Shadow Dancer Reverse Edged Sakabato Katana

For many years, historians thought that the sakabatō as fictional. However, some discoveries such as an Edo-period reverse-bladed sword in Chiba Prefecture in 2013 and Edo Period folk tales have led to more questions. 

In the popular manga and anime Rurouni Kenshin, the sakabato was forged by Arai Shakkū, offered to the gods as a prayer of peace. The series became so popular that Kanekuni Ogawa, a real master swordsmith, was contracted to bring the sword to life for an exhibition in a museum in Japan. 

Shadow Dancer pays tribute to these events through their version of the sakabato katana. Its shinogi zukuri (ridge line runs along the blade’s length on both sides) blade is forged from 1095 high carbon steel, differentially heat treated to produce an extremely sharp edge. Three-color polishing is used to accentuate the notare (undulating) hamon by maximizing the visual contrast between the blade’s spine, body, and tempered edge. 

Premium quality fittings for this sakabato include a blackened iron namako gata (sea cucumber) sukashi (openwork) tsuba as well as brass fuchi, kashira, and menuki. Other koshirae are gold-toned brass seppa and habaki. 

As tradition dictates, a single mekugi secures the full tang blade to the wooden Haichi style tsuka. White genuine samegawa covers the handle and tight tsukamaki uses synthetic silk ito. Completing the piece is an oil lacquered saya paired with alloy shitodome and a thickened sageo.