THE MAIN MOTIF ON THE HANDLE ARE KOMI INU OR LION DOGS FOUND AS GUARDIANS AT SHRINES IN JAPAN.
THE TSUBA INLAYS ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE BUT ONE APPEARS TO BE AN INCENSE BURNER. I WOULD NOT TAKE ANY INFERENCE FROM THE FITTINGS THAT THEY HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH A FEMALE SAMURAI.


"A man needs to know his limitations" Dirty Harry
Gold Badge #263