Fukuro shinai (Leather-covered training sword)

A handcrafted fukuro shinai (leather-covered training sword) made by a master craftsman, also used in training for the Samurai Method Kenkido.
The fukuro shinai is said to have been devised by Kamiizumi Nobutsuna, the founder of the Shinkage-ryu school, in the late Sengoku period. Today, it remains an integral part of training in many traditional Japanese swordsmanship schools such as Shinkage-ryu, Kashima Shinto-ryu, Ban’ei Nen-ryu, Ono-ha Itt?-ryu, and Terami-ryu.
This historically significant practice sword is crafted from a single piece of bamboo, split into several slats, typically four or eight, then wrapped in leather and sewn into a protective tube-like form. Measuring approximately 100 cm, it is extremely lightweight, with the seam representing the sword’s edge.
Because it allows practitioners to strike with full intent without causing serious injury, the fukuro shinai enables realistic and spirited training. As a substitute for a live blade, it is a crucial tool for swordsmen ,not only for its practical function, but also for its cultural and historical significance in the modern era.