Shikomizue

The Shikomizue is a Japanese concealed sword disguised as a cane or walking stick. It has appeared a few times in the anime and manga series Rurouni Kenshin, and is also the weapon used by the fictional character Zatoichi, a blind masseur. Sometimes it was used by government officials in Japan in the Meiji period.

Related Topics:
Japanese - Sword - Cane - Walking stick - Anime - Manga - Rurouni Kenshin - Zatoichi - Meiji period

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The name Shikomi-Zue is actually the name of a type of mounting, the sword blade was placed in a cane-like mounting (tsue), to conceal the fact that it was a sword. This mounting was used almost exclusively during the Meiji period, when the carrying of swords was banned. The blades used in these mountings were usually of poor quality. These mountings are not to be confused with the Shira-Saya mountings, which were just plain wooden mountings with no decoration.

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