Akaryu means red dragon — and this katana dresses the part. Red and black cord runs through the fittings, the tsuka is wrapped over genuine red stingray leather, and the whole sword carries the low, coiled energy of a dragon waiting to move. It is also our most accessible serious blade: an entry-level katana that does not cut corners where it counts.
Forging & Steel
The blade is forged from grey T10 high-carbon steel and clay-tempered — coated with clay before the quench so the edge cools fast and hardens fully while the spine cools slow and stays springy. That selective hardening raises the corrugated hamon you see drifting along the edge, and it gives the blade its defining trait: a hard cutting edge with a flexible, shock-absorbing spine. Mirror-polished by hand, the surface shows that temper line cleanly.
The mounts back it up. A black-painted, sculpted brass tsuba with red-and-black braided cord guards the hand, a lightweight lacquered wood saya protects the blade, and the red stingray tsuka is finished with a black copper menuki kit, a tight Tsunami tsuka-maki wrap, and two bamboo mekugi pinning a true full tang. On request the blade can carry the engraving 赤竜 or your own custom engraving.
Specifications
| Blade steel | T10 steel with corrugated hamon, master mirror-polish |
|---|---|
| Tsuba | Black-painted, sculpted brass; red and black cord braided into the kurigata horn |
| Saya | Lightweight lacquered and painted wood, red and black cord |
| Tsuka | Genuine red stingray leather, black copper menuki kit, Tsunami tsuka-maki (tight style) |
| Mekugi | 2 bamboo mekugi |
Dimensions
| Total length | 103 cm |
|---|---|
| Blade length | 72 cm |
| Blade width | 3.2 cm |
| Blade thickness | 0.7 cm |
| Handle length | 25 cm |
| Weight | 1.2 kg |
Is it good for beginners?
Yes. At 103 cm and a light 1.2 kg, the Akaryu is an easy first cutting katana to handle, and the clay-tempered T10 blade is forgiving while still being genuinely sharp. It is full-tang and functional — built for practice and handling, sold for trained, responsible use.
For the next step up in T10, see the Katana Ketsueki and the wave-themed Katana Umi, or browse the full katana collection.
