A Kanenobu Wakizashi (兼延)

Attributed to swordsmith Kanenobu of Mino province, this wakizashi was forged during the Tenbun era – a period of near-constant civil war when blades were made to be used, not admired. The distinctive shobu-zukuri construction, shaped like the leaf of the iris, was both practical and symbolic: the word shobu carries the same pronunciation as the Japanese for martial spirit, making this form a favourite among fighting men of the era. The nakago retains its original ubu shape with a fine dark patina, confirming the blade has never been shortened in five centuries.

The steel is forged in a tight, dense itame-hada with a good mix of mokume, and the hamon is the eye-catching feature: a large, vigorous o-gunome-midare in nioi-deki, with bright uniform crystals cascading along the full length of the blade. The spine is bevelled like a naginata, adding to the sense of aggressive intent. Good chikei is visible in the steel.

The matching late Edo koshirae is a piece in its own right. The scabbard is lacquered in a remarkable tree-bark technique – dark, richly textured, utterly distinctive. The hamidashi tsuba in polished shakudo carries gold-inlaid phoenix and plum motifs, and the menuki display the Hakkoryu Meyui kamon – the geometric crest of a Minamoto retainer, eight squares signifying preparedness for attack from all directions. The kozuka (paper knife) is pure copper, signed by Yanagawa Naomitsu, and depicts the Chinese warlord Xiang Yu alongside Liu Bang, founding emperor of the Han dynasty. An exceptional pairing of blade and fittings.