Shadow Dancer The Colorful Bushido Battle-Ready Katana

This highly memorable katana from Shadow Dancer’s Nova Series brings together modern designs with the brand’s impeccable precision and craftsmanship.

Its shinogi zukuri (ridge line runs along the blade’s length) blade forged from 9260 spring steel is prized by enthusiasts for its impressive resilience, flexibility, and shock resistance. The addition of a bohi (fuller) helps to decrease the sword’s overall weight while improving its point of balance and enhancing the clarity of its tachikaze. 

Equipped are blackened sword fittings including a maru gata (round) tsuba in the sukashi style—openwork or pierced design—and a fuchi with Japanese bonji characters, derived from ancient Indian script. These characters often represent deities and are often used as spiritual talismans to symbolize values such as protection, wisdom, and mercy. 

One mekugi secures the blade’s full tang to the wooden core tsuka covered in white samegawa held in place by tightly wrapped artificial silk tsuka ito for a secure and comfortable grip. This katana comes sheathed in a bicolor lacquered and glossy saya—featuring a Japanese woman in traditional attire—with a matching sageo.