‘Tsuki-himo’ - A special string to close-up mendare and protect the throat from tsuki.
I currently punch holes on the edge of the mendare and string cotton kote-himo through it that I tie behind the tsukidare. It closes up the space between the tsukidare and mendare. It’s the closed-up throat look I apply to my men.
I rarely see anyone with this ‘tsuki-himo’. I don't know what to call it really. I thought maybe 'tome-himo' based off the existing term 'tomekawa' for that leather thing that already keeps your mendare and tsukidare together on the top of the tsukidare. I'm sure an official term exists/will exist soon.
I prefer this closed-up throat look for both aesthetics and safety. It looks more like the ‘shape 1’ I write about here, and it protects my throat from missed tsuki strikes.
There is no regulation I know of specifically banning this practice.
I’m not the only one doing this kind of thing. Ebogu came out with their ‘Genten’ model men, and guess what it has punched through the mimikawa and tied under the tsukidare: https://www.e-bogu.com/GENTEN-MEN-Master-Quality-Kendo-Bogu-p/ank-ken-bog-genten-men.htm
I was surprised to see a certain Japanese kendo Sensei with exemplary chakuso I particularly admire using this ‘tsuki-himo’ at a seminar. I asked him about it. He told me it was his kind of “kodawari”, and he recommends I continue using it.
‘Two level, two string tsuki-himo’ - my current way
(Edit: Now I only do this for my taikai / shinsa men. My everyday home dojo practice men uses a method on the very bottom of this post. )
(Edit: Now I only do this for my taikai / shinsa men. My everyday home dojo practice men uses a method on the very bottom of this post. )
This variation of tsuki-himo is two sets of holes punched in:
- The mimikawa (chikawa)
- The mendare. I make sure to punch the hole between the kazari-ito embroidery and the leather trim on the face. But, it’s crucial that I angle the leather punch through the center of the urakawa leather on the underside. Centering allows the tight himo to be supported by the urakawa too. And, it looks clean this way.
Two separate himo are tied in two knots.
I use a very small leather hole punch, mallet and wood block to punch the holes. Do it at your own risk.
Edit: I now use three sets of holes, instead of two. I pull the mendare together slightly more aggressively in the process. I used the three level setup below for a while:
Cotton himo makes uncomfortably large and bulky knots.
I tried different strings and ended up using the setup below. It's my favorite so far. Athletic shoe laces (often sold as "half round" or "oval") seem to have just the right amount of spring and tension. They're extremely easy to lace through the small holes. The extremely low profile of the laces after pressure or tension works well for the application.
Edit: I now use three sets of holes, instead of two. I pull the mendare together slightly more aggressively in the process. I used the three level setup below for a while:
Cotton himo makes uncomfortably large and bulky knots.
I tried different strings and ended up using the setup below. It's my favorite so far. Athletic shoe laces (often sold as "half round" or "oval") seem to have just the right amount of spring and tension. They're extremely easy to lace through the small holes. The extremely low profile of the laces after pressure or tension works well for the application.
