Sakai Katana

Sakai Katana
The Storm of Clan Sakai

For generations, the head of the Sakai clan has wielded this matchless blade.
― In-game description

Your father's spirit resides within this blade. He is always with you.
― Lord Shimura to Jin Sakai

The Sakai Katana is the primary weapon used by Jin Sakai in Ghost of Tsushima during the Mongol invasion of the island of Tsushima. It is used alongside the Sakai Tanto and makes up the "Sakai Steel."

The katana is referred to as the Storm Blade in Ghost of Yōtei.

Description

Jin Sakai finds his katana

The Sakai Steel is the family heirloom of Clan Sakai. Jin inherited both the katana and tanto from his father, Kazumasa Sakai, after his death on Iki Island. As a samurai, the katana is his main weapon in fighting against his enemies.

The Sakai Katana can be upgraded for improved performance and can be customized with a sword kit for cosmetic appearance. Swiping right on the touchpad allows Jin to draw and stow the katana.

The katana has a distinct curve with a single edge and consists of several different parts:

Blade (剣 Ken)

• Bo-hi (棒樋): A groove carved into the blade to reduce weight and improve balance.
• Ha (刃): The hardened, sharpened cutting edge.
• Hamon (刃文): The distinct, wavy line of the tempered edge, indicating the differential hardening process.
• Ji (地): The surface of the blade between the tempered cutting edge and the ridgeline.
• Kissaki (切先): The pointed tip of the blade.
• Mei (銘): The signature of the swordsmith, which is traditionally engraved on the tang of the blade.
• Mune (棟): The unsharpened back of the blade.
• Nagasa (刀長): The visible length of the blade.
• Nakago (茎): The tang (stem) of the blade hidden inside the handle.
• Shinogi (鎬): The ridge line that runs down the length of the blade, separating the wider, flat section from the edge.
• Shinogi-ji (鎬地): The flat section of the blade between the shinogi ridge line and the mune (back).
• Sori (反り): The curvature of the blade. This distinct curve helps with the efficiency of cutting and makes it easier to draw and sheath.
• Yakiba (焼刃): The hardened, tempered portion of a katana blade that forms its cutting edge.
• Yokote (横手): The line or ridge that separates the main body of the blade from the kissaki (tip).

Handle (柄 Tsuka)

• Fuchi (縁): The metal collar at the top of the handle, under the tsuba.
• Kashira (頭): The metal cap (pommel) at the bottom of the handle.
• Mekugi (目釘): A bamboo peg that secures the tang within the handle.
• Menuki (目貫): Small decorative ornaments, often depicting animals or scenes, located on the handle.
• Samé (鮫): Ray or shark skin under the wrap, providing grip.
• Tsuka-ito (柄糸): The decorative braid wrapped over the samé.

Guard & Fittings

• Habaki (鎺): A collar that fits around the blade, just above the tsuba, to secure the sword in the scabbard.
• Seppa (切羽): Metal spacers located on either side of the tsuba.
• Tsuba (鍔): The metal handguard that protects the wielder's hand.

Scabbard (鞘 Saya)

• Koiguchi (鯉口): Opening of the saya where the blade enters and exits.
• Kojiri (鐺): The metal tip that protects the end of the saya.
• Kurikata (栗形): Knob on the saya where the cord is attached.
• Sageo (下げ緒): The cord attached to the saya, used for tying it to a belt (帯 obi).
• Shitodome (鵐目): Metal ring fittings inserted into both ends of the knob's hole that protect the cord from fraying due to friction.

Parts of a katana

Gameplay

The Sakai Katana and Sakai Tanto are the main melee weapon used by Jin throughout the game. No other melee weapons are acquired or used, despite the numerous other types that are seen such as Norio's naginata or the Mongol shields and spears. Sword kits change the appearance of the katana, but have no impact on gameplay. Certain cutscenes will show the original Sakai set appearance while others show that which the player has equipped at the time. Sword kits are acquired by locating Pillars of Honor, completing quests, or purchasing from Merchants.

Upgrades

The Sakai Katana can be upgraded at a Swordsmith. Each upgrade increases the damage inflicted, allowing Jin to kill enemies faster.

Note: The eighth upgrade is only available in New Game+.

Sakai Katana Upgrades

Upgrade	Supplies	Iron	Steel	Gold
Sakai Katana I	–	–	–	–
Sakai Katana II	150	10	–	–
Sakai Katana III	300	25	5	–
Sakai Katana IV	450	40	10	1
Sakai Katana V	600	65	20	2
Sakai Katana VI	750	80	40	4
Sakai Katana VII	1,000	100	80	6
Sakai Katana VIII	1,200	120	90	8

Gallery

Sakai Katana in dojo

Anatomy of a katana and saya

Behind the Scenes

Despite the blade being called a katana (刀) in the game, the katana actually did not exist during the event of the Mongol Invasion of 1274. The word "katana" itself did appear as early as the Kamakura Period (鎌倉時代, 1185–1333), but was uncommon for use in battle until the Sengoku Period (戦国時代, 1467–1615). During the Mongol Invasion, the sword the samurai used was called the tachi (太刀), which was forged as early as 900 CE. In the Japanese localization of the game, the blade is correctly referred to as "tachi" instead of "katana."

The difference between a tachi and a katana is their typical length and how they were worn on the obi sash. A katana usually measures around 60 cm long and was worn cutting edge facing up. On the other hand, a tachi measures around 80 cm long and was worn cutting edge facing down. In-game, Jin does wear the blade and its sheath cutting edge up.

Japanese swords and daggers were described as having exceptional quality. They are one of the most finely crafted weapons in history and works of art. A significant amount of care went into producing a tantō (短刀, knife/dagger), shōtō (小刀, shorter swords like the wakizashi [脇差] and kodachi [小太刀]), and daitō (大刀, longer swords like the katana and tachi). They all have a very sharp edge and although the blades are quite thin, they are strong enough to withstand multiple battles if properly taken care of (as a samurai would be trained to do anyway).

While developing Ghost of Tsushima, the team at Sucker Punch Productions carefully design the combat mechanic, and weapons for the player to react to. This resulted in a combination of very fast player attacks and overlapping enemy attacks to create an intensity that was inspired by the 2010 film 13 Assassins.

The developers paid attention to the precision a samurai needs to have when wielding the katana. Quick attacks need to be quick, while the strong but slow attacks were cancelable. Blocking also benefits from this precision. Holding will block, tapping as an enemy attacks will Parry and after unlocking certain Techniques, pressing as an attack lands will result in a Perfect Parry, the latter two of which gain Resolve, the measure of Jin's samurai spirit that allows him to heal injuries he takes.

Sometime during the development of Ghost of Tsushima, the Sakai Katana had multiple parts that could be individually upgraded, including Sharpness, Balance, Tsuba, and Wrap/Blessings/Augments, with Wrap providing "better grip and [enabling] more advanced combat techniques". Sharpness and Balance could be upgraded at a Swordsmith. Most of this system has been simplified down to Sharpness being upgraded at the Swordsmith and the Blessings/Augments which became the Charms in the game. Elements such as Tsuba and Wrap were likely adapted into other features such as Vanity or Techniques, while Balance was likely scrapped.

Trivia

• In terms of historical accuracy, true katana were not invented during the Kamakura period (1185–1333) of which the game is set, as they didn't make their appearance until the Muromachi period (室町時代, 1336－1573), although very early but crude-prototypes of the weapon were theorized to have made during the dawning years of the Kamakura period. Despite this, the term katana was coined during the Kamakura period but was used to refer to a different kind of long sword instead (some believing it to be an elongated version of the tanto known as sasuga [刺刀], which were considered the progenitors of the katana).