Kinsen Wakizashi (金閃) – Golden Flash

Kinsen (金閃): Golden Flash

Kinsen evokes the golden flash, the sudden gleam of gold breaking through darkness. In the art of Japanese lacquerwork, gold scattered across a deep black ground is one of the most coveted effects, conjuring the impression of living light.

This wakizashi makes it the defining signature of its saya: cascading golden splashes over a profound black lacquer. On the tsuba, two dragons emerge from the clouds, carried as if on bursts of that same radiance.

A mirror-polished 1045 carbon steel blade

The blade is crafted in 1045 carbon steel, a robust and widely trusted steel that is straightforward to maintain. It follows a shinogi-zukuri geometry with a chū-kissaki point.

The surface is mirror-polished and free of a hamon, presenting a clean, brilliant finish.

A mounting of two dragons

The round (maru-gata) tsuba in patinated brown-gold alloy is pierced (ji-sukashi) with two dragons among clouds, sculpted in relief (takabori), with deep openwork, a polished and patinated surface and a rounded rim (maru-mimi). A gilded brass seppa accompanies it.

The fuchi and kashira in patinated brown alloy are chiselled with foliage in relief. The handle pairs wood with a black faux rayskin, beneath a beige tsuka-ito binding in hineri-maki, with menuki in patinated gilt copper. The ichimai habaki in patinated brown copper is engraved with a sayagata geometric motif.

A black saya splashed with gold

The saya is crafted from solid wood, finished in a high-gloss black kawari-nuri lacquer splashed with gold. Each projection of gold is unique, making every saya singular. The koiguchi and kojiri are lacquered in high-gloss black, flowing seamlessly from the saya. The black-lacquered kurikata holds a beige sageo.

Dimensions and handling of the wakizashi

With a blade of 51 cm and an overall length of 78 cm, the Kinsen carries the proportions of a wakizashi, the shorter companion to the katana. Its 23 cm handle offers a comfortable one-handed grip, with room for the supporting hand. At 1 kg, it remains highly manoeuvrable. In its saya it measures 80 cm, an ideal format to display its golden lacquered scabbard to full effect.