Fox Hunt question (Usagi's daito)

GNS · Post by **GNS** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 15:42 -0700

Hi everyone, very long-time Usagi reader here.

So I just read Fox Hunt, and in "Saya"... Usagi comments on how fine-looking his opponent's blade is, and the other samurai retorts by saying how Usagi's own sword is little more than a rusted length of steel.

For a wandering ronin like Usagi, with an irregular income and travelling in all kinds of weather, it is not unlikely that some rust (very light surface rust on the back or the upper ridges) might develop on his katana despite his regular maintenance routine with uchiko powder, rice paper and choji oil. And after seeing that surface rust, an employed samurai might exaggerate things a bit in order to insult Usagi... because it is true that the 'soul of the samurai' was his blade.

Wouldn't Usagi occasionally visit a togishi to keep his swords sharpened (because, like it or not, the edge will get a nick here and there)? I can't see him carrying around the proper polishing stones or having the necessary expertise to work on his blades professionally.

Secondly, the ronin shown guarding boss Kaneko's house, for the most part, only have one sword and look poorly dressed. Is it implied that they sold or lost their wakizashi, the so-called 'honor sword'?

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 16:58 -0700

Usagi visiting a soul polisher will play a big part in the Hideyoshi's Treasure story arc (if I ever get to it).

GNS · Post by **GNS** » Fri Aug 05, 2011 6:59 -0700

Excellent, thanks Mr. Sakai.

p.s. I wonder if we'll ever find out the name of the master bladesmith (shown in 'Daisho: Part One') who forged 'Yagi no Eda' and 'Aoyagi', Usagi's daito and shoto respectively, when his blades undergo polish.