How Is Ito Manufactured?

[Gareth Barry]

Hello there!

After much reading through many of the excellent threads on this website, I decided that this was by far the best place to get this, rather bizarre, question answered.

So, how on earth is leather ito manufactured? I am talking of the actual unwrapped stuff, ready to use for tsukamaki. The reason that this seems strange to me is that to the length for tsukamaki for katana would be at least 3 metres, and there are simply no hides (other than an elephant or giraffe, camel or something) that would give the necessary length. Is it joined from multiple pieces in some sort of seamless manner? Looking at beautiful pictures of tsukamaki done with doeskin ito wrap, there certainly doesn't seem to be any join visible. Or is the animal skinned in a particular way to give the necessary length?

Regards

Gareth

[Greg F]

Hi Gareth and welcome. Dave T is a member here, he's your man to ask. He has an amazing wealth of knowledge on the topic. Good luck.

 

Greg

[Gareth Barry]

Thanks very much Greg, sent him a PM.

Regards

Gareth

[Geraint]

Dear Gareth.

 

Hope this works.  

 

You can also find a great deal of information here, http://www.tsukamaki.net/

 

All the best.

[Gareth Barry]

Gosh that seems so obvious when you watch that video, makes one feel rather dumb! Seriously guys, thank you so so much, going to give this a bash to try to at least produce some leather ito. 

Thanks again

Gareth