The Last Samurai Katana

The Last Samurai Katana specifications

• Hand-forged by our master swordsmiths.
• Damascus steel blade, sharpened on demand.
• Engraved text on the katana blade: 今古有神奉志土 (translated: “I belong to the warrior in whom the old ways have joined the new“).
• Saya (鞘): black wooden scabbard.
• Sageo (下げ緒): black.
• Tsuka (柄): Genuine ray skin handle.
• Tsuka-ITO (柄糸): black braided.
• Tsuba (鍔): wheel-shaped.
• Habaki (鎺): gilded brass.

Dimensions

• Blade length: 72 cm
• Overall length including handle: 102 cm
• Length with scabbard: 105 cm
• Handle length: 27 cm
• Blade thickness: 0.7 cm
• Blade width: 3.2 cm
• Weight: 1.4 kg
• Package weight: 2 kg

Accessories

• Katana stand: Not included
• Scabbard: Included

The Last Samurai Katana: design and finishes

This katana is a true replica of the famous sword featured in “The Last Samurai” starring Tom Cruise. Its sharpened damascus blade bears the message “今古有神奉志土” which means: “I belong to the warrior in whom the old ways have joined the new”. The black wooden scabbard, matching sageo, and handle wrapped in black Tsuka-ITO offer a sober aesthetic. The wheel guard and gilded brass habaki add elegance and authenticity. With an overall length of 102 cm, this katana weighing 1.4 kg is an ode to samurai culture and the iconic film that traces their struggle against Westernization, in a Japan split between modernity and traditional culture.

The Last Samurai: synopsis and role of the Katana in the movie

Edward Zwick’s “The Last Samurai”, released in January 2004 and based on the story of French Major General Jules Brunet, stars U.S. Army veteran Nathan Algren, interpreted by Tom Cruise. The story takes place in 1876, when Algren is sent to Japan to assist the Imperial Army in its fight against a samurai revolt opposed to Westernization.

The katana, an essential symbol of the movie, bears the laser-engraved statement on its blade: “今古有神奉志土” translating the warrior’s commitment to the fusion of ancient traditions and modernity.

The movie’s story finds echoes in historical reality, notably through French Major General Jules Brunet, whose journey during the Meijie Emperor’s seizure of power and the fall of Shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu inspired the scenario.

“The Last Samurai” thus explores the complex theme of the encounter between the West and Japanese tradition, symbolized by the katana, which becomes a central element of the narrative by embodying Nathan Algren’s choice to immerse himself in the culture and struggle of the samurai, refusing orders from his own camp. The katana thus becomes the witness and vehicle for the personal and cultural transformations that mark the main character’s journey through this epic masterpiece.