A Nidai Nobutaka Wakizashi (二代信高)

The Nobutaka lineage occupied a privileged position in the sword world of Owari province, working under the direct patronage of the Tokugawa clan who controlled the region from Nagoya. This long wakizashi is attributed to the second generation, a *Jo-saku* smith of considerable ability who is recorded as having lived to the age of 87 – a remarkable span that gave him decades to refine his craft within the Owari Seki tradition.

The blade’s most striking feature is its *hamon*, a lively *gunome midare* enriched with *yahazuba* – arrow-notch shaped elements – and *togari* (pointed peaks) that give the temper line an animated, almost restless energy. The steel is worked in a tight *itame* jihada, close-grained and controlled, consistent with the technical standards of the Enpô era. At 51.5cm with healthy curvature, this is a long, purposeful wakizashi with real presence in the hand.

The accompanying vintage *koshirae* is a genuine highlight. Finely carved rain dragons in gold relief dominate the *fuchi* and *kashira* – well-executed late Edo metalwork with a bold, three-dimensional quality. The *tsuba* features a lucky rabbit riding atop a wavy ground, a charming and auspicious subject that complements the dragon theme well. Both the sword and the koshirae carry individual NTHK-NPO Kanteisho certificates of authenticity, issued in 2013.