160 cm / 165 cm	2.30 Shaku (69.6 cm)	8 ~ 8.5 Sun (24.3 ~ 25.6 cm)	~800 g	~930 g
165 cm / 170 cm	2.35 Shaku (71.2 cm)	8 ~ 8.5 Sun (24.3 ~ 25.6 cm)	~810 g	~945 g
170 cm / 175 cm	2.40 Shaku (72.7 cm)	8.5 ~ 9 Sun (25.6 ~ 27.3 cm)	~820 g	~960 g
175 cm / 180 cm	2.45 Shaku (74.2 cm)	8.5 ~ 9 Sun (25.6 ~ 27.3 cm)	~830 g	~975 g
180 cm / 185 cm	2.50 Shaku (75.8 cm)	9 ~ 9.5 Sun (27.3 ~ 28.8 cm)	~845 g	~990 g
185 cm / 190 cm	2.55 Shaku (77.3 cm)	9 ~ 9.5 Sun (27.3 ~ 28.8 cm)	~860 g	~1010 g
190 cm / 195 cm	2.60 Shaku (78.8 cm)	9.5 ~ 10 Sun (28.8 ~ 30.3 cm)	NA	~1030 g
195 cm+	2.70 Shaku (81.8 cm)	9.5 ~ 10 Sun (28.8 ~ 30.3 cm)	NA	~1050 g

Standard weight blades have a maximum of 2.55 shaku.
Heavy blades a maximum of 2.70 shaku.

More information on available options

Click on the "open" buttons to display the details.

Blade Hamon

The Hamon on the Iaito is for purely aesthetic reasons and has no effect on the usage of the weapon.
On Shinken (Katana), it results from selective quenching, and its quality depends heavily on the forge.
The Iaito being made of aluminum, it cannot be sharpened, the Hamon is made by sanding it using a stencil. In the same category of Hamon (e.g. Notare, Midare), the workshop has dozens of stencils, all slightly varying, so that there are very few identical Hamon.

Blade Groove (Hi or Bo-hi)

The groove, called “Hi” or “Bohi” in Japanese, has several purposes; it can make the blade lighter and more flexible or help draining the blood for instance, but some options are simply aesthetic (such as the design of the bottom and end of the groove).

Habaki & Seppa

The habaki is the piece of metal circling the base of the blade. It has the two main purposes, locking the tsuba in place, maintaining the sword in the Saya. Unlike Shinken Habaki, that can be incredibly expensive, Iaito Habaki are standardized and gently forced in place. This means that it is not recommended to remove/change the Habaki on a Iaito blade.
The seppa are washers used in front and behind the tsuba to tighten the fittings, made of copper. They are mandatory to keep the Tsuba in place securely.

Minosaka offers 3 different models: Muji (plain), Shonai, and Yujo, that are available in brass finish, gold plated finish or silver plated finish. The Seppa are available in bronze, raw brass, gold plated and silver plated finishes.

Minosaka - Shonai Muji Yujo Copper Habaki

Minosaka - Shonai Muji Yujo Silver Habaki

Tsuba

The Tsuba has two main functions: aesthetic and balance adjustment.
A heavy Tsuba shifts the balance towards the Tsuka, making the Iaito easier to handle whereas a light Tsuba will push the balance towards the Kissaki (choose the latter if you decide to focus on cutting training).
Tsuba are usually made of Iron, sometimes stainless steel, with different finishes.

Minosaka offers 19 models to chose from, for all Minosaka models.

Tsukasame

The Samekawa or "shark skin" is the part under the Tsukaito. Despite being called a "samekawa", and because shark hunting isn't really a thing nowadays, stingray skin is used instead. Its main purpose is to keep the Tsukaito in place and to reinforce the Tsuka structure. The same is sanded and polished in order to produce a durable high quality type of leather. On live blades (Shinken) mount, the Same is a "maki same", wrapper around the Tsuka wood. However, for cost reasons, Iaito Tsuka are made with two rectangular pieces of same embedded in the Tsuka. This is called Tanzaku-same. The Maki-same option is possible on Minosaka Iaito on request.

Same exist in different quality and type.
Minosaka offers both classic white and black finishes.

Fuchi & Kashira

The Fuchi is a hilt collar between the tsuka and the tsuba. It serves as a reinforcment for the Tsuka (handle). The tang of the sword goes into the tsuka through the opening in the fuchi.
The Kashira is a pommel on the end of the tsuka, which serves, similarly to the Fuchi, as reinforcement for the Tsuka (handle). It usually features a hole that is used to secure the tsukaito (wrapping). Some kashira, and notably Suigyu (water buffalo) made Kashira do not have a hole, which forces to slightly change how the maki (wrapping) is done.

Minosaka's Koshirae (models) are based on the Fuchi and Kashira featured. Minosaka does not offer full custom workshop, so fuchi and Kashira modification is therefore not possible.
All Fuchi/Kashira are available as standalone products and all technical information for each Fuchi/Kashira is detailed on each product page.

Menuki

Menuki are ornaments on the tsuka to fit into the palm for grip and originally meant to distract the eyes from the mekugi (peg). It is generally placed under the wrapping, but may also appear over the wrapping, especially with a Ikkan-maki or Hira-maki wrapping style. Although the Menuki may influence the balance of the weapon, it is very subtle given its light weight.
Minosaka offers 14 models to chose from, for all Minosaka models.

Tsukaito (wrapping)

The Tsukaito has two main purposes: it serves as a grip and it holds the Tsuka tightly together. A tightly wrapped Tsuka is extremely important for security.
Cotton allows a better absorbtion of the sweat but is less durable than silk and leather. It is the standard option on most Iaito. Silk feels a little harder and may not be recommended for beginners but has a significantly longer lifespan. Leather does not absorbs sweat but offers an excellent grip and is the most durable material. Leather is available in standard and suede version (napped finish). The latter has a slightly better grip, it keeps dye better and is therefore available in more colors than standard leather; it is, however, slightly less durable.
Minosaka offer cotton, silk and leather Tsukaito.

Sayanuri (lacquer)

The Saya is made of two piece of Japanese magnolia wood that are glued together. It is reinforced by both the Sayajiri (end of the Saya), the Koiguchi, and of course, the lacquer. For cost reasons, unlike Shinken, the lacquer of Saya for Iaito are not made from traditional Urushi lacquer but from modern urethane lacquer.

Saya lacquers are usually separated into 4 groups: "classical lacquers", "Kawari-nuri" for combinations (multiple lacquers used on the same Saya), "Kizami" for lacquers applied on a modified Saya (e.g. Saya with shapes carved into the wood) and "Maki" for Saya partly wrapped in another material (such as shark skin or wicker). Kawari-nuri cannot be combined with Maki or Kizami. Each available option is detailed on product pages.

The Kurikata is the piece placed 7.5 cm from the Koiguchi (Saya hole) on the Omote side of the Saya, used to nest the Sageo. It is possible to move the Kurikata on request for all models (see product options).

Kojiri

The Sayajiri (saya butt) is usually finished with buffalo horn (synthetic material in the case of Iaito), but it is possible to replace the buffalo horn by a piece of metal called a Kojiri, which significantly reinforces the Saya.
The classic shape of traditional Shinken Saya is slightly narrower at the end than at the koiguchi. It is therefore recommend to select a Kojiri that is slightly smaller than the fuchi. Kojiri are very often made from the same design as the fuchi and kashira.

Minosaka does not offer any Kojiri option. However, three models have a Kojiri "by default" on their Koshirae: Toppei Koshirae, Shinto Higo Koshirae and Tensho Koshirae.

Sageo

The Sageo, the braided cord that comes on the Saya kurikata, has two main purposes; it is tied to the Obi (belt) to prevent the Saya from falling when the sword is with its owner, and it has an ornemental purpose when the sword is displayed. Some Koryu also teach how to use the Sageo as a weapon or to tie an opponent's hands (hojujutsu). It is also said that the cord serves as a spiritual bond between the samurai and the sword.

Minosaka offers classic cotton and silk Sageo as well as a check pattern cotton model.

Taking care of your Iaito

Unlike steel Shinken (Katana), Iaito require only minimal maintenance. It is not absolutely necessary to oil the blade because it does not rust. However, regularly applying oil is advised to feed the wood of the Saya.

Please be careful to not use Uchiko powder (used for Shinken) as it may cause damage to alloy blades.

Of course, the Iaito should be cleaned with a cloth after each class. Ensuring good maintenance of all parts is essential to keep the Iaito in good condition, to avoid safety issues and hence, injuries.

Check out our reportage at the Minosaka Workshop

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Product & Services

Iaito Minosaka Jidai Koshirae | Special Edition | 2.45 Shaku: $766.00

Accessories

Made to Order | Production: ~ | No Exchanges/Refunds
Order today and we will ship before

In stock: ships within 4 working days
Order today and we will ship before

Availability : around (Shipping date estimation)

As we are not able to guarantee the next availability for this product, orders are temporarily suspended. We invite you to come back check the availability around

This product is out of stock and discontinued. It cannot be ordered any longer.

Sold out

Information on product availability

Product Options

Jidai Koshirae Minosaka Iaito Special Edition (2.45 Shaku)

Disclaimer: Non Returnable Item

Blade Length, Tsuka Length, Size Table & Weight

Customer Reviews

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