{ "schemaVersion": 1, "canonicalUrl": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/objects/nozarashi-wakizashi/", "recordUrl": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/objects/nozarashi-wakizashi/record.json", "accession": "NA 2026.003", "title": "Nozarashi Wakizashi", "japaneseTitle": "因州兼先 · 野晒し", "classification": { "category": "nihonto", "form": "wakizashi", "presentation": [ "koshirae" ] }, "period": "Edo · pre-1800", "summary": "A mumei Edo-period wakizashi attributed on a 1971 NBTHK Kichō paper to Inshū Kanesaki, in an eclectic koshirae centered on skull-and-bone fuchi-kashira, shallow gold-colored menuki of uncertain subject, a dragon kozuka, and textured red lacquer with dark linear figuring and gold maki-e quail and millet.", "attribution": { "label": "Inshū Kanesaki", "japanese": "因州兼先", "qualifier": "Mumei; attribution recorded on a 1971 Kichō-era paper" }, "highlights": [ { "label": "Nagasa", "value": "46.0 cm" }, { "label": "Sori", "value": "0.9 cm" }, { "label": "NBTHK paper", "value": "Kichō Tōken · 1971" } ], "revisedOn": "2026-07-23", "revisions": [ { "date": "2026-07-22", "note": "Public catalogue record established." }, { "date": "2026-07-23", "note": "Added the redacted Kichō Tōken paper to the public photographic record." } ], "hero": { "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-003/15.jpg", "alt": "Nozarashi wakizashi kashira with skull and bone motif" }, "sections": [ { "title": "Catalogue record", "facts": [ { "label": "Item", "value": "Wakizashi (脇指), full koshirae; mumei blade" }, { "label": "Attribution", "value": "Inshū Kanesaki · 因州兼先\nRecorded on the 1971 NBTHK Kichō paper" }, { "label": "Nagasa", "value": "46.0 cm · Hyōgo registration record" }, { "label": "Sori", "value": "0.9 cm · motohaba 29.0 mm · motokasane 6.6 mm" }, { "label": "Overall", "value": "64.5 cm · sakihaba 21.7 mm · sakikasane 4.6 mm" }, { "label": "Period", "value": "Edo · documented as pre-1800" }, { "label": "Mekugi-ana", "value": "One · tang unsigned (無銘)" } ], "notes": [ { "lead": "Theme note.", "body": "Nozarashi (野晒し) evokes bones weathered in open fields. The coordinated fuchi-kashira develop this imagery through skulls, scattered bones, and fine incised grasses. The gold-colored menuki are shallow in relief and may depict a dragon, but the tsukaito prevents a secure reading. Other fittings introduce a dragon and botanical subjects, making the koshirae an eclectic ensemble rather than a single uniform suite." } ] }, { "title": "Certification", "facts": [ { "label": "NBTHK", "value": "Kichō Tōken (‘Precious Sword’; 貴重刀剣) recognition paper\nPrinted document number 206249" }, { "label": "Issued", "value": "14 March 1971 · Shōwa 46" } ], "notes": [ { "lead": "Certification note.", "body": "This 1971 recognition paper (認定書) belongs to the NBTHK’s earlier Kichō framework, predating the current Hozon system. It records the blade as unsigned (無銘), with a parenthetical attribution to Inshū Kanesaki (因州兼先); this dossier does not present it as a modern Hozon determination." } ] } ], "plates": [ { "number": "I.1", "group": "I", "groupTitle": "Documents", "title": "NBTHK Kichō Tōken recognition paper, printed document no. 206249.", "japanese": "認定書", "caption": "Issued on the fourteenth day of the third month of Shōwa 46—14 March 1971—by the Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords (日本美術刀剣保存協会; NBTHK). The paper records a wakizashi (脇差) as unsigned (無銘), with a parenthetical attribution to Inshū Kanesaki (因州兼先), and gives a nagasa of one shaku, five sun, and two bu (一尺五寸二分). It recognizes the blade under the Kichō Tōken designation (‘Precious Sword’; 貴重刀剣). The printed number is recorded here as a document number because the photographed form does not label its administrative function. The named addressee is redacted in the public reproduction.", "alt": "Opened NBTHK Kichō recognition paper with oshigata and printed document number 206249; named addressee redacted", "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-003/09.jpg", "redacted": true }, { "number": "II.1", "group": "II", "groupTitle": "Blade", "title": "Bare blade, full-length view · omote.", "japanese": "刀身", "caption": "The 46.0 cm blade is shown from nakago through kissaki with the copper-colored habaki in place. The tang carries one mekugi-ana and no readable inscription, consistent with the documentary 無銘 entry.", "alt": "Full bare wakizashi blade omote with habaki and unsigned nakago", "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-003/05.jpg", "redacted": false }, { "number": "II.2", "group": "II", "groupTitle": "Blade", "title": "Bare blade, full-length view · ura.", "japanese": "刀身", "caption": "The ura survey shows the same shallow curvature, polished ji and ha, and unsigned nakago.", "alt": "Full bare wakizashi blade ura with habaki and unsigned nakago", "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-003/06.jpg", "redacted": false }, { "number": "II.3", "group": "II", "groupTitle": "Blade", "title": "Blade detail montage · omote.", "japanese": "刃文", "caption": "Successive details follow the blade from kissaki through the visible hamon to the habaki and nakago. Directional light makes the temper line more legible while also recording surface condition.", "alt": "Blade detail montage omote showing kissaki hamon habaki and nakago", "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-003/07.jpg", "redacted": false }, { "number": "II.4", "group": "II", "groupTitle": "Blade", "title": "Blade detail montage · ura.", "japanese": "刃文", "caption": "The opposing face is documented through kissaki, mid-blade, machi/habaki transition, and nakago. Together Plates II.3–II.4 form a comparative survey of the blade surfaces.", "alt": "Blade detail montage ura showing kissaki hamon habaki and nakago", "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-003/08.jpg", "redacted": false }, { "number": "II.5", "group": "II", "groupTitle": "Blade", "title": "Kissaki detail · omote.", "japanese": "鋒", "caption": "Close framing records the point profile, yokote, and visible continuation of the hardened edge into the boshi area. No restoration or contrast enhancement has been applied.", "alt": "Kissaki and boshi detail, omote", "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-003/10.jpg", "redacted": false }, { "number": "II.6", "group": "II", "groupTitle": "Blade", "title": "Blade-base and nakago detail · omote.", "japanese": "茎", "caption": "The close view records the machi area, tang surface and file marks, and the transition from polished blade to patinated nakago. No mei is visible.", "alt": "Blade base machi and unsigned nakago detail, omote", "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-003/11.jpg", "redacted": false }, { "number": "II.7", "group": "II", "groupTitle": "Blade", "title": "Kissaki detail · ura.", "japanese": "鋒", "caption": "The opposing face records the point geometry and polished surface under directional light. The image is descriptive rather than a technical kantei photograph.", "alt": "Kissaki and boshi detail, ura", "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-003/12.jpg", "redacted": false }, { "number": "II.8", "group": "II", "groupTitle": "Blade", "title": "Blade-base and nakago detail · ura.", "japanese": "茎", "caption": "The close view records the machi area, tang surface and file marks, and the transition from polished blade to patinated nakago. It complements Plate II.6 and confirms the absence of a visible inscription on either photographed face.", "alt": "Blade base machi and unsigned nakago detail, ura", "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-003/13.jpg", "redacted": false }, { "number": "III.1", "group": "III", "groupTitle": "Koshirae & fittings", "title": "Disassembled koshirae ensemble.", "japanese": "拵", "caption": "The mounting is laid out with blade, tsuka, mokkō-gata tsuba, seppa, habaki, and the removed kozuka with kogatana beside the red textured-lacquer saya, whose dark linear figuring is punctuated by gold maki-e uzura ni awa (鶉に粟), quail and millet.", "alt": "Disassembled koshirae ensemble with blade red textured lacquer saya tsuka tsuba spacers and kogatana", "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-003/14.jpg", "redacted": false }, { "number": "III.2", "group": "III", "groupTitle": "Koshirae & fittings", "title": "Kashira with skull-and-bone motif.", "japanese": "頭", "caption": "A dark skull and scattered bones are worked in raised relief against a warm yellow-metal ground; fine linear carving suggests grasses around the remains. The field setting gives the nozarashi (野晒し) designation its visual basis, while the exact alloys and school remain unassigned.", "alt": "Kashira close-up with skull and bone motif among grasslike ornament", "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-003/15.jpg", "redacted": false }, { "number": "III.3", "group": "III", "groupTitle": "Koshirae & fittings", "title": "Fuchi with skull-and-bone motif.", "japanese": "縁", "caption": "The companion fuchi repeats a dark skull and long bones in relief against a warm metal ground, with fine incised grasses linking it compositionally to the kashira. Pale samegawa and tightly wrapped yellow-gold ito remain visible above.", "alt": "Fuchi close-up with skull and bone motif beside ito and samegawa", "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-003/16.jpg", "redacted": false }, { "number": "III.4", "group": "III", "groupTitle": "Koshirae & fittings", "title": "Tsuka, samegawa, and menuki.", "japanese": "柄", "caption": "Yellow-gold tsukaito lies broad and flat over pale samegawa panels, forming regular diamond-shaped openings; the strands remain flat through the crossings. The gold-colored menuki are comparatively shallow in relief and may depict a dragon, but the wrap prevents a secure reading of their complete subjects; they should not be treated as part of the skull-and-bone theme without further evidence.", "alt": "Tsuka side view with yellow gold ito white samegawa and gold colored menuki", "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-003/17.jpg", "redacted": false }, { "number": "III.5", "group": "III", "groupTitle": "Koshirae & fittings", "title": "Tsuka–tsuba–saya junction.", "japanese": "鍔", "caption": "The iron tsuba is mokkō-gata, with paired hitsu-ana and scattered incised plant sprigs across the ji. One hitsu-ana is closed by a blue-black umegane, probably shakudō by colour; copper-colored sekigane tighten the nakago-ana. The skull-motif fuchi is visible immediately behind it.", "alt": "Tsuka tsuba saya junction with skull fuchi and botanical iron guard", "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-003/18.jpg", "redacted": false }, { "number": "III.6", "group": "III", "groupTitle": "Koshirae & fittings", "title": "Kashira, alternate view.", "japanese": "頭", "caption": "The second angle clarifies the skull’s relief, eye sockets, nasal opening, and adjacent bone forms, while recording wear and surface variation around the tsuka end.", "alt": "Alternate kashira view showing skull motif", "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-003/22.jpg", "redacted": false }, { "number": "III.7", "group": "III", "groupTitle": "Koshirae & fittings", "title": "Dragon-decorated kozuka.", "japanese": "小柄", "caption": "A gold-colored dragon is modelled in high relief against a dark field of wave-like carving on the kozuka ji-ita. The fitting remains seated in its pocket beside the tsuba, preserving its mounted relationship to the saya.", "alt": "Dragon decorated kozuka seated in the saya beside the tsuba", "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-003/23.jpg", "redacted": false }, { "number": "III.8", "group": "III", "groupTitle": "Koshirae & fittings", "title": "Fittings and auxiliary knife laid out.", "japanese": "小刀", "caption": "Tsuka, mokkō-gata tsuba, seppa, and the dragon-decorated kozuka are shown with its removed, patinated kogatana. This angle clarifies the paired hitsu-ana, one closed by a blue-black umegane probably made of shakudō, and the copper-colored sekigane at the nakago-ana; no kogatana signature is legible.", "alt": "Tsuka tsuba spacers kozuka and removed rusty kogatana laid out on purple cloth", "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-003/24.jpg", "redacted": false }, { "number": "IV.1", "group": "IV", "groupTitle": "Mounted & storage", "title": "Mounted and drawn.", "japanese": "拵姿", "caption": "The blade remains fitted to the tsuka while the complete saya is placed below. The view records the yellow-gold tsukaito, dark guard, and red textured-lacquer saya with dark linear figuring and gold maki-e quail-and-millet decoration as a single ensemble.", "alt": "Mounted wakizashi drawn above its red textured lacquer saya with quail and millet maki-e", "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-003/04.jpg", "redacted": false }, { "number": "IV.2", "group": "IV", "groupTitle": "Mounted & storage", "title": "Fully sheathed wakizashi.", "japanese": "納刀", "caption": "The complete koshirae is shown horizontally, including tsuka, tsuba, kozuka pocket, and the full length of the figured saya. The associated measurement card records an overall length of 64.5 cm.", "alt": "Fully sheathed Nozarashi wakizashi in complete koshirae", "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-003/21.jpg", "redacted": false }, { "number": "IV.3", "group": "IV", "groupTitle": "Mounted & storage", "title": "Saya with textured lacquer and maki-e.", "japanese": "鞘塗", "caption": "Dark linear figuring runs through the textured red lacquer ground. The gold maki-e subject is uzura ni awa (鶉に粟), quail and millet, integrating the small birds and bowed grain into the length of the saya.", "alt": "Red textured lacquer saya with dark linear figuring and gold maki-e quail and millet", "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-003/19.jpg", "redacted": false }, { "number": "IV.4", "group": "IV", "groupTitle": "Mounted & storage", "title": "Saya ornament detail.", "japanese": "鞘絵", "caption": "The gold maki-e subject is uzura ni awa (鶉に粟), quail and millet: small ground birds beside a bowed sheaf of grain. Dark linear figuring crosses the surrounding textured red lacquer.", "alt": "Gold maki-e quail and millet ornament on red and black figured lacquer saya", "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-003/20.jpg", "redacted": false } ], "rights": { "catalogue": "© 2026 whiskey.works", "photographs": "Courtesy of matsu-kaze.japan, used with permission. No downstream reproduction permission is granted." } }