Emerald Katana – 翡翠魂刀

Specifications:

• Full tang construction
• SHARP blade
• Hand-forged
• Blade material: Clay-tempered T10 steel with hamon
• Copper tsuba
• Habaki material: copper
• Solid wood tsuka wrapped in genuine ray skin
• Cotton tsuka-ito
• Lacquered solid wood saya
• Blade style: Shinogi-zukuri
• Kissaki type: Chu-kissaki
• Total length: 105 cm
• Blade length: 72 cm
• Blade width: 3.2 cm
• Blade thickness: 0.7 cm
• Handle length: 30 cm

• Includes: Katana and matching scabbard

Emerald Katana - Forest Jade Japanese Samurai Sword

Green. Not teal, not blue-green, but full-commitment emerald forest green wrapping that handle. You don't see this color much in the katana world - most stick to blacks, browns, reds, blues. But whoever designed this piece said "what if we went full jade?" and the result is something that stands out in any collection immediately.

That rich green handle has this jewel-tone quality, like polished malachite or deep jade carved for an emperor. The traditional diamond pattern wrapping maintains authentic texture while the color choice pushes into contemporary territory. It's bold without being garish, distinctive without being gimmicky. Just confident color work that knows exactly what it's doing.

The black scabbard provides perfect backdrop for those scattered white and silver paint splatters. Where the Kessho Sora's splatters felt like stars in a blue sky, these read more like precious metal flecks caught in obsidian - silver deposits in black volcanic glass, or maybe snow caught mid-fall against a winter night. The randomness is beautiful; no two viewing angles show the same pattern.

The blade transitions into a darker section with elegant white wave engravings near the collar. These aren't aggressive patterns - they flow with that gentle organic rhythm of actual water movement. The mirror polish reflects light beautifully, creating that classic katana gleam that never gets old no matter how many swords you've seen.

That golden guard deserves close inspection. Cast in warm brass, it features dragons or mythological creatures carved in high relief against a darker background. The dual-tone effect - bright gold rim, antiqued interior - creates genuine dimensional depth. Those creatures seem to move through shadow and light, their bodies creating openwork that lets you peek through to the geometric habaki beneath.

Speaking of that habaki - those precise honeycomb cutouts are pure architectural craft. Tiny hexagons creating pattern and texture while serving the functional purpose of securing blade to fittings. It's the kind of detail that separates mass production from genuine artisan work.

What makes the Emerald work so well is how it channels jade/malachite/precious stone aesthetics without literally copying them. The green evokes those materials while maintaining katana authenticity. The black with silver splatters suggests the matrix stone those gems are found in. The golden brass fittings represent the treasure aspect - this is a weapon worthy of being displayed alongside actual jade carvings.

The name is straightforward but effective. "Emerald" captures both the color and the precious gem association. In Japanese culture, green jade (翡翠/hisui) has been prized for millennia as a stone of purity, protection, and warrior virtue. This katana taps into that tradition while presenting it through contemporary color application.

The sage-green sageo cord and ribbons coordinate perfectly without being matchy-matchy - slightly different shade that adds depth to the overall green story. The traditional stand with dragon engravings provides classical presentation for what is ultimately a pretty modern take on samurai sword aesthetics.

For collectors who appreciate gem-tone colors, forest/nature themes, or just want something genuinely different in their display, the Emerald delivers. It's the kind of piece that makes people stop and say "wait, is that green?" followed immediately by "that's actually really beautiful."

One practical note: that deep green wrapping will show wear more visibly than traditional black, so handle with appropriate care if you're using it for practice rather than pure display.