Koi no Mai Wakizashi (鯉の舞) – Dance of the Koi

Koi no Mai (鯉の舞): the dance of the koi

In Japan, the koi carp is the emblem of perseverance: legend holds that the carp which ascends the waterfall is transformed into a dragon. Koi ponds (their orange, white and black fish rippling beneath the surface) are one of the most beloved sights of the Japanese garden.

This wakizashi takes that world as its theme: orange carp dance through the blue waves of the saya, while the white tsuba shows fish amid the foam. The blue wave-patterned blade extends the aquatic narrative from hilt to point.

A two-tone blue-and-steel blade

The blade is forged in T10 steel, a high-carbon steel prized for its hardness. It follows a shinogi-zukuri geometry with a chū-kissaki tip and no bo-hi.

It is two-tone: satin steel meets a broad, vivid blue zone at the centre of the blade, traced with white waves. This undulating gunome-style line is a decorative hamon.

A white fish-themed mounting

The kawari-gata tsuba in white painted alloy is broadly pierced (sukashi). It depicts scaled fish swimming among foaming waves (takabori), with a sinuous rim and two hitsu-ana openings. A gilt brass seppa accompanies it.

The fuchi and kashira in white painted alloy are finely chiselled with floral motifs. The handle combines wood with faux white ray skin beneath a white tsuka-ito wrapped in hineri-maki, with gilt menuki. The ichimai habaki in patinated copper carries a geometric design in relief.

A silver saya with koi carp

The saya is solid wood, coated in a metallic silver glitter-effect lacquer upon which orange koi carp and blue waves are painted. The koiguchi and kojiri are lacquered in matching silver, in keeping with the scabbard’s finish. The silver-lacquered kurikata with gilt shitodome holds a navy and white striped sageo.

Dimensions and handling of the wakizashi

With a 51 cm blade and an overall length of 78 cm, Koi no Mai carries the proportions of a wakizashi, the shorter companion to the katana. Its 23 cm handle offers a comfortable single-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 painted scabbard to full effect.