Shinku Wakizashi (Damascus Steel) - 真紅の

Handcrafted Shinku Wakizashi (深紅 — "Deep Crimson") in Damascus steel. Full tang, sharpened. Copper tsuba with sculpted relief, copper openwork habaki, black-and-red cotton ito over synthetic rayskin, black lacquered saya with pattern, thick red-and-black sageo, bamboo mekugi. Includes ornate display stand. This is our first wakizashi — the medium sword that samurai carried alongside the katana, sized between our full-length katana (72 cm blade) and our tanto (33 cm blade). Damascus steel, copper fittings, crimson accents.

Shinku Wakizashi Specifications

Wakizashi — The Medium Sword

A wakizashi is a Japanese medium sword — blade between 30 and 60 cm, carried alongside the katana as part of the daishō (大小 — "big-small") paired sword system. Samurai wore both swords daily: the katana for open combat, the wakizashi for close quarters, indoor fighting, and as a sidearm when the katana was removed (entering buildings, sitting, formal occasions). The blade's 52 cm sits in the middle of the wakizashi range — long enough for serious cutting, compact enough for tight spaces. This is the only wakizashi in our catalog.

Damascus Steel Blade

The blade is folded Damascus steel — multiple steel layers forge-welded and acid-etched to reveal the internal grain pattern. The flowing organic lines across the polished surface are visible from arm's length and reward close inspection at every angle. The Damascus grain is the Shinku wakizashi's primary blade feature — the folded pattern visible on the wider-than-katana 3.5 cm blade surface. Each blade produces a unique pattern during the forging process.

Copper Tsuba & Red-Black Handle

The copper tsuba features sculpted relief — dimensional forms projecting from the guard's surface. The copper habaki carries the openwork crackle pattern found across our Damascus premium lineup. Red-and-black cotton ito wraps the handle in a bicolor diamond pattern — crimson diamonds against black cord, the most visually aggressive handle in our catalog. The red-black sageo matches the ito, carrying the crimson theme from handle through scabbard. Bamboo mekugi pin the full-tang blade through the solid wood handle.

Shinku — Deep Crimson

Shinku (深紅) means "deep crimson" — not pink, not scarlet, but the dark red of arterial blood. In Japanese color symbolism, red (aka 赤) represents life force, courage, and vitality. Samurai wore red armor to intimidate opponents and inspire allies. The Shinku wakizashi channels that energy through its red-black ito and sageo — not a blade that hides behind restraint, but one that announces itself through color. The crimson reads differently on a Damascus blade than on our Red Blade Katana: the folded steel adds cold metallic texture against the warm red cord.

Display & Collection

Ships with an ornate black stand with painted dragon-and-peony panel and gold-trimmed feet. The Shinku wakizashi is the bridge between our katana and tanto — display it between a full-size katana above and a tanto below on a three-tier stand, creating a complete samurai sword set. The 80 cm size also works on shelves and in cases where a 105 cm katana would not fit. Pair with any katana from our catalog for a daishō display — the red-black palette matches the Akagane Katana (red ito, rayskin saya) particularly well.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a wakizashi?

A wakizashi is a Japanese medium sword with a blade between 30 and 60 cm. Samurai carried it alongside the katana as part of the daishō paired sword system — katana for open combat, wakizashi for close quarters and indoor fighting. The Shinku's 52 cm blade is mid-range for the category.

Is the blade real Damascus?

Yes. The blade is folded from multiple steel layers, acid-etched to reveal the internal grain. Each blade produces a unique Damascus pattern during the forging process.

Is this Shinku wakizashi sharp?

Yes. The Damascus steel blade is hand-sharpened and functional. Handle with care, store in the saya, and check local regulations before ordering.

Can I build a daishō with this?

Yes. Pair the wakizashi with any full-size katana from our catalog on a two-tier stand. Add a tanto below for a three-sword display. The red-black theme matches our Akagane Katana particularly well.

What does Shinku mean?

Shinku (深紅) means "deep crimson" — the dark, intense red of arterial blood. Red represents life force and courage in Japanese color symbolism. The name references the red-black ito and sageo that define the wakizashi's visual identity.