A Shodai Nagamichi Wakizashi (陸奥大掾三善長道)

Shodai (first generation) Miyoshi Nagamichi was born Miyoshi Tôshirô in Iwashiro province, modern-day Fukushima. His father Masanaga was retained by Daimyo Lord Kato Yoshiaki. He originally signed his name as Michinaga, changing to Nagamichi in 1659 when he received his court title of Mutsu Daijô at the age of 27. Ranked saijô-ôwazamono – a grandmaster of cutting ability – and further rated jô-saku as a superior smith, he is considered one of the finest swordsmiths of the 17th century. He was nicknamed Aizu-Kotetsu, as some of his masterworks rivalled those of the great Edo smith Kotetsu.

This long wakizashi has been freshly polished and beams a bright, wavy gunome-midare hamon with long ashi and brushed sunagashi that evokes the snow-capped mountains of Mutsu province. The steel is forged in a flowing itame-nagare with lively ji-nie and plentiful chikei rolling through the dark ji. A striking mune-yaki runs along the spine, and the outline of itame is visible within the hardened ha – hallmarks of Nagamichi’s most accomplished work.

The sword is housed in a Unique Japan produced custom koshirae with a powerful dragon theme throughout. The iron tsuba is intricately carved with a dragon hunting through rough seas, gold-inlaid waves and clouds framing the composition on both faces. The menuki are crawling dragons in black shakudô with fabulous golden eyes and whiskers, and the fuchi-kashira depict a dragon slithering along a plum blossom branch – a symbol of spring and protection. Green tsuka-ito over white same-gawa completes the ensemble, the colour chosen to evoke dragons hiding in a forest. The koshirae carries an NTHK Kanteisho certificate of authenticity.