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In the Nekomonogatari-Black anime, yōtō "Kokoro-Watari" (妖刀「心渡」, sometimes
translated as demon sword "Heartspan") is shown with different lengths, but it
always appears to be bigger than Araragi. The size changing isn't very
noticeable unless you are actively checking, so it could just be due to
animator laziness, but the fact that it is longer than Araragi is seems
deliberate as it is drawn that way consistently in every scene.

Here is one screenshot of the sword, compared to Araragi. Both red lines are
the same length.

![](https://i.stack.imgur.com/unxPo.png)

Even if he is leaning over in the picture, it's pretty clear that the sword is
bigger than he is. It's also clear when he gets cut in half:

![](https://i.stack.imgur.com/8m2LQ.png)

However, despite the fact that the sword is taller than he is, it fits into
his body. It even fits in Shinobu's body, though of course that could just be
one of her abilities. But to the best of my knowledge Araragi should not have
any such ability. In addition, the sword is stuck in the ground after his legs
disintegrate, which also should not be possible if it was inside of him.

This could very well just be SHAFT following their usual style with the
Monogatari novel adaptations, where the visuals aren't meant to be taken
literally. Or it could be an indication of another ability of the sword. Is
there any evidence that yōtō "Kokoro-Watari" has some ability that would allow
it to fit inside Araragi's body (e.g. changing size)?


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2013-02-06T00:42:31.770
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monogatari-series
How did Araragi hide yoto "Kokoro-Watari" inside his body?


This is just an on-the-spot theory since I haven't read the novels, but 刃渡り
means the length of a blade. Notice it shares 刃 with 忍 and 渡 with 心渡, while 心渡
and 忍 share 心, completing the trifecta.

Thus I think it's safe to assume that the length of the 心渡 is a crucial part
of its design. (perhaps "heart-length" would be the most appropriate
translation)

From this you could derive any number of theories and many of them would be
appropriate. The simplest would be that it changes length depending on the
will, emotions, or state of mind of the user (all three have close ties to 心).

While Shinobu is heart-under-blade, the sword's true usage might be heart over
blade, i.e. mind over matter, controlling it with your will.

Someone who's actually read Kizumonogatari might be able to give a definite
answer.


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2013-02-07T07:45:34.467
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As someone who read Kizumonogatari (translated by Baka-Tsuki, not in original
Japanese) I thought that I might shed some light about the sword.

First off, I would like to mention that although Kizumonogatari does have a
whole bunch of interesting facts about the series (most of which are based
around Shinobu and Koyomi's relationship) there is actually surprisingly
little about the sword (I actually found this thread by googleing the sword).

I'll try to refrain from spoiling and just say you learn where the sword is
from and how it only cuts Kaiis (or Aberrations/Monsters) but we are not told
that it has any other special properties from a sword otherwise, so while mcs
may have the correct answer, I believe it actually lies elsewhere.

First off I will answer why the sword is able to fit inside Shinobu.
Contradictory to Koyomi, Shinobu doesn't actually stick the sword inside
herself. Vampires actually have the ability to materialize objects/possessions
at will, and Shinobu "conjures" up the sword each time she wishes to wield it.
Koyomi never reached that "power level" so he was never able to materialize
anything, but to Kissshot-Acerolaorion-Heartunderblade it was no big deal. As
for why she materializes it from her mouth, I have no idea (but hey, it sure
looks cool).

For Koyomi, I think you actually answered your own question. Indeed the sword
is longer than him, I think in the novel it was said to be around 2 meters
(~6.6 feet) long. However as you so keenly noticed, the sword was stuck in the
ground. During his conversation with Hanakawa, Koyomi never moved from his
original spot and if you notice his standing posture is a little strange (he
seems to be focusing all his weight on his left foot). I think this is just
because he stuck the sword (through him) straight into the ground and couldn't
move from that axis.

This is just what I thought from re-watching the scene and from reading the
light novels. I hope you found my information useful.


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2013-07-26T10:20:00.707
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Spoiler for Kizumonogatari:

> In Kizumonogatari, Kissshot explains that the Heartspan is not the original
> sword, but a copy made of vampire blood (the blood of Kissshot's first
> servant). That by itself is enough to explain why Shinobu and Araragi, being
> part vampires, can manipulate it in that way. When the sword enters their
> bodies, it melts into blood again. The sword is special in this case, not
> them.


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2013-08-17T02:33:27.930
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This post is old but since it hasn't been answered yet: In the novel, Araragi
explains that he swallows the sword and stabs it down through one of his legs
until it is burried past his throat and all the way through the floor (As a
little nod to that, you can notice that though his posture shifts, he never
moves one of his feet).

The ability of kokorowatari as explained in the novel is that it can perfectly
cut through anything, oddity or object. Oddities are hurt by this cut but
physical objects and living thins are so seamlessly cut that they join back
together at the incision and receive no damage; so that's why Araragi could
easily push through his flesh and the concrete floor.

In the anime it was really only drawn to it's full length as an **artistic
liberty** to be more visually impressive. Heck, for that matter when Shinobu
rips out her arm to restore Araragi with her blood, Araragi explains that his
bottom half rematerializes but the pants are left behind and they didn't draw
him half naked.


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