Forging
The blade takes shape beneath the hammer. Each layer of steel is folded and re-welded under heat to create a core that is both strong and flexible.
Every piece is unique, hand-forged
Higan is a week centered on the equinoxes (spring and autumn) during which, according to Japanese Buddhist tradition, the veil between the world of the living and the world of the dead grows thinner. Families visit cemeteries and make offerings of ohagi (glutinous rice cakes covered in azuki bean paste). The Katana Higan draws its character from this ritual threshold.
The Damascus steel blade (nagasa of approximately 70 cm, hardness 58-60 HRC) features a classic Damascus pattern, with layers reminiscent of rows of tombstones aligned in a Japanese cemetery. The traditional polish allows the pattern to emerge softly.
The fittings carry the tones of commemorative rites: ash-gray ito over samegawa, dark alloy tsuba with a higanbana flower motif (the red spider lily that blooms precisely during the autumn equinox days, along the edges of rice paddies), black lacquered saya with red glints in the folds like scattered petals, purple-red sageo. Burnished bronze habaki.
A piece for meditative or contemplative spaces, for rooms with scented candles or incense, and a gift for those who have studied Buddhist philosophy or who are navigating a time of transition. A katana that evokes passage more than grip.
| Type | Japanese katana (uchigatana) |
|---|---|
| Blade | Damascus steel (≈ 58-60 HRC) |
| Forging | by hand, traditional quench-hardening |
| Nagasa (blade length) | ≈ 73 cm (≈ 28.7 in) |
| Total length | ≈ 104 cm (≈ 40.9 in) |
| Weight | ≈ 1 kg (≈ 2.2 lb) |
| Tsuka (handle) | hand-wrapped (cotton tsuka-ito) |
| Tsuba (guard) | chiseled alloy on both sides |
| Saya (scabbard) | lacquered wood with matching sageo |
| Mekugi (peg) | traditional bamboo |
| Habaki | hand-finished brass |
Time-honored craft. Masterful gesture. A one-of-a-kind, hand-forged piece built to last.
The blade takes shape beneath the hammer. Each layer of steel is folded and re-welded under heat to create a core that is both strong and flexible.
The steel is brought to high temperature, then quenched rapidly: this fast cooling hardens the edge and reveals the hamon, the wavy line that runs along the blade.
The smith hand-polishes the blade with natural stones of increasing grit, revealing its luster, its edge, and the soul of the steel.
Each blade is crafted by master artisans according to traditional forging techniques.
Acciai al carbonio o Damasco ad alta tenuta, scelti per la loro resistenza e la tenuta del filo.
We guarantee our welds and assemblies for life.
Our team replies within 24 hours, by email or chat.
You have 30 days from delivery to return your order. Full refund, no questions asked, as soon as the piece reaches us in its original packaging. Return shipping is on us for any defect found, and a flat fee for a simple change of mind. Our goal: that you fall completely in love with your blade.