Kage Katana

Kage translates to shadow. It’s the perfect name for this katana because of its all black color – from the tip of the blade, up to the kashira (pommel of the handle). This katana is the twin of our Yokaze Katana. They have the same style of fittings, just different in color theme.

The tsuba is made of iron with a sukashi (open work) design of a full moon with the bottom half covered by clouds. The menuki on one side of the tsuka features a crescent moon with clouds blown by the wind; on the other side, the menuki is a full moon with clouds blown by the wind.

SPECIFICATIONS
• Blade Material: 2nd Gen 1045 carbon steel (black coated mono-steel)
• Edge: Fully-sharpened
• Treatment: Hand Forged, Through Hardened, Heat Treated & Tempered, Water Quenched
• Blade Length: 27.5 inches
• Tsuka: 11 inches wood
• Overall length w/o saya: 40 inches
• Saya: 29.5 inches wood, glossy black lacquered finish
• Tsuba: Iron
• Fuchi / Kashira: Zinc alloy
• Habaki / Seppa / Menuki: Brass
• Tsukaito / Sageo: Black synthetic silk
• Mekugi: 2 bamboo pegs
• Samegawa: Real ray skin panels lacquered in black
• Nakago: Full tang
• Hamon: None

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

There’s a nice article about the Japanese Art of Shadow written by Azumi Uchitani. Some excerpts from her article:

https://www.azumiuchitani.com/kage/

In Japanese, SHADOW is called KAGE, and described with two characters 陰 and 影

As in English, KAGE is the shadow that is created by the light. KAGE is also something invisible. There is an expression OKAGE SAMA DE… Thanks to ‘Kage’ (all invisible force).

KAGE itself is poetic subtlety. In Japanese traditional architecture and interior, it is carefully calculated and designed how the woods and paper create the beams of shadow in our living. The shadow becomes art. It is Wabi-Sabi aesthetics.

We sometimes describe in Japanese that a person with shadow, means some hidden emotion, but it describes someone who has depth in their personality, experience.

Kage is one of the examples of Wabi Sabi aesthetics. It is not bad or negative, not good or positive. It is a part of life, we welcome both light and shadow beautifully and the celebration of duality becomes non-duality, becomes the point zero, where we are in stillness and emptiness. Peace, Bliss.

The video below shows the difference in flexibility between the 1st Generation and 2nd Generation. The 2nd Gen is more flexible like a 1060 blade.

More subtle wire brushed hamon which looks like a real hamon.