Hara Kazutomo - Tsuba with a Long-lived Tortoise (Minogame) with a Tail of Seaweed - Walters 51384

The turtle on this tsuba is a divine tortoise that can live one thousand years. The "tail" is actually made of water plants that have grown in the tortoise's shell because it has lived so long. This turtle is a symbol of longevity. The right hand side of the tsuba is primarily the turtle's shell. The "tail" sweeps around the left edge to meet to turtle's head at the lower right. A space left between the tail and the central opening created the opening for the utility knife.