Shiosai Wakizashi (潮騒) – Sound of the Tide

Shiosai (潮騒): the sound of the tide

Shiosai is the sound of the sea, the murmur of waves breaking against the shore. It is also the title of a celebrated novel by Yukio Mishima, in which the ocean becomes a symbol of living, eternal force.

This wakizashi takes that theme as the soul of its fittings: storm-tossed waves across the tsuba, waves again on the fuchi, and swirling sea foam on the kashira. The midnight-blue braiding evokes the depths below.

A T10 steel blade with a genuine gunome hamon

The blade is crafted from T10 steel, a high-carbon steel prized for its hardness. Clay tempering brings forth a genuine gunome hamon, strikingly contrasted against the mirror-polished steel.

The geometry follows a shinogi-zukuri profile with a chū-kissaki point and a wide bo-hi that runs to just before the yokote. Hand-sharpening and hand-polishing complete the blade, a level of artisanal finishing that draws out the full character of the steel.

Gilded fittings inspired by an agitated ocean

The round (maru-gata) tsuba in gilded patinated copper features a ground striated with undulating lines evoking a turbulent ocean, enriched with sculpted and engraved waves (takabori and kebori), openwork between the scrolling forms, and a rounded rim (maru-mimi). A gilded brass seppa accompanies it.

The fuchi in gilded patinated copper carries relief waves on a finely striated ground, while the kashira displays sea foam and swirling currents in relief. The grip combines solid wood with a black faux ray skin, wrapped in midnight-blue tsuka-ito in hineri-maki, with gilded menuki. The ichimai habaki in near-silver patinated copper offers a satin finish.

A textured black lacquer saya

The saya is crafted from solid wood and covered in a textured black lacquer in the ishime-nuri manner, a stone-grain finish that recalls a rock worn smooth by the tide. The koiguchi and kojiri are lacquered black in keeping with the rest of the scabbard. The black-lacquered kurikata with gilded brass shitodome accommodates a midnight-blue cotton sageo.

Dimensions and handling of the wakizashi

With a blade of 51 cm and an overall length of 78 cm, Shiosai carries the proportions of a wakizashi, the short companion to the katana. Its 23 cm handle provides a comfortable one-handed grip, with room for the second hand to brace. At 1 kg, it remains agile in use. Measuring 80 cm in its saya, it is an ideal format for display on its own or alongside a katana.