How to wear a sword, Tenjin-Zashi edition Basic knowledge of samurai How to wear a sword. Generally, long swords and wakizashi are worn with the blade facing upward. It is rarely worn with the blade facing down. Wearing the sword with the blade facing down is called Tenji-zashi(天神差し). Tenjin means the torii gate at the entrance to the shrine. zashi here means to wear. It may be used when riding a horse or when the Koiguchi(鯉口) is loose. This is to prevent the sword from falling out unintentional