Katana Hai 灰

Hai means ash — the quiet grey that settles after the forge fire dies, and a fitting name for a katana built to be a first sword: honest, light, and unpretentious. It pairs tradition with a cleaner modern aesthetic for the buyer stepping into the discipline without overspending.

Forging & Steel

The 72 cm blade is forged from a carbon steel and iron-alloy blend chosen for a workable balance of strength and flexibility — hard enough to hold a line, springy enough to absorb the missteps of early practice. At 3.2 cm wide and 0.7 cm thick it is an honest mid-weight profile. The blade is full-tang, running unbroken through the handle and secured by two traditional bamboo mekugi.

Priced as an entry point, the Hai is nonetheless mounted like a real sword rather than a souvenir: two bamboo mekugi pin the full tang, so the blade can be taken down and maintained the traditional way. At 1.2 kg and 103 cm overall it is light in the hand, which is exactly what helps a newcomer build clean cutting mechanics before moving to a heavier master blade. The dragon-painted saya and floral zinc fittings give it a finished look on a stand, but its real job is to be the first sword you actually train with.

Fittings

The zinc-alloy tsuba carries an intricate floral pattern, and a matching zinc-alloy menuki set decorates the grip. The lightweight saya is lacquered light wood painted with dragon motifs, and the tsuka is wrapped in synthetic shagreen for a textured, secure hold at this price point.

Specifications

Dimensions

Is it battle-ready?

Yes — within its class. The full-tang carbon-alloy blade is a genuine working sword suited to entry-level cutting and form practice. For more on first swords, see our katana collection, or the comparable entry pieces Katana Tengu and Katana Dairiseki.