This particular commission came from a client who requested a traditionally forged blade with a calm, disciplined appearance, yet one that carried symbolic strength and individuality through its fittings and overall harmony.

Client’s Vision

The client wished for a refined, performance-grade katana suitable for both display and practice.
Their main requests included:

• A folded steel blade showing visible grain to express the beauty of hand-forging.

• A black and brown color harmony, giving the overall mount a sense of maturity and warmth.

• Symbolic fittings — in this case, a serpent motif representing wisdom, vigilance, and transformation.

• A saya lacquer that was understated yet artistic, reflecting light like a night sky.

With these requests in mind, our craftsmen designed a balanced and elegant piece that embodies both strength and subtlety.

Blade Forging & Structure

The blade was forged in Maru-zukuri construction from hand-forged and folded high-carbon steel. Through multiple folding cycles, the smith refined the steel’s purity, revealing a distinctive Ushimo-hada pattern — a fine, ox-hair-like straight grain that demonstrates both precision and restraint.

The edge features a flowing notare hamon, formed through traditional clay tempering. The blade geometry follows the classic shinogi-zukuri form with an iori-mune spine and a medium-sized kissaki, achieving the ideal balance between sharpness, strength, and aesthetic grace.

Mounting & Fittings

The koshirae complements the natural beauty of the blade with symbolic artistry. The round maru-gata tsuba is hand-carved from steel, featuring an openwork serpent motif and finished with a deep black patina for a timeless, subdued elegance.

Matching fuchi and kashira continue the serpent theme, symbolizing transformation and protective power. The fittings’ dark tone harmonizes perfectly with the warm brown of the tsuka wrap and sageo.

Handle & Scabbard Detailing

The tsuka is wrapped in brown silk ito over natural rayskin, with hishigami folded beneath to ensure a precise and uniform diamond pattern. This traditional wrapping method not only enhances grip but also reflects the meticulous craftsmanship behind each layer.

The saya is finished in black lacquer with silver flecks, known as the “starry night” style. Under light, subtle silver reflections evoke starlight scattered across a calm night sky. The koiguchi, kojiri, and kurigata are reinforced with buffalo horn for durability, while a brown silk sageo completes the cohesive design.

Artistic Outcome

This katana represents a dialogue between the client’s vision and the craftsman’s discipline.
The Ushimo-hada expresses quiet refinement, the serpent motif embodies awareness and renewal, and the starry lacquer saya captures the beauty of subtle radiance.

Every stage — from steel folding to final assembly — was executed by hand, creating a piece that stands as both a weapon of art and a personal emblem of craftsmanship and meaning.