Okada Izo's Tadahiro Koshirae

Historical Background

Despite his life going on a downward spiral by the twist of fate, Okada Izo was a skilled Samurai warrior. Being a natural-born swordmaster, he invented the original style and techniques in his youth and entered the Onoha Ittoryu school Dojo. However, after meeting his Sensei, Takechi Hanpeita, who later became a leader of Tosa Kinnoto (a party of pro-isolationist radicals), his life course was altered.

Okada was heavily influenced by the ideology of opposing the opening of Japan. He became very active in Kyoto as an assassin, ending up as one of the four most feared assassins of the late Edo Shogunate period. But after the coup of 8.18 in the Bunkyu era, the pro-isolationist activists were expelled from Kyoto, and Okada was arrested in Tosa, the current Kochi prefecture. In 1865, Two years before the dawn of the Meiji Restoration, he was beheaded on the charge of serial murder at the age of 32. 

Specifications

Fitting ornaments including a set of reinforced brass Fuchi/Kashira, iron Tsuba and a pair of brass Menuki feature the theme of skulls, which was very common during this era in the late Edo period as fittings of swords, and many different forms of art. A cotton Tsuka cord is bound over white Tsukasame. Saya can be chosen from black matte finish Kuroishime, black gloss finish Kuroro, and brown matte finish Chaishime. Cotton Sageo is also included.

A sand-cased, extra-reinforced zinc/aluminum alloy blade provides superb balance for the dynamic air-slashing move. Hamon reproduces Hizen Tadahiro's characteristic, Choji Gunome. Each parts are uncompromisingly hand-assembled by a Japanese sword craftsman, who is an expert in making the genuine Japanese sword, Shinken. The blade is available from 2.20 shaku up to 2.45 shaku. Weight without Saya is approximately 800 grams(for 2.45 shaku). Proudly made in Japan.

*Iaito are made with an aluminum zinc alloy blade and cannot be sharpened.