Traditional Honoki wood, selected for being free of knots and other defects, and for having a good grain, is aged for ten years to produce a very stable foundation for making saya, tsuka, and tsunagi. The wood is salt free and has a very low moisture content compared to other woods, making it ideal for koshirae and shirasaya. There are also compounds inthe wood that deter insect attack.

The dimensions of the blank are 29.92 inches x 1.77 inches x 1.26 inches (76 cm x 4.5 cm x 3.2 cm) with a curve of 1.57 inches (4 cm), split into two pieces. This will accomodate most swords, including making the tsuka.