Sanada Himo

Sanada-Himo is a traditional Japanese flat cord made with 100% Cotton, and occasionally, Silk.

The Sanada-Himo cord’s high quality, high thread count and weaving technique came to Japan from China around the 10th century. It was quickly introduced into the samurai culture where it found many uses including binding samurai sword handles, wrapping tea ceremony wooden boxes, ties or decorative elements for women's kimonos, handbags, and fastening gift boxes.

Japanese tradition claims that the Sanada-Himo name originates from the Sanada clan who ruled Yamanashi Prefecture, just west of Tokyo during the Warring States Period (15th to 17th centuries). The clan’s leader, Sanada Masayuki, favored this cord for wrapping around his sword grip. He praised it extensively for its non-slipping properties during the heat of battle. From that early time this cord became to be known as Sanada-Himo.