Katana Vermilion Sakura Maru Blade Kōzakura Koshirae 赤櫻

Shinken (真剣) | Vermilion Sakura Katana: TangGu (湯谷) Maru Blade (丸造) + TangGu (湯谷) Kōzakura Koshirae (紅桜拵)

This katana is forged in a Maru construction with high-performance modern steel. The blade features a decorative suguha-style hamon (直刃風刃文), polished to show the temper line. The tsuba is a Mokko-gata sukashi tsuba (木瓜形透鍔), forged from tetsu (鉄地, iron) with a blackened finish (yaki-sabi 煮黒). The openwork design (sukashi 透かし) provides lightness and strength. The fuchi-kashira (縁頭) are made from shiragane (白銅, white copper) with sakura engravings, blackened and polished (migaki 磨き). The habaki (鎺) is made from shakudo (赤銅) with a polished surface. The menuki (目貫) have floral patterns, blackened and polished, under the wrap. The tsuka is wrapped in chairo silk ito (茶色正絹柄糸) over natural samegawa (鮫皮, ray skin), with hishigami (菱紙) forming a diamond pattern (hishi-gumi 菱組). The saya is finished in aka-ishime-nuri (赤石目塗). The koiguchi (鞘口), kurigata (栗形), and kojiri (鐺) are reinforced with water buffalo horn (gyūkaku 牛角). The wine-red silk sageo (酒紅色正絹下緒) completes the mounting.

TangGu (湯谷) Maru Blade

This blade is hand-forged (Tezukuri / 手作り) using high-performance modern steel (現代鋼), with a monosteel construction known as Maru-zukuri（丸造）.

Blade Forging Details

• Blade Name: TangGu Traditionally Forged Maru Blade (丸造)
• Forging Method: This blade is forged in the Maru-zukuri style, using a single piece of modern high-performance steel, and fully heat-treated (全体焼入れ) throughout the entire blade for uniform hardness and durability.
• Materials: Modern high-performance steel (現代鋼)
• Purpose: Designed for Iaido (non-sharpened), Kenjutsu, and Tameshigiri (test cutting) practice

Blade Specifications

• Blade Length (Nagasa刃長): Approx 73 cm
• Tang Length (Nakago 茎長): Approx. 24 cm
• Width at Base (Motohaba 元幅): Approx. 32 mm
• Thickness at Base (Motokasane 元重): Approx. 6 mm
• Width at Tip (Sakihaba 先幅): Approx. 24 mm
• Thickness at Tip (Sakikasane先重): Approx. 4 mm
• Kissaki Length (Tip 切先長): Approx. 35 mm
• Mekugi-ana (Peg Hole 目釘穴): 1

Blade Characteristics

• Shape: Shinogi-zukuri (ridged blade 鎬造), Iori-mune (flat ridged spine 庵棟), Chū-kissaki (Medium-sized tip 中切先)
• Forging Pattern (Hada 鍛肌): None (Modern monosteel; no visible hada)
• Hamono (Blade Pattern 刃文): Decorative suguha-style hamon (Fully quenched blade; not differentially hardened)

Special Features and Workmanship

Hi (Groove) Engraving

• Type: Hi-Nashi (樋なし)
• Processing Range: None (No bohi) – Solid blade for added weight and strength

Polishing Work

• TangGu Polishing Levels:
  • High-grade shaping polish 上・成形研磨
  • High-rough polish 上・下研ぎ
  • High-reflection mirror finish 上・鏡面仕上げ研磨
• Key Features:
  • Refined blade geometry and balanced weight distribution
  • Exceptional sharpness, durability, and a clean, modern mirror-polished surface

Fittings and Mountings

Blade Fittings

• Tsuba (Handguard 鍔): Mokko-gata (木瓜形) Sukashi Tsuba – Forged from tetsu (鉄地, iron), blackened (yaki-sabi 煮黒), with an openwork design (sukashi 透かし).
• Fuchi-Kashira (縁頭): Sakura-engraved (桜彫) Fuchi-Kashira – Made from shiragane (白銅, white copper), blackened (kurozogan 黒象嵌) and polished (migaki 磨き), with cherry blossom motifs.
• Menuki (目貫): Floral-patterned (花模様) Menuki – Made from shiragane (白銅, white copper), blackened and polished.
• Habaki (鎺): Shakudo (赤銅) Habaki – Forged from shakudo (赤銅), polished surface (migaki 磨き).
• Samegawa (Ray Skin 柄鮫): Natural samegawa (鮫皮), under tsuka-maki.
• Handle Wrapping (Tsuka-maki 柄巻): Brown silk ito (茶色正絹柄糸), wrapped with hishigami (菱紙) in hishi-gumi (菱組) pattern.

Saya and Accessories

• Saya (Scabbard 鞘): Traditional-style saya (拵風鞘), reinforced with water buffalo horn (牛角) at the koiguchi (鞘口), kojiri (鐺), and kurigata (栗形).
• Saya Lacquer (鞘塗): Aka-ishime-nuri (赤石目塗) – red stone-textured lacquer finish.
• Sageo (Cord 下緒): Wine-red silk sageo (酒紅色下緒), tightly woven.

Measurements

• Blade Weight: Approx. 0.65 kg
• Sword Weight (without Saya): Approx. 1.0 kg
• Total Weight: Approx. 1.3 kg
• Overall Length: Approx. 102 mm