Kogarashi Katana - しの剣

Hand-forged Kogarashi Katana in Damascus steel with authentic clay-tempered hamon. Chu-kissaki. Full tang, sharpened. Dual-tone copper tsuba with dragon-leaf openwork and brass rim, brass habaki with tiger-stripe texture, brown braided cotton ito over genuine rayskin, copper lacquered saya with genuine horn koiguchi and kojiri, thick brown sageo. Includes ornate display stand.

Kogarashi Katana Specifications

Damascus Blade — Authentic Hamon

Folded Damascus steel with visible grain pattern beneath the mirror polish. The authentic clay-tempered hamon runs as an irregular wave along the cutting edge — the differential hardening boundary visible without magnification. Damascus grain and hamon coexist on the same blade: the folded layers create surface texture while the temper line defines the cutting geometry. The Kogarashi Katana pairs these two premium features — each blade's hamon and grain combination is structurally unique.

Copper Tsuba — Dragon and Leaf

The tsuba is dual-tone copper: polished brass outer rim framing a dark antiqued bronze disc with dragon and leaf forms carved through openwork voids. Gold bamboo-leaf accents catch light against the patinated surface. The habaki beneath breaks from the honeycomb pattern found on most of our catalog — here, vertical tiger-stripe texture runs the collar's circumference, creating a wood-grain or flowing-water effect in raised brass. The Kogarashi Katana is the only blade with a tiger-stripe habaki.

Horn Koiguchi and Kojiri — Both Ends

Genuine horn at both scabbard mouth (koiguchi) and scabbard tip (kojiri). Most blades with horn koiguchi use lacquered wood at the kojiri — the Kogarashi Katana is the only blade in our catalog with horn at both termination points. Horn is harder than wood, naturally moisture-resistant, and develops subtle patina with age. The dark horn against the copper saya creates clean material transitions at each end.

Braided Ito — Textured Grip

Brown braided cotton ito — not the flat-wrap diamond pattern used across most of our catalog but a textured braid that creates a different tactile surface. The braided structure produces a rounder, ridged profile under the fingers. White menuki sit beneath the wrapping. Genuine rayskin provides the traditional nodular same-hada grip texture at each diamond window. The Kogarashi Katana is one of the few blades with braided rather than flat-wrapped ito.

Kogarashi — First Winter Wind

The saya is copper-toned lacquered wood — smooth, metallic, reflective. Every component operates within the same warm register: copper saya, brass habaki, brown ito, brown sageo, dark horn ends. The polished Damascus blade is the only cool element — silver steel against an all-warm koshirae. 木枯らし (kogarashi) is the first cold wind of late autumn that strips the last leaves from the trees. The copper palette captures those final warm tones before the cold: burnished leaves, sunset metal, the amber glow of a season ending.

Display

Ships with an ornate dragon-peony stand. The copper saya glows under warm lighting. Pair with the Shizukesa (cream, earth tones, horn koiguchi) for a natural-materials display, or contrast with the Lightning (blue, cold, storm) for opposite seasonal registers — autumn warmth vs winter storm.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the hamon authentic?

Yes. Clay-tempered during forging. The irregular wave is produced by differential hardening — each blade's pattern is unique.

Why horn at both ends?

Genuine horn koiguchi and kojiri — harder than wood, moisture-resistant, traditional premium material. This is the only blade in our catalog with horn at both scabbard terminations.

What is braided ito?

Textured braided cotton wrapping rather than the standard flat-wrap diamond pattern. Creates a rounder, ridged grip profile with different tactile feedback.

Is the saya actually copper?

Copper-toned lacquer over solid wood — the warm metallic finish mimics polished copper. The saya itself is lacquered wood, not metal.

How does this compare to the Enbanaito?

Both use warm palettes. The Enbanaito has T10 steel, ember-crackle saya, and peach sageo with dual saya. The Kogarashi has Damascus with hamon, smooth copper saya, braided ito, and horn at both ends. Fire-born vs autumn-born.