Daimyo Kaikyu Ken Dainichi no Ken Oroshigane Folded

Daimyo Kaikyu Ken Dainichi no Ken Oroshigane Folded (Daimyo Class Sword)

The name Dainichi no Ken 大日ノ剣 translates to ‘Sword of the Great Sun’.

• 大 (Dai) = Great
• 日 (Nichi) = Sun
• ノ (no) = of
• 剣 (Ken) = Sword

In Japanese Esoteric Buddhism, Dainichi (大日) refers not only to the physical sun but to Dainichi Nyorai (大日如来)—the Cosmic Buddha, or Vairocana in Sanskrit.

We chose this name for this sword because its black iron tsuba, fuchi, kashira, and menuki are adorned with Siddham script (Bonji)—used in Japanese Esoteric Buddhism (particularly Shingon) to represent the seed syllables of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. The gold-brown silk tsukaito and gold silk kakuchō sageo evoke solar imagery, making the katana appear as if it were forged in sunlight and meant to shine in darkness.

The name Dainichi no Ken thus signifies a sword dedicated to, or blessed by, Dainichi Nyorai—the Cosmic Buddha of infinite light and wisdom, central to both Shingon and Tendai traditions. Dainichi is often regarded as the universal truth itself, radiating clarity and enlightenment.

Beyond its spiritual depth, the name also carries an elegant simplicity, mirrored in the sword’s clean and straight suguha hamon, which reflects restraint, focus, and quiet strength.

The red copper habaki features yoko-yasuri style (decorative file marks). The saya features a kuro-ishime (black textured) finish that matches the finish of the fuchi-kashira.

SPECIFICATIONS
• Blade Material: Oroshigane
• Blade Polish: Sashikomi style
• Edge: Fully sharpened
• Treatment: Hand Forged, Folded, Differentially Hardened, Heat Treated & Tempered, Water Quenched
• Overall Length w/o saya: 39.5 inches
• Blade Length: 27.75 inches
• Tsuka: 10.5 inches wood wrapped with hishigami
• Saya: 29.75 inches wood kuro-ishime finish
• Koiguchi / Kurikata / Kojiri: Buffalo horn
• Tsuba: Blackened iron
• Habaki / Seppa: Red copper
• Fuchi / Kashira: Blackened brass
• Menuki: Iron
• Tsukaito: Gold-brown silk imported from Japan
• Sageo: Gold silk kakucho sageo imported from Japan
• Mekugi: 1 bamboo peg
• Samegawa: Real ray skin panels
• Nakago: Full tang
• Hamon: Real/natural “suguha”(straight) pattern

NOTES
• Specs may vary slightly from sword to sword
• Can be disassembled
• Includes silk sword bag
• Packaging: carton box

Oroshigane is a steel produced and/or refined by the swordsmiths themselves, which can be steel from old nails, old iron gates, old swords, etc.

Sashikomi style is the classical style of blade polishing. The hamon is left natural and the blade is not shining like the modern style of polishing, but all the appearances of the steel come up. Sashikomi is a little more difficult to do than a Kesho finish.