Ginsō Wakizashi (銀草) – Silver Grass

Ginsō (銀草): Silver Grass

In Japanese art, plants and foliage are a favoured motif, long associated with the turning of the seasons. Rendered in silver (gin), they conjure the light of the moon across a night garden, or frost settling on the grass at dawn.

This wakizashi places that imagery at the heart of its tsuba, where silver flowers and foliage cover the entire surround against a darkened ground. The midnight-blue saya with golden flakes extends the nocturnal mood.

A damascus steel blade with a true gunome hamon

The blade is forged in damascus steel, achieved by layering and folding multiple sheets of steel. The damascus pattern (alternating light and dark grey) is clearly legible, brought to life by a satin polish.

It has been clay-tempered, revealing a true gunome hamon. The geometry follows a shinogi-zukuri profile with a chū-kissaki point and a torii-zori curvature, without bo-hi.

Fittings adorned with silver foliage

The round (maru-gata) tsuba in silvered and blackened alloy features irregular openwork (sukashi), a darkened patinated ground, and silver flowers and foliage in high relief (takabori) across its full circumference, with a rounded rim (maru-mimi). A gilt brass seppa with fine striated detailing accompanies it.

The fuchi and kashira in blackened alloy are chiselled with floral motifs in relief. The handle combines wood with faux white ray skin, bound in black tsuka-ito in hineri-maki, with black menuki. The ichimai habaki in gilt copper carries an engraved and blackened kikkō pattern.

A midnight-blue saya with golden flakes

The saya is crafted from solid wood, coated in a deep midnight-blue lacquer with dense golden flakes in the nashiji manner, like a sky scattered with stars. The koiguchi and kojiri are high-gloss black. The black-lacquered kurikata with a gilt shitodome holds a black cotton sageo.

Dimensions and handling of the wakizashi

With a blade of 51 cm and an overall length of 78 cm, Ginsō carries the proportions of a wakizashi, the katana’s shorter companion. Its 23 cm handle offers a comfortable one-handed grip, with room for the supporting hand. At 1 kg, it remains nimble and responsive. Sheathed, it measures 80 cm, an ideal format for display alone or alongside a katana.