Yūryū Wakizashi (遊龍) – Wandering Dragon

Yūryū (遊龍): the wandering dragon

The yūryū is the dragon that roams freely, undulating between clouds and water. It embodies freedom, fluidity and power in motion, much like a brushstroke drawn in one supple, unbroken movement.

This wakizashi portrays it on the tsuba, where a sinuous dragon forms the pierced aperture itself. The swirling clouds of the fuchi and the relief dragons of the saya continue its endless journey.

A copper-brown damascus steel blade

The blade is forged in damascus steel, produced by layering and folding multiple sheets of steel. Its copper-brown mirror-polished finish reveals a flowing brown-and-black damascus pattern that runs the full length of the blade and into the depths of the groove.

The geometry follows the shinogi-zukuri profile with a chū-kissaki tip and a bo-hi terminating in a rounded maru-dome finish. No hamon is present.

A golden-brown mount with sinuous dragon

The round (maru-gata) tsuba in golden-brown patinated copper is pierced (ji-sukashi) with a sinuous dragon sculpted in relief (takabori), its scales finely engraved (kebori) against a polished patinated ground, with a rounded rim (maru-mimi). A gilt brass seppa accompanies it.

The fuchi in golden-brown patinated copper carries swirling clouds in relief, while the kashira features a striated cap. The handle pairs wood with a black faux-rayskin under a black tsuka-ito hineri-maki wrap, with gilt menuki. The ichimai habaki in gilt brass features pierced panels with a honeycomb (kikkō) motif on a nanako ground.

A saya adorned with dragons and clouds in relief

The saya is crafted in solid wood, its entire length dressed in a relief motif of dragons and clouds that lends it a rich tactile quality. A black-and-gold maru-sageo completes the ensemble.

Dimensions and handling of the wakizashi

With a blade of 51 cm and an overall length of 78 cm, Yūryū 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 second hand as support. At 1 kg, it remains highly manoeuvrable. Sheathed, it measures 80 cm, an ideal format to display its copper-toned blade to full effect.