Commission · 2027
Twenty-four places, one per term
The 2027 list opens at Risshun, 4 February. You choose the length and the hamon; the blade takes the name of the term it is quenched in.
Your blade, as the smith would sketch it
×3 · the clay line, where the hamon will be
Nagasa 71.5 cm · 2 shaku 3.6 sun · chōji
What happens, and when
- 01 · FebList confirmedA place is a term. If your term passes before your steel is ready, you move to the next one.
- 02 · 2–4 weeksForgingFolding, construction, drawing out the sunobe, shaping, filing the tang.
- 03 · one nightClay and quenchClay is laid to the hamon you chose; the quench happens in your term. A blade that cracks is not sent.
- 04 · several weeksPolishAn independent togishi polishes the blade and brings out the hamon.
- 05 · deliveryShirasaya and papersA plain wooden mount and the registration that every sword made in Japan carries.
Price
¥3,200,000 for a long sword in shirasaya, polish included. Half when the term is confirmed, half on delivery.
- No. The steel decides when it is ready, and the quench happens on whichever night that falls. The blade is named for that term.
- Japanese law allows a licensed smith two long swords a month. One smith works here.
- Rules differ by country; we check yours before confirming a place. Write to [email protected].
- No. Tsuba, habaki, saya and tsuka are separate crafts; we can introduce you to makers.