Tantó Dokuro no Sakurabana Tamahagane Steel, Real Notare-Midare Hamon

Product detailed description

Tantō Dokuro no Sakurabana - Beauty, death and honour in a single blade

The Way of the Samurai

Tantō Dokuro no Sakurabana (髑髏の桜花) - "Skull of Sakura" - is an exceptional work of art that combines the spirit of samurai Japan with masterful craftsmanship. This unique sword symbolizes the balance between life and death, beauty and impermanence - as understood by the ancient warriors of the Bushidō way.

Tamahagane steel - the heart of the Japanese sword

The blade is forged from Japan's legendary tamahagane (玉鋼) steel - a steel produced in the traditional way in a tatara furnace. This laborious process takes several days and requires perfect control of temperature and the intuition of the master smith.

Tamahagane is prized for its toughness, fine texture and ability to maintain an extremely sharp edge.

The blade features a beautiful notare-midare (のたれ乱れ) style hamon - a gently undulating, irregular pattern created by hand differential hardening. This style of hamon symbolizes stillness in motion and the fluidity of life. Each curve and wave is original - the result is a blade with a soul that bears the imprint of its maker's hand.

The profile of the hira-zukuri blade is characteristic of a tantō designed to cut short, precise and deadly fast. The tip (kissaki) is polished to a mirror shine to bring out the contrast between the hard and soft core of the steel.

Symbolism and decoration

The handle (tsuka) is covered with genuine stingray skin (samegawa) and is complemented by metal menuki figures in the form of a skull (dokuro) and a basket of flowers. These symbols represent the cycle of life and death, impermanence and the beauty of the moment.

The skulls are hand-painted and engraved details, created using traditional metalwork techniques. They are not a symbol of terror, but a memento mori - a reminder that even death has its place in the balance of existence. Together with the sakura flower motif, they create a powerful visual and spiritual metaphor about strength, beauty and time.

Saya - a story engraved in gold

The scabbard (saya) is lacquered with a deep red aka-urushi lacquer and decorated with the golden technique of makie - hand-applying gold powder into the fresh lacquer.

On its surface stands out a hand-carved skull with pearl eyes, surrounded by sakura branches, symbolizing the transience of life and the eternity of beauty. Every stroke, every detail was done by hand, making this tantô a unique work of art.

Kozuka and kogai - the knives at the heart of the sheath

On the side of the scabbard are tucked two small tools - kozuka and kogai.

- The kozuka (小柄) is a small knife with a kogatana (小刀) blade, designed for everyday activities - trimming, writing or preparing food.

- A kogai (笄) is a metal needle that was used for styling hair or as a cleaning tool for armor and equipment.

Both pieces are decorated with skull motifs and hand engraving, matching the main theme of the sword. They are set into the holes on the scabbard (kozuka-hitsu and kogai-hitsu) and form a harmonious and historically faithful whole with the tantō.

Specifications

- Type.

- Steel: Tamahagane (hand forged)

- Blade shape: Hira-zukuri

- Hamon Style: Notare-midare - gently wavy and irregular

- Hardening line: Visible, hand-formed hamon

- Blade length including habaki: approx. 25.5 cm

- Total length without saya: approx. 37.5 cm

- Handle: Genuine stingray leather (samegawa), menuki decorations (skull and flower basket)

- Fittings: Bronze with hand patina

- Scabbard: lacquer aka-urushi, maki decoration - skull and sakura

- Accessories: Kozuka with kogatana blade, metal kogai needle

- Production: Handmade inspired by the Sōshū school, Edo period

Samurai Soul Symbol

Tantō Dokuro no Sakurabana is not just a weapon - it is an expression of the philosophy of mujō (impermanence) and yūgen (mysterious beauty). Every detail - from the hand-hardened tamahagane steel to the painted skulls - tells a story of courage, humility and strength of spirit.

An artistic gem for collectors, warriors and aestheticians who understand that beauty and death are two sides of the same road.

A gift in the wind - a fan by Jiří Straka

Included in the package of this unique tantó is a hand-painted fan by Jiří Straka, a prominent Czech artist known for combining traditional ink painting with modern elements.

Straka states on his website that fan painting is one of his mediums, where he incorporates elements of playfulness, irony and contrast into the classic shape.

Thus, the fan not only complements the sword theme, but also enriches the whole product with an artistic dimension - the interplay of metal, wood and paper in a harmony of tradition and modernity.