A Quietly Powerful Katana by Ikeda Genjirō Defined by Black and Stillness

Quietly Standing in Black

A Sword Completed by the Space in Which It Is Displayed

It sinks into black, standing in quiet stillness.

This is a sword that truly reaches completion in an exhibition space.

📜 Background & Swordsmith

This blade is a signed work by Ikeda Genjirō Teruteru,

a swordsmith who lived in Dewa Province (present-day Akita and Yamagata).

The sword reflects a period on the boundary between the late Shinshintō era and the Meiji Restoration,

a time when Japan itself was undergoing profound transformation.

Rather than relying on flashy appeal,

this sword speaks through the intrinsic quality of the blade and its calm presence.

It is an exceptionally good match for a serious collection.

📏 Shape & Dimensions

• Blade length: 73.0 cm
  

• Curvature: 1.7 cm

The blade has a solid width and a generously wide hardened edge (yakihaba),

giving it a strong sense of volume and substance.

At the same time, the overall lines remain perfectly balanced—

heavy, yet quiet; powerful, yet restrained.

This harmony makes it an ideal sword for appreciation rather than intimidation.

Even in a display setting, it draws the viewer’s eye firmly,

yet remains comfortable to look at for long periods without visual fatigue.

🔥 Steel & Hamon — Subtle, Yet Deeply Expressive

The hamon features a composition of reverse chōji mixed with pointed elements,

formed in a fine nie-deki style.

• Fine ji-nie spreads evenly across the surface
  

• Yō and ashi appear naturally
  

• Kinsuji and inazuma emerge quietly depending on the angle of light
  
  

Nothing here is loud or excessive.

Instead, the beauty reveals itself gradually and calmly, rewarding careful observation.

🧱 Jihada (Steel Texture)

The forging shows:

• densely packed jihada
  

• a pear-skin-like base texture
  

• flowing itame mixed with hints of masame
  
  

The steel has excellent character,

and the more time you spend looking at it, the more information it reveals.

This is best described as jihada suited for an art sword,

meant to be studied, not glanced at.

🗡 Koshirae — The Aesthetics of Black

The koshirae—saya, tsuka, and metal fittings—are unified entirely in black.

By eliminating unnecessary color,

the mounting allows the blade itself to command full attention.

Like a white museum wall or a gallery under controlled lighting,

this koshirae quietly—but unmistakably—captures the viewer’s gaze.

✋ Tsuka Length — One Shaku as Design

The handle length is one shaku (approximately 30 cm).

While this length was originally chosen for practical reasons,

from an aesthetic perspective it also gives the sword a sense of openness and flow.

• The balance between blade and handle
  

• The continuous line created by the koshirae
  

Both are beautifully resolved.

This is an excellent example of how functional logic naturally gives rise to beauty.

⭐ Recommended For Those Who Value:

• refined, quiet elegance
  

• a fully unified black koshirae
  

• a sword that completes itself through calm presence rather than display
  
  

This is a blade we can confidently recommend to collectors seeking dignified, understated beauty.