Jamie-
I will post more pics as soon as I get home from work. I believe the tassel is purplish with gold stripes or vice versa. Can't remember at this moment. I'm a total novice with this. But will definitely post more pics soon.
Here is a link to a picture I tooK:
http://s1046.photobucket.com/albums/b47 ... =Sword.jpg
It is from a sword my Grandpa brought back from Japan during WWII. The tassel on the handle supposedly means it was from a high ranking member of the Japanese Military.