打鮫 Uchizame

What is Uchizame in Japanese Katana terminology?

Uchizame refers to the practice of wrapping shark skin under the handle wrap for slip resistance, which originated in the Momoyama period. In the Edo period, for aesthetic enhancement, metal plates were hammered and shaped to resemble shark skin. This creates a unique atmosphere with a grandeur that is different from that of shark skin.