I wrote before about the Japanese sword guards and the creativity involved in making them. The tsuba in today’s photo features a splendid blend of artistic craftsmanship and utilitarian work. The upper hole, shaped to suggest a sun behind a mountain, is not only an ornament but a useful feature, being made to tie a wrist leather strip used to prevent losing the sword in battle.

Japanese tsuba, Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo, Ueno

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Harimaya-bashi, and its sad love story