Shirasaya cleaning

[Grey Doffin]

I was wondering something similar but I was concerned that the steam would raise the grain on the surface of the saya, the smooth old patina would be lost.

I use rice glue to assemble shoji and I know that, while the glue does a great job of binding the joint, it will give way with a sharp rap. This is considered an advantage with shoji; if the kumiko (lattice) ever need repair the screen can be easily disassembled.

So, if a shira-saya ever needs to be split, could it be done with a sharp rap somehow?

Grey