Strops and Japanese swords

[kamagong]

In my quest for the mythical "scary sharp" I have come across many references to strops. The first time I heard of one though was in the Japanese play "Chushingura" when one of the retainers uses a sandal to strop his lord's sword. Do the Japanese use strops to sharpen or maintain their swords? Did they ever, or was this example in "Chushingura" just another instance of artistic license? Or perhaps it was a translation problem since the text I read was an English version?

 

[Robert Marotz]

That is more artistic license than common practice...sharpening of the swords was done through the polishing. The edge was set in some of the earliest stages of togi and was simply refined more and more through each stone as they removed the scratches of their predecessors right up to the shiage (finish polish). Even though the purpose of shiage is to accentuate features in the steel, you also end up honing the edge a bit further.

Now...just because they had sharp edges didn't always mean they were super sharp. Many swords were quite sharp...just not mythically so. I think some of that comes from demonstrations of skilled cutters who can do rather amazing things. People never give each other enough credit, but are always ready to praise the tools they use.

Of course, there are some swords out there that classify as "really friggen sharp." Since we're not wearing yoroi or doing much of anything to damage the edges of good swords (thankfully), we can spend a little more time on the edges without much worry (except the polisher's hands).

Shinryû.

 

[WrongFriend]

Some people believe that they have to do "netaba awase", adding a second obtuse bevel on the edge to prepare for a battle.
Sands, strops, grass stoens are said to be used. There are those against it, claiming a katana must be sharpenend and shaped go "ready to go" condition.

In Chushingura, they are going into a battle where armored enemies are expected. (Remember they had already been enjoying hundreds years of peace since last warfare) It seems rational for them to do so, but I don't recommend any curernt collectors even users.

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Otokohadaremo yumenofunanori.
Shonennohinoakogare shinutokimade wasurezunidaiterumonodayo.