A Nidai Tadahiro Wakizashi (肥前国住藤原忠広)

Born Hashimoto Heishiro in Saga, Hizen, in 1614, second generation (Nidai) Tadahiro began working alongside his father, maestro Shodai Tadayoshi, from the age of ten. Guided by his father and other great smiths of the Tadayoshi School, he took over as head of the school when his father died in 1632 – at just nineteen years old. He was granted the honorific title of “Omi Daijo” in July 1641, at only 28. Nidai Tadahiro went on to forge swords for an extraordinary 60 years, dying at 81 in 1693. The sheer volume and consistent quality of his output makes him one of the most celebrated smiths of the Edo period, legendary among Hizen smiths.

This signed wakizashi, made prior to 1641 (and therefore before he received his Omi Daijo title), represents everything one hopes for in a Tadahiro II sword. The masterful and iconic suguha hamon (straight temper line) is executed with his characteristic precision, and the steel is packed so tightly and evenly that it achieves the much-desired konuka hada – a surface texture as fine as rice bran, found only on the finest Hizen work.

The Edo-period koshirae pays homage to the tortoise as a symbol of longevity and good fortune – seen on the fuchi-kashira and kozuka (utility knife) – with a finely carved octopus also appearing on the fuchi. The tsuka is wrapped in a braided jabara-maki, and the menuki depicts an unusual dragon turtle, said to attract prosperity and protection. A beaded-design sukashi iron tsuba completes the ensemble with understated elegance. NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon certification confirms the authenticity of this fine piece.