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The tsuba is a hand protector, that is, the handguard of a Japanese Katana to prevent the enemy's sword from causing damage to the opponent's hands. The tsuba has various shapes, but is generally circular and made of metal, with two small holes on both sides for easy removal. The tsuba also helps maintain the balance and balance of the weapon. The average diameter of the tsuba on a katana is 7.5 to 8 centimeters, the tsuba on a wakizashi is 6.2 to 6.6 cm, and the tsuba on the Tanto is 4.5 to 6 cm.
The functionality of the tsuba is also decorative due to its beautiful designs. It is normal to find tsuba made from a variety of metals and alloys, such as iron, steel, brass, copper, etc. Some tsubas are made of gold or silver and for this reason many are collector's items that have been passed down through inheritance from one generation to another.
In a duel, two participants can block the katanas with the tsuba, which is known as tsubazeriai, a very common practice in modern kendo. In today's Japanese language, tsubazeriai also means "to be in fierce competition."
