Ryūha (龍波): the Dragon Wave
In Japanese mythology, the dragon lords over the seas. Ryūjin, the ocean dragon deity, commands the tides from a palace beneath the waves. Ryūha unites the dragon (ryū) with the wave (ha), evoking a creature that cleaves through the deep.
This katana carries that theme across every surface: a dragon engraved on the blade, another raised in relief on the tsuba, and on the fuchi and kashira, scenes of waves, wind and the dragon’s breath. The blue of the tsuka-ito and the blade deepens the maritime resonance.
A blue blade engraved with a dragon
The blade is crafted from manganese steel, a robust alloyed steel. It is distinguished by its blue finish and the engraved dragon across its surface, making it a visually arresting centrepiece.
A bo-hi (a longitudinal fuller) runs the length of the blade, reducing weight and accentuating its curvature. No hamon is present: the colour and the engraving are statement enough.
A silver mounting of waves and dragon
The round silver-alloy tsuba features a dragon in relief. The silver fuchi and kashira are engraved with scenes of waves, wind and the dragon’s breath. The gold habaki continues the theme with a dragon-scale motif.
The tsuka pairs wood with faux white samegawa, wrapped in a diamond-pattern blue tsuka-ito, through which silver menuki emerge.
A white lacquered saya with golden kamon
The saya is crafted from white lacquered wood, decorated with golden kamon, the heraldic crests of Japanese noble families. The white ground sets off the blue of the mounting, like seafoam against open water. The koiguchi and kojiri are finished in black, and a midnight-blue sageo ties the ensemble together.
Dimensions and handling
With a blade of 71 cm and an overall length of 103 cm, the Ryūha carries the proportions of a traditional katana. Its 26.5 cm tsuka provides a firm two-handed grip. At 1.3 kg, it remains well balanced. Sheathed, it measures 105 cm, an ideal format for displaying its engraved blade and striking colour palette.
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