The hands of the Chairman's aide are draped with fine linen, upon which lies a wakizashi. Machiko examines the short sword, its intricate grip, its scabbard, with her eyes. The sword itself appears to be of a customary length, about 46 centimeters. Its grip, wrapped in same , shark skin, appears carved out of ivory. The tsuba , or guard, appears fashioned out of steel, ornamented in gold, and formed into a design like billowing clouds. The lacquered green scabbard is decorated with an inlaid pattern like a forest of reeds, chaped or capped at the end by a golden kojiri in the form of a coiling dragon. The scabbard is also fitted with both kozuka and kogai , the customary small knife and "headpin," their handles inscribed with the images of a tiger and a waterfall.