A Kanenaga Wakizashi (兼永)

Made almost 500 years ago during the Muromachi period, this masculine wakizashi has been attributed to swordsmith Kanenaga of the Mino tradition. The Mino school is celebrated for its distinctively practical, martial aesthetic – and this blade delivers that in full measure. The ubu nakago (unaltered tang) with clean takanoha yasuri is a mark of originality and authenticity.

The hamon is a signature Mino composition: a vivid gunome choji midare (wavy clove blossoms) punctuated by togari-ba – tapered, flame-like peaks that rise like treetops above the temper line. As a fundamental rule, all swords of the Mino tradition carry togari in the hamon, and here it is executed with particular energy, the fire-like temper burning along the blade in captivating fashion against a bright and clear hachu.

The Edo-period koshirae is thematically rich. The fuchi-kashira features bamboo – a symbol of prosperity, resilience, and purity in Japanese culture, whose roots were said to hold the earth together in earthquakes. The ishimeji (stone-lacquered) scabbard is reinforced with a kojiri for durability, and the sukashi (openwork) tsuba depicts matsu (pine trees), evergreen symbols of longevity, good fortune, and faithfulness. NTHK-NPO Kanteisho certification accompanies the sword.