Kokuzan Katana Sword (黒山) – Black Mountain

Kokuzan Katana Sword (黒山) specifications

• Hand-forged by our master swordsmiths.
• T10 steel blade, sharpened or unsharpened at choice, full tang.
• Hamon (刃文): genuine hamon gunome midare obtained by differential tempering.
• Bo-Hi (棒樋): visible groove on the blade.
• Scabbard (Saya 鞘): black grainy lacquered wooden scabbard with black kojiri and koiguchi.
• Sageo (下げ緒): brown and yellow cord.
• Handle (Tsuka 柄): wooden handle covered with faux white stingray skin.
• Tsuka-ITO (柄糸): brown diamond pattern weave above the handle.
• Menuki (目貫): finely carved black dragon.
• Guard (Tsuba 鍔): round shape in black alloy.
• Fuchi (縁): black alloy sculpted with decorative motifs.
• Kashira (頭): black alloy carved to match the fuchi.
• Habaki (鎺): gold-plated brass decorated with a traditional kamon.

Dimensions

• Blade length: 27.95in
• Overall length including handle: 40.55in
• Length with scabbard: 41.34in
• Handle length: 10.43in
• Blade thickness: 0.28in
• Blade width: 1.26in
• Weight: 2.76 lb
• Package weight: 3.42 lb

Accessories

• Scabbard: Included
• Katana stand: Not included

Kokuzan katana sword: design and finishes

The name Kokuzan evokes the mysterious power of Japan’s black mountains, those imposing peaks that dominate the valleys with silent majesty. The character 黒 (koku) represents the deep black of night and the unknown, while 山 (zan) evokes the stability and spiritual elevation of the sacred mountain.

The T10 steel blade reveals an authentic gunome midare hamon, achieved through differential tempering, which creates irregular waves along the edge like the contours of a mountain range. The bo-hi carves an elegant groove that lightens the blade while preserving its strength. The round black alloy tsuba harmonizes perfectly with the fuchi and kashira carved from the same material, creating a coherent and refined ensemble. The handle combines the noble texture of white stingray skin with brown diamond-shaped braiding, while the menuki depict black dragons that seem to soar towards the heavens. The golden brass habaki, adorned with a traditional kamon, contrasts subtly with the overall sobriety. The grainy black lacquered wooden scabbard evokes the rough texture of volcanic rock, complemented by a sageo in shades of brown and yellow reminiscent of the autumn colors of mountain forests.