Yasuke (弥助) is a name out of history — the only African samurai recorded in feudal Japan, who rose to serve Oda Nobunaga himself. This katana is built as a tribute to that figure: a display piece whose deep blue blade carries the presence of a legend rather than the bite of a cutter.
The Blade
The Yasuke wears a bluish zinc-alloy blade, and we are direct about what that means. Zinc alloy is an aesthetic choice, not a forged tool steel — it is cast for a flawless, low-maintenance finish and a striking color you cannot get from hardened carbon steel. This is a collector’s and decorative katana, not a cutter. It will never rust-spot or stain on the shelf, and it holds its dramatic blue indefinitely. Because the metal is cast rather than quenched it carries no temper line and takes no working edge, and that is exactly the trade you make for its mirror-blue drama and zero-maintenance shelf life. Every fitting around it is dressed in the traditional manner, so the piece reads as a complete samurai sword from across the room.
Fittings & Mounts
A carved copper tsuba anchors the mount, with a matching zinc-alloy menuki set and two bamboo mekugi pinning the assembly. The saya is dense ebony with a bull-horn kurigata and cord wrapping, and the tsuka is dressed in genuine shagreen — full traditional dressing around a decorative blade.
Specifications
| Blade steel | Zinc alloy (decorative) |
|---|---|
| Blade color | Blue |
| Tsuba | Carved copper |
| Saya | Ebony wood, bull-horn kurigata, cord wrapping |
| Tsuka | Genuine shagreen leather |
| Menuki | Zinc-alloy menuki set |
| Mekugi | 2 bamboo mekugi |
Dimensions
| Total length | 103 cm |
|---|---|
| Blade length | 71 cm |
| Handle length | 26 cm |
| Blade width | 3.2 cm |
| Blade thickness | 0.75 cm |
Usage
This is a display katana — meant for the wall, the stand and the collection, not for tatami cutting. If you want a functional cutter at a similar price, look at the manganese Katana Rei or the Damascus Katana Oni. Browse more in the katana collection.
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