Q. Will damaged areas spread as a result of cleaning?

Damage to the palm of the kote depends on its condition, but it rarely spreads. However, in areas such as the bag-stitched seams and the kote kera (cuff), where the leather has deteriorated in places you cannot see, cleaning may cause the seams to break or fray. Please understand that this cannot be prevented.

For items with damage to the men-buchi (mask rim), there is a high chance the damage will spread. Depending on how they have been used and stored, some rim leather has no durability left. In such cases, the men-buchi and men-gane (face grille) may come off.