The katana is generally defined as the standard sized, moderately curved (as opposed to the older tachi featuring more curvature) Japanese sword with a blade length greater than 60.6cm (23.86inches) (over 2 shaku). [13] It is characterized by its distinctive appearance: a curved, slender, single-edged blade with a circular or squared guard ( tsuba) and long grip to accommodate two hands. [13]

Yamada Asaemon V, who was the official sword cutting ability examiner and executioner of the Tokugawa shogunate, published a book " Kaiho Kenjaku" (懐宝剣尺) in 1797 in which he ranked the cutting ability of swords. The book lists 228 swordsmiths, whose forged swords are called " Wazamono" (業物) and the highest " Saijo Ō Wazamono" (最上大業物) has 12 selected. In the reprinting in 1805, one swordsmith was added to the highest grade, and in the major revised edition in 1830 " Kokon Kajibiko" (古今鍛冶備考), two swordsmiths were added to the highest grade, and in the end, 15 swordsmiths were ranked as the highest grade. The katana forged by Nagasone Kotetsu, one of the top-rated swordsmith, became very popular at the time when the book was published, and many counterfeits were made. In these books, the three swordsmiths treated specially in " Kyōhō Meibutsu Chō" and Muramasa, who was famous at that time for forging swords with high cutting ability, were not mentioned. The reasons for this are considered to be that Yamada was afraid of challenging the authority of the shogun, that he could not use the precious sword possessed by the daimyo in the examination, and that he was considerate of the legend of Muramasa's curse. [46] [72] A katana forged by Magoroku Kanemoto. ( Saijo Ō Wazamono) Late Muromachi period. (top) Katana mounting, Early Edo period. (bottom) A katana modified from a tachi forged by Motoshige. Bizen Osafune school influenced by the Sōshū school. 14th century, Nanboku-chō period. Important Cultural Property. Tokyo National Museum Aerodynamic Katana Body. The Katana umbrella was designed by ex-samurai and kendo professionals to mimic the lightweight and aerodynamics of a katana blade.Iwasaki, Kosuke (1934), "Muramasa's curse (村正の祟りについて)", Japanese sword course, volume 8, Historical Anecdotes and Practical Appreciation. (日本刀講座 第8巻 歴史及説話・実用及鑑賞), Yuzankaku, pp.91–118, doi: 10.11501/1265855 Multiple sword world records were made with a katana and verified by Guinness World Records. Iaido master Isao Machii set the record for "Most martial arts katana cuts to one mat (suegiri)", [79] "Fastest 1,000 martial arts sword cuts", [80] "Most sword cuts to straw mats in three minutes", [81] and "Fastest tennis ball (708km/h) cut by sword". [82] There are various records for Tameshigiri. For example, the Greek Agisilaos Vesexidis set the record for most martial arts sword cuts in one minute (73) on 25 June 2016. [83] Ownership and trade restrictions [ edit ] Republic of Ireland [ edit ] Stephen Turnbull (8 February 2011). Katana: The Samurai Sword. Osprey Publishing. pp.22–. ISBN 978-1-84908-658-5.

Junko Oishi. "Analyzing the words of Wae-geom and Wae-geom-sa in Classical Korean literatures". p.72. Archived from the original on 9 December 2022 . Retrieved 9 December 2022. Swords forged after 1596 in the Keichō period of the Azuchi–Momoyama period are classified as shintō (New swords). Japanese swords from shintō are different from kotō in forging method and steel ( tamahagane). This is thought to be because Bizen school, which was the largest swordsmith group of Japanese swords, was destroyed by a great flood in 1590 and the mainstream shifted to Mino school, and because Toyotomi Hideyoshi virtually unified Japan, uniform steel began to be distributed throughout Japan. The kotō swords, especially the Bizen school swords made in the Kamakura period, had a midare-utsuri like a white mist between hamon and shinogi, but in the swords from shintō it has almost disappeared. In addition, the whole body of the blade became whitish and hard. Almost no one was able to reproduce midare-utsurii until Kunihira Kawachi reproduced it in 2014. [36] [37] Sword fittings. Tsuba (top left) and fuchigashira (top right) made by Ishiguro Masayoshi in the 18th or 19th century. Kogai (middle) and kozuka (bottom) made by Yanagawa Naomasa in the 18th century, Edo period. Tokyo Fuji Art Museum. Authentic Katana Feel. The handle and grip is exactly the same feel and weight of a true katana blade, making you ready to take on the day. The arrival of Matthew Perry in 1853 and the subsequent Convention of Kanagawa caused chaos in Japanese society. Conflicts began to occur frequently between the forces of sonnō jōi (尊王攘夷派), who wanted to overthrow the Tokugawa Shogunate and rule by the Emperor, and the forces of sabaku (佐幕派), who wanted the Tokugawa Shogunate to continue. These political activists, called the shishi (志士), fought using a practical katana, called the kinnōtō (勤皇刀) or the bakumatsutō (幕末刀). Their katana were often longer than 90cm (35.43in) in blade length, less curved, and had a big and sharp point, which was advantageous for stabbing in indoor battles. [42] Gendaitō (modern or contemporary swords) [ edit ] Meiji – World War II [ edit ] Katana mountings decorated with maki-e lacquer in the 1800s. Although the number of forged swords decreased in the Meiji period, many artistically excellent mountings were made.Green, Thomas A.; Joseph R. Svinth (2010). Martial Arts of the World: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation. ABC-CLIO. pp.120–121. ISBN 978-1-59884-243-2.

Most martial arts sword cuts in one minute (rice straw)". Guinness World Records. 25 June 2016. Archived from the original on 29 May 2019. a b c d e Kanzan Sato (1983). The Japanese Sword: A Comprehensive Guide (Japanese arts Library). Japan: Kodansha International. p.220. ISBN 978-0-87011-562-2. Ayumi Harada (24 October 2016). "Reception and transformation of foreign cultures in Thailand; focusing on the foreign trade items of the 13th to 18th centuries" (PDF) (in Japanese). Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 October 2021 . Retrieved 11 December 2022. a b Kōkan Nagayama (1997). The Connoisseur's Book of Japanese Swords. Kodansha International. p.43. ISBN 978-4-7700-2071-0.From this period, the tang ( nakago) of many old tachi were cut and shortened into katana. This kind of remake is called suriage (磨上げ). [4] For example, many of the tachi that Masamune forged during the Kamakura period were converted into katana, so his only existing works are katana and tantō. [33] However, for safety reasons, katana used for martial arts are usually blunt edged, to reduce the risk of injury. Sharp katana are only really used during tameshigiri (blade testing), where a practitioner practices cutting a bamboo or tatami straw post. Main articles: Japanese swordsmithing and Japanese sword mountings Named parts of a katana Cross sections of Japanese sword blade lamination methods