Back to the Original sheath

There is a word "place in original sheath". These words came from understanding that, the sheathe made for each sword, fits best than any other sheath, which nowadays are used to explain "return to where it should belong".

Then, how did these words came to be used? Towards the end of Edo, it started to become difficult for a samurai to eat. In case for junior samurai and masterless samurai, the situation was even worse. therefore to avoid from starvation and poverty, samurai started taking up part time job, like umbrella patching. Those samurai who still couldn't eat, held on to their sword as it was their soul, but sold the sheath. Others, who found the look and appearance important, sold the sword and held on to the sheath.

As sword became a collection item, curio merchant started selling the sword and sheath separately as it made more profit. This is why the number of people holding the sword and its original sheath decreased. The existence of sword placed in its original sheath became very few. sheath are made for each particular sword, and to be "placed in original sheath" is the swords nature appearance