A Rare and Exceptional Wakizashi — Made for a High-Ranking Samurai

🔹 What is a Wakizashi?

A wakizashi is a short Japanese sword traditionally worn by samurai together with a katana.

While shorter than a katana, wakizashi were important weapons for close combat and daily carry.

🌊 Outstanding Hamon (Temper Line)

This wakizashi features an exceptionally beautiful hamon.

The hamon is the visible temper line created during the heat-treating process of a Japanese blade.

It is one of the most important elements of a Japanese sword, reflecting both the skill of the swordsmith and the character of the blade.

The hamon on this sword is truly distinctive—

it looks exactly like rolling waves, expressing:

• strong movement
  

• raw energy
  

• a sense of controlled wildness
  
  

Yet, despite this power, it still retains a refined and elegant feeling.

This balance makes it a truly one-of-a-kind masterpiece.

📏 A Rare Size: Large Wakizashi (58.3 cm)

The greatest highlight of this sword is its length:

• Blade length: 58.3 cm
  

This places it in the category of a large wakizashi, which is extremely rare.

Most wakizashi are significantly shorter.

Because of this unusual length and high quality, there is a very strong possibility that this blade was custom-ordered.

Commissioning a sword of this level from a master swordsmith suggests that the original owner was a samurai of very high status.

🕰 Historical Background

• Period: Mid-Edo period (around 300 years ago)
  

• Location: Kyoto, Japan
  
  

The blade has relatively little curvature, giving it a clean, calm, and elegant silhouette.

It reflects the Edo-period ideal of a sword that is not only functional in combat, but also beautiful to look at.

This is a sword that was meant to be used, but also appreciated.

🏯 Kyoto Craftsmanship – Yoshimichi School

This blade was made by a master swordsmith of the Yoshimichi school,

one of the most respected groups of Kyoto swordsmiths during the mid-Edo period.

The Yoshimichi lineage is known for:

• high technical skill
  

• refined workmanship
  

• the elegant aesthetic unique to Kyoto swordmaking
  
  

This sword is a wonderful example of that tradition—

so fine that it would not look out of place in a museum collection.

⚒ Custom Koshirae (Mountings)

The blade currently does not have koshirae (mountings).

Koshirae refers to the full set of fittings that allow the sword to be worn and used, including:

• scabbard (saya)
  

• handle (tsuka)
  

• guard (tsuba)
  

• and other metal fittings
  
  

We can create a fully custom, made-to-order koshirae, designed to reflect your personal taste and vision.

Let’s bring all your ideas together and create a truly one-of-a-kind mounting for this exceptional blade.