Tsuba, Iron, shakudo (copper and gold alloy), The iron tsuba is an irregular oval in shape and has a raised, rim-chased mimi (edge)., At bottom, a high relief decoration of rabbits and plants with brass details. At top,a low relief of clouds and a mountaintop, with textured tsushime hammer work., At the center is the nakago-ana, an opening through which the sword passes. At the bottom of the opening has sekigane (plugs added to fit the tsuba to a sword) made of shakudo (a soft copper and gold alloy). On either side are ryo-hitsu, openings for the kozuka (utility knife) and the kogai (skewer tool). At left is sashi ura, the side which faces the blade, whose opening takes the hangetsu-kei (half moon) shape. Opposite is the more elaborately decorated sashi omote side, which would face the sword hilt. Its tri-lobed opening is of the suhama type, symbolically representing the coastline of Horai, the holy island of the Immortals., Japan, late 16th-17th century, metalwork, Decorative Arts, Ts