Shadow Dancer Muramasa Katana Replica for Tameshigiri

This striking and elegant Shadow Dancer katana pays tribute to Sengo Muramasa, a famous 16th-century swordsmith favored by Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu for his fine blades. However, Muramasa’s swords became known as “cursed” as they were involved in a string of tragic events involving the ruling Tokugawa family. This led the anti-shogunate rebels and dissidents to carry Muramasa’s blades as a symbol of defiance “destined” to kill the Shogun. 

This katana features a shinogi zukuri (ridge line runs along the blade’s length on both sides) blade forged from crucible steel, a material favored for its similar appearance to tamahagane steel. The traditional Sashikomi polishing done by hand brings out the beauty of the blade, highlighting its stunning jihada and elegant suguha (straight) hamon. 

Staying true to Muramasa’s style, this blade’s nakago is of the tanagobara (fish belly) style where the bulge of the upper part of the tang tapers gently into a narrower lower section. This nakago type is typically seen in blades of the Muramasa, Shitahara, and Heianjo Nagayoshi schools of the Muromachi period.

This katana comes equipped with premium koshirae, including a blackened iron maru gata (round) sukashi (openwork) tsuba, as well as brass fuchi and kashira with bonji, Sanskrit characters that are used as talismans to represent deities or protection. Brass menuki, seppa, and Muji (plain) habaki complete the overall design. 

Following tradition, a single mekugi secures the full tang blade between the two halves of the wooden Rikko style tsuka. Yasurime (file marks) on the tang adds friction, further securing the blade inside the handle. White genuine samegawa covers the tsuka while the tight tsukamaki uses Japanese silk ito. Hishigami (folded paper wedges) beneath the wrap give a longer-lasting firmer grip and better edge alignment feedback.

Finishing the piece is a crimson glossy oil-lacquered saya with brass shitodome and thickened sageo. 

**Note that the sageo may not be the exact one pictured, but Shadow Dancer will do their best to select an off-white sageo.**