Murasaki Uzu Wakizashi (紫渦) – Purple Whirlpool

Murasaki Uzu (紫渦): the purple whirlpool

In Japan, purple (murasaki) was the most exalted of colours, reserved for the highest ranks of the imperial court. The whirlpool, uzu, speaks of energy and perpetual motion. Together, they conjure the image of an elegant force, always in movement.

This wakizashi places that vision at the very heart of its blade: a damascus steel in shades of purple and blue, its patterns swirling along the full length of the steel. The pierced rings of the tsuba carry that movement outward.

A purple and blue damascus steel blade

The blade is crafted in damascus steel, formed by layering and folding multiple sheets of steel. Its purple and blue tones bring out a swirling pattern that is clearly visible across the polished surface.

The geometry follows a shinogi-zukuri profile with a chū-kissaki tip and a longitudinal bo-hi. No hamon is present.

A black mounting with pierced rings

The mokkō-gata tsuba in polished blackened iron features broad ji-sukashi openwork forming rings and stylised floral motifs against a polished migaki ground, with a rounded maru-mimi rim. A gilt brass seppa accompanies it.

The fuchi and kashira in polished blackened alloy are plain. The handle combines wood with a white faux ray skin, bound in a hineri-maki black tsuka-ito with black menuki. The ichimai habaki in gilt brass features pierced panels with a kikkō honeycomb motif on a nanako ground.

A midnight-blue saya flecked with red

The saya is carved from solid wood and finished in a high-gloss midnight-blue lacquer flecked with red in the kawari-nuri tradition. The koiguchi is polished black, and the kojiri is lacquered black. The polished black kurikata with 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, Murasaki Uzu carries the proportions of a true wakizashi, the shorter companion to the katana. Its 23 cm handle offers a comfortable single-handed grip, with room for the second hand as support. At 1 kg, it remains agile and responsive. In its saya it measures 80 cm, an ideal format for displaying its richly coloured blade to full effect.