A Japanese Katana Trainee Reacts to “$200 Katana VS $2000 Katana - How to Spot a FAKE!”
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The video I reacted to: $200 Katana VS $2000 Katana - How to Spot a FAKE!
• $200 Katana VS $2000 K...
*The content is based on personal studies and experience
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Shogo is the guy, who can just flex all his katanas and budget on us, and we won't even complain
@@evermoore66665 Trap question. Colored katana is not authentic. :V
@Victoria Zero
me: Laugh's in itomaki no tachi
who is that on your pfp?
@@Axomio123 Tomio- wait, i see what you doing
@Mynameisredacted1111 I feel the same at people with cars and houses. Or people with $600 sneakers. It's a matter of perspective.
Really cool seeing your reaction to my video! When I made this video and said "real katana" I meant ones that are for actual cutting and use as opposed to wallhangers meant for only display because in America there are a ton of those. I completely agree a true Japanese made nihonto would cost minimum $3000.
I have a Tozando Iaito as well for training and the difference in quality of the koshirae is night and day even when compared to $2000 non-Japanese katana. The quality of Japanese swords and fittings really put everything else to shame. One day I hope to own a real nihonto, thanks Shogo!
Love you D
I wonder how much Japanese gov't regulation adds to the cost. Generally, the more barriers to the marketplace means more distortion and the higher the cost. Only certain shops may sell, which probably has a knock-on effect to the cost of applications, premise security, type of insurance, extra paperwork, etc. Police certificates are needed. Regulations apply to the katana makers as well. All of these cascade. It may even add to the katana's mystique and desirability, i.e. cachet, two aspects that affect price as well.
@@gagamba9198 You're absolutely right about those points in other industries, so I'm sure it's also largely applicable to this case.
We love you D
My friend's cousin co-owns and works part-time at a place where they make katanas; he has also lived in Japan for five years. I asked him why katanas were so much more expensive in Japan, and he said katanas are so much more in Japan because there are more restrictions, taxes, and costs on every part of making an authentic katana. For example, permits, quality requirements (due to laws), and a higher demand that drives up the price. In Japan, there are restrictions on how katanas are made, so swords are made of a much higher quality because of weapon restriction laws, which is also why you can't find 200-dollar katanas in Japan. The same katana could be made in America and Japan, but the one in Japan would cost way more. The same thing can also be seen with firearms in Japan vs firearms in America because of all the aforementioned reasons I stated. In America, it is very easy to get scammed when buying a katana because there are no restrictions, so people can make them however they want (which also just drives the price down). Those are my thoughts. Thanks Shogo and Cerberusarms for the videos.
I think maybe the reason why japanese katana are so much more expensive might be because of the restrictions you mentioned. With modern technology and materials, it isn't all that expensive or that hard to make a decent blade, hence why there are so many "cheap" swords in the west.
Yup and you're paying for art and tradition (and papers). Doesn't matter which one has better quality.
@@szysi3k But mostly you are just paying for the lack of competition due to how heavily regulated weapons are in Japan the handful that can sell weapons can set the price as high as they want. Which is also why weapons are so cheap in the US even if they are much higher quality. You can get a high quality katana in the US for 350$ or less, that would cost 6000$ + in Japan.
@@Nioclas64 You are also paying for the enormous amount of work that goes in traditional sword making. Japanese swords are made of traditional materials that are difficult to work and they will be hand forged then ground to shape.
A western maker could simply buy sheets of laminated steel, cut out a shape on a waterjet machine then grind it using jigs. This would still be a lot of work but 10 times less than the traditional process.
@@Nioclas64 no, u are paying for traditional forging and craftsmanship. an authentically made katana (not using any plasma cutting/machining) is gonna take anywhere from 15-30 days at 10 hrs a day to make (source: illya from that works, for any sword really, not just katanas) . at minimum wage, thats gonna be at least 1000-3000$ in labor alone, but of course i dont expect smiths to work at minimum wage. so its likely more in the 2000-10000$ range for JUST labor
US sword makers might advertise "authentic" processes, but there's absolutely gonna be some sort of machining in the process. whether or not it's worth buying a sword forged with 100% authentic techniques is debatable. probably though, the reality is that you couldnt tell a meaningful difference in quality, and using all those manual labor hours for japanese sword smiths is just for novelty
@@iotaje1 in my country they sell hand made traditionally made katanas with materials imported from japan, cost around 1,5k... In Japan you pay for regulations.
I am a blade maker, and my practice swords, including katana are at least $200. Sword prices in the U.S. are way less expensive to produce, because of the lack of restrictions on materials, and price of steels.
makes sense, i feel like a 3000 dollar japanese katana is probably only worth like 400-500 here in usa since he said the quality is extremely shifty already, but here in the usa, you can easily get a top notch quality blade for like 800 only.
AND...this is America...we value GUNS over any other type of weapon.
🤣😂
RE: price of steels --
Not just the price of steels, but the variety of steels you can use to make the blades. As Shogo pointed out, official Japanese-made katanas are tightly regulated as to the materials used; the blades must be made of tamahagane. Tamahagane is difficult and labor-intensive to produce.
In the U.S., even the "exotic" alloy steels are rarely as expensive, and you're not limited as to what metals you can forge into a katana.
@@madhatten00 What you're paying for in Japan is things around the blade like the tsuba, tsuka-ito (handle wrap), and the sageo (Mounting string thing). The handle quality is definitely the biggest difference between Japanese, and non-Japanese. Non-Japanese swords even on the high end like the one in the vid tend to have much looser tsuka-ito. They also put more effort into the smithing process of the blade to make up for lower quality steel, as high quality steel was harder to make in Japan. They were originally made with tamahamagane as it was what they had at the time, and they eventually made it law to be tamahamagane to be a true katana. Not sure why, but it was probably because swords weren't really used anymore so they didn't need to improve, and they'd prefer to uphold the culture of their smithing traditions. So the blade quality has more room to be better in other countries because there's no restriction on steel type. which is probably why they put so much more effort in other aspects, and treating the steel than non-Japanese katanas,. Less money spent on steel, more spent on craftsmanship
Also allow for much stronger blades made of s5 tool steel almost unbreakable might need to sharpen after 20 years of use.@@blindarcher1651
As always, your courtesy and kindness in the way you react to these videos is an example to follow for all martial arts practitioners.
Many of the high quality katanas available outside of Japan are higher quality steel than the Japanese ones. The reason 2 types of steel are laminated in traditional Japanese swords is because they didn't have crucible spring steel. But, buying the spring steel blades kind of ignores the history and amazing craftsmanship found in traditional katanas.
Hook line and sinker. They are scamming people who don’t know anything about katana. They make money sending replicas mass produced like kitchen knives.
A true nihonto (Japanese blade) is not considered a weapon but an artwork, hence it has actual certification and each blade is different to another. This is all about legal codes.
Also, the Tamahagane used for their construction is artificially restricted and is very expensive.
I paid 90$ for one and it served me well for over 10 years and still going. I’m glad I didn’t pay $3000. I can sharpen it without worrying.
You raise a valid point. Typically craftspeople are all about innovation... until that innovation makes it easier for others to enter the marketplace and compete. The Luddites, for example. Then they fall back on regulation. Whether it's sparkling wine, tomatoes, lager, or katana, strict regulations lock things into place. You gain a fixed standard and lose some types of innovation - trade-offs. For example, if the making of the blade is strictly regulated, makers may shift to less regulated artistic aspects. Sure, having dragonflies on the tsuba look nice, but they do nothing to enhance the protective aspect of it. Unless one's opponent is scared of dragonflies, I suppose. When swords were actually important in one's daily life - a life and death matter pre-Edo - all kinds of innovation occurred, such as length and curve.
@@victoriazero8869 _'A true nihonto (Japanese blade) is not considered a weapon but an artwork'_ Nonsense. The gov't and police consider it a weapon, which is why it's strictly regulated. You think artists have to take their brushes, canvasses, and easels to the police box for examination, certification, and approval of ownership? No way.
It's a weapon that has artistic aspects made by craftspeople who employ their artistic creativity to differentiate one from the other. (The same can be said of a wooden table made by a furniture woodwooker.) It may be a bespoke weapon, made to the customer's precise instructions (that conform to the laws on its making) or it may be made on speculation in the hope of catching a customer's eye later. Either way, it's still a weapon. Always has been. Always will be.
The plastic is to keep the oils on the blade and from soaking them into the scabbard. When you ship a blade overseas they are typically sent on freight ships in shipping containers. These containers allow salty air from the ocean into them which can cause rust on steels. Not only do you tend to find this on cheaper sword but ALSO high quality sword especially that are shipped over from Japan because high carbon steel is highly susceptible to rusting.
Not just that, its for all the handling. People always want to look at and play with swords. Touch them. I've had non-covered swords arrive with finger-print rust spots on the blade I had to polish off.
Also, some katana sellers have one katana made by different contractors. One contractor forges the blade, another assembles the sword.
I actually ordered a katana from Tozando from your recommendation. I can't wait for it too come in and as soon as I saw this sword I KNEW I had too have it prices mean nothing in the face of beauty.
i have one custom iaito from tozando too and its beautiful, you wont be disappointed!
Even though it was 20 years ago, I still remember the biggest price I saw was the basic, unpolished blade with a standard, non-customized handle set for around 300,000 JPY (at the time, roughly 2,400 USD), and the finished blade with polish and oiling, plus personalized handle set and scabbard upwards of 700,000 JPY (about 5,600 USD at the time). But that was 20 years ago, things could be WAY different now.
My friend's cousin co-owns and works part-time at a place where they make katanas; he has also lived in Japan for five years. I asked him why katanas were so much more expensive in Japan, and he said katanas are so much more in Japan because there are more restrictions, taxes, and costs on every part of making an authentic katana. For example, permits, quality requirements (due to laws), and a higher demand that drives up the price. In Japan, there are restrictions on how katanas are made, so swords are made of a much higher quality because of weapon restriction laws, which is also why you can't find 200-dollar katanas in Japan. The same katana could be made in America and Japan, but the one in Japan would cost way more. The same thing can also be seen with firearms in Japan vs firearms in America because of all the aforementioned reasons I stated. In America, it is very easy to get scammed when buying a katana because there are no restrictions, so people can make them however they want (which also just drives the price down). Those are my thoughts. Thanks Shogo and Cerberusarms for the videos.
I love how constrast and humility shogo refers to himself as "trainee" whereas overseas, with shogo's level of knowledge and amount of time of training, people will refer to themself as "master"
I strongly recommend that if you want to understand why a true Japanese-made uchigatana is so pricey compared to a sword of similar quality sold elsewhere you look up the laws and regulations the Japanese government has concerning their production. Very short version: a traditionally trained Japanese blacksmith is limited on how many he can even produce in a year, so the supply is very low. But that limit makes it difficult to make a living in the profession, so they often supplement their income making kitchen knives or even traveling to Taiwan to produce swords there that won't be certified as authentic but don't have a production limit.
A little clarity for others that don't read history that much. Uchigatana were swords between 70-90cm long and were used when the samurai first came into being during the Kamakura period that began in 1185. The katana did not make an appearance until 1336 during the Nanboku-chō period. The two had completely different forging techniques. Early Japanese swords had a tendency to break at which point the samurai just obtained a new one. The katana was designed to be an improvement on the older style swords. One thing that didn't change was samurai still used 2 swords known as a 'daisho' (big and small). Early samurai used the odachi/tachi along with a 'kodach' then transitioned to the katana/wakizashi which most are familiar with today.
The primary cause is the weapon treaty with the USA. They were allowed sword making to continue only under art preservation, so construction and production cannot modernize. Japanese Tamahagane is really rare and expensive and quality is divided based on status and favoritism. Also these swords in fact take about 6-12 months to make. Then another 3-6 months to polish and have fittings.
Kitchen Knives are actually where their metal art goes into. They are allowed the freedom to use modern steel, tools and construction methods.
I love that you reviewed this video, I watched this video a year or two back and it really helped me understand how intricate, complex, and beautiful a Katana truly is. Thanks for the awesome content once again Shogo
The idea behind the plastic is to retain the shipping oil. So that when being shipped over seas very corrosive salty sea air isn't drawn into the unlaqured wood on the inside scabbard.
But why wrap only the blade?
Legit and reputable sellers wrap the entire sword in plastic then the a sword cloth over.
You will never see it like this plastic inside the scabbard
The reason for the plastic is to keep the oils on the blade and keep it from tarnishing and rusting during shipping, but most importantly while sitting in warehouses. In Japan, they would be cared for and cleaned regularly between being made and being sold
But why wrap only the blade?
Legit and reputable sellers wrap the entire sword in plastic then the a sword cloth over before putting it in a box
You will never see it like this plastic inside the scabbard
You don't need plastic to keep oils on the blade. They will do that just fine on their own (it is actually very hard to get oil completely off of the surface of steel because it actually really likes to stay there). There is also no reason that it would tarnish or rust during shipping or in warehouses unless it is being kept in an extremely humid or caustic environment (which would also be very bad for the scabbard and other parts of the sword too).
Plastic like this is usually put on most things to protect them from physical damage (scrapes, etc) before they reach the customer. Given this, I'm pretty sure the actual reason for the plastic is because these swords are mass-produced, and the blades actually spend a fair bit of their production time being moved around, and even possibly stored, unsheathed and exposed, and probably not in the most careful ways. The plastic is there to avoid getting scrapes and dings from being banged around during this process, before it is actually put into its scabbard to be shipped off (they just don't bother to remove the plastic before putting it in the scabbard).
But it's a pretty sure sign that the blade was mass-produced in a factory, not crafted by an actual swordmaker in any way.
Thank you Shogo for your thoughts on the Katana video and your insight on traditional Japanese Katana blades. Very informative. I hope your family is doing well and take care of yourself also. Tom from the US
Shogo is the best and so knowledgeable. Great video!
I’m curious if the difference in price has anything to do with the stricter regulation in Japan, or if it is just down to the crafting techniques that are used elsewhere being cheaper and with less manual labor?
Kanata made in japan have to abide by a series of standards in order to even be considered "katana" at all. See, japan has very strict no weapons laws, but they want to keep their own heritage alive. They make sure that a katana made easily and cheaply are not considered katana at all - the only way they'd be considered real katana is if they conform to certain standards. Those standards include being handmade, from start to finish. There aren't any power tools used in the making of a traditional katana. This means that making the katanas is a much more labor-intensive practice. A katana made in the west in a workshop might be made with power tools at every step, and then finished up with hand sanding or polishing. This would make the katana cheaper.
Also, I'd imagine that there's also tax laws in japan that probably inflate the price a bit as well. It's a lot harder to justify using a killing tool when it costs 6000 dollars than if it costs 500, right?
A true nihonto (Japanese blade) is not considered a weapon but an artwork, hence it has actual certification and each blade is different to another. This is all about legal codes.
Also, the Tamahagane used for their construction is artificially restricted and is very expensive.
Japan has a really strong economy, that's definitely part of it. Having said that, I think this is one of those rare cases where you really do get what you pay for.
or maybe the standards are just so high that nobody makes low quality cheap katanas because nobody would buy them
@@jsullivan2112 their economy is kinda in shambles right now
love the consistent & solid contents 💪
just finished this video, very nice, everything well explained and very informative, thank you!
I can’t believe how much your channel has grown, I remember when you where first getting things off the ground. Great video as always 😊
Thank you for sharing your insight on this topic. I have always been interested in the cultural significance and rituals involved in forging and wielding Katana.
Thank you you did it again shogo san.
its great to learn more about japan culture through you guys, without any prejudice and soo open to the other cultures and at the same time with great respect for japanese culture aswell.🙂🙂
Sometimes I wonder if we could survive in Japan because he didn't prepare us for prejudices 😂
Always super interesting and something to learn from Shogo!!
I’m glad you say so!
I appreciate your review. Like in research going to quality sources is very important too. Thank you!
Hi Shogo! The reason for the plastic film is purely for overseas shipping; to prevent oils from coming off during the shipping process and causing rust. Some companies also put thicker grease over the blade to make sure this doesn't happen. I'm sure that in Japan you don't experience this because your swords are locally made =)
Thank you for the great video!
Love watching this channel, and Shogo, grow. I only learned the basics of care and handling from Sword Manual in the Marine Corps so this content has revived an old spark.
As a non Japanese I appreciate your input on such products. Thank you.
I didn't scroll all the way down to read if someone mentioned this, but the brief clip where the guy was banging the blade against the table and it broke was from the Home Shopping Network a long time ago. The blade was made from stainless steel. Stainless steel can get very brittle when made into a long blade like that. Breaking it and stabbing himself was the end result of cheap steel.
“$3,000 is cheap”
Me sitting here barely able to afford a $3,000 1 room small apartment each month:
You live in downtown Seattle or something?
@@Rikushio17 definitely lives in new york in a studio
Or California
Wow, this video is incredible. Thank you for all your information! I'm purchasing my first Bokken to begin practicing before I buy a real katana. Will definitely be watching more videos in the future!
Dude thank you very much! I appreciate your dedication and sharing your knowledge!
Thank You for clearing up the difference in Katana. A very well presented interesting video. Thank You 😊.
in america, a "Real Katana" (or sword in general) is just one that won't fall apart when you hit something with it
It’s so cool how frequently the person Shogo is reacting to comes to watch the video as well! Great video Shogo!
Your video was really informative.
I think this boils down to an open market and closed market on why katanas outside Japan can be found cheaper. Lack of traditional swordsmiths and the strict policing of katanas make them extremely expensive, while outside of Japan you don't have people concerned with traditional methods just the foundation of the blade and the design. Using higher purity steel in a folded-single edge is much cheaper to do than going the route of producing tamahagane and forging essentially what is a 1:1 work of art. It's like the difference between a reprint and an original.
Question: When you go to your Iaido training, do/can you just walk around in the streets with a katana on your waist, or are there any special containers to carry a katana, so not to scare anyone on the street or so?
Thanks for the info Shogo!
awesome video beo thanks a lot for sharing!
The plastic on the blade is to ensure it stays oiled to prevent rust during long term storage before being sold.
Could you do a video about japanese castles (history, structure...)? I've always been curious about them. My image of a japanese castle is just the prominent keep. I know there is more to it and I'd love to learn about it.
Honestly i learned a lot from this video, Thanks!
Very interesting video Shogo , I didn't watch you for a while and I can say I missed your positive vibe , have a great day 🙂
In my experience the swords that have plastic on the blade were shipped overseas. They wrap the bade to protect it from salt in the air over the ocean as well as changes in humidity from international shipping.
As the "problem" of what we call Katana outside of Japan I'd say that it is similar to what we do to almost every single sword, we call katana to every japanese single edged sword, same happens with the concept of longsword, rapier etc.
Love your video, very kind and up.
Thank you Shogo for introducing us to Seki Sensei, much respect and love from Egypt.
Seki Sensei is a legend and we love him.
A lot of these swords tend cheaper in the U.S. because of a few factors.
1. Mass production: A lot of these on the really cheap end aren't forged by hand, they're largely machined, and may not even be assembled especially well. They're often fit together with epoxy and little to no mechanical connection when you really delve deep in price.
2. Materials: Instead of tamahagane, even the hand-forged examples are almost universally made out of modern steels.
3. I feel as though the appraisal and certification process Japanese swords go through as well as the general regulations surrounding their sale and ownership elevate their value.
Very true. Seems the Japanese versions are just bloated in price and could be made the same quality for cheaper without all the status stuff.
I have an Iaitō from Kyoto. and have loved it. Spent ¥60k on it. somewhere around 600 USD at the time.
But outside Japan real authentic Tamahagane is more rare. what makes these katana real to foreigners is that we can actually buy them. Due to the steel being more available it is cheaper to make. Tamahagane is extremely rare outside of Japan. You could likely fetch upwards of 10k USD. Iaitō are usually only seen among Iaidoka outside Japan. But you can still bring them outside Japan. I had heard it is very difficult for foreignera to buy real Tamahagane from Japan when I visited.
Fascinating video. Thank you
Shogo , great work and great video! Im watching a lot of your Iaido videos because I have a wooden katana and I want to start training myself to be an Iaido Trainee!
If you wanted to get a foreign sword in Japan (messer or longsword for example) how would you go about doing that?
They have to be blunt and display only.
I think maybe a great sword for you to investigate is the Ronin Dojo pro. They are the go-to budget katana for people actually practicing martial arts in North America and they’re around $300. I’d be curious to know what you think.
Great video!
Thank you that was very informative
I have a question Shogo. I know that in Japan, only traditionally made Katana can get legal papers and be rated by the NBTHK or NTHK, but recently, there seem to have been some Mantetsu swords that have been papered too, yet those are only partially traditional since they didn’t use Tamahagane but Mantetsu steel Did you know that and if so, do you know why?
I got a zinc alloy katana in Japan a few years ago for $500. I love it but I have a full sharp steel katana I got in the us for $200 and it pretty sweet as well I could shave with that sucker. (I don’t remember the specifics of that blade however as I got it back in 2004.) all that said I wouldn’t really call either of these “real katana” but I do hope to buy one someday.
Sweet video brother ❤️
Great vid!
A lot of manufacturer put oil/grease etc. and wrap the blades on swords in plastic to prevent them from rusting. If you buy a sword which usually must be shipped (which can take a while), many swords which are left bare in their scabbards can start to rust (depends on what sort of steel and what condition they are exposed to). Thus, greasing or oiling the blades and wrap them in plastic will prevent rust from forming, and prevent the oil/grease to spill all over inside the scabbard or elsewhere.
I assume one reason why the Japanese goverment will not allow swords/katanas made abroad into the country is to protect the entire industry which produces Japanese katanas, both for historical and cultural purposes, as well as the people related to it (swordsmiths, those who produces tamahagene, etc.). If the Japanese sword marked was exposed and flooded with 200$ sharp katanas (or cheaper), then the amount of Japanese swordsmiths would probably plummet since they won't be able to compete with such a low price and they would not be able to make a living making historically Japanese katanas.
The difference though would also be quality but I get what you mean a lot aren't afraid to sacrifice quality if it means they keep money in their pockets.
If I ever decide to get a katana I don’t think I ever could buy from the shops in Japan just because of the price. But I think the price is more than deserved considering how much effort it takes to forge the katana in Japan compared to other places that more than likely aren’t using any sort of traditional methods or the same metal.
Now I feel like I actually learned something, thank you very much, great content.
this video was really cool and informative.
You should do a reaction to his "Katana vs Long Sword" video that he did! It can be insightful when it comes to swords of different prominent cultures.
This is a perfect example of market matters.
In Japan, a traditional Katana is a work of art with legal controls that are both cultural and legal. It is an educated market were even if most don’t really care about having one, it is not hard to find an actual practical expert or a shop that really understands quality.
In the US, a Katana is just a “form factor” so the weapon can be made out of anything as long as it has the general shape of a traditional Japanese blade.
Also, while there are some that use them for martial arts training in the US, a lot of them are made for what we call “wall hanging”. And this is true of all kinds of blades and weapons.
In Japanese, stores and homes I bet you never get to see a cutlas on the wall much less a firearm. In the US, you get that for fashion or cause it is cool. A katana is treated in much the same way. And in some more cringe setups it is part of a home decorating style to make the room look more “Japanese” or “Asian” styled. Of course, that is sorta funny because they are so anachronistic if you think about it.
(Small point for those in Japan. yes you still can see a gun on a wall or on the side of rooms in the US because some people actually rely on them for “defense” for reasons. But smart people usually keep them in Gun safes - we are not all irresponsible. )
I keep a gun on my wall. It’s my great grandfather’s SMG from his time in the Polish Underground Government’s Military. Now, mind you it is unloaded and doesn’t have a firing pin but it’s a gun.
Thank you for your videos.
I have a pretty well made musashi katana that I bought and it was like 300 bucks it’s a very well made sword that cuts very well. I’m sure it would be very expensive in Japan because it fits the qualifications to be considered a well made blade. It has a Damascus steel blade though
I love how humble Shogo’s reaction is. Very calm, polite & gentle.💯💯🙏🏼
Thank you for your videos
I love how enthusiastic you are
Hey shogo! Can you grind your own sword? Or you have to send it to a professional?
It's honestly really sad that a place with such an amazing sword culture doesn't allow there citizens to freely explore other forms of swords as well as creates an environment that has such a huge barrier to entry as far as real cutting is concerned.
What great commentary on another’s video for education purposes. Thank you.
nice vid, keep up the work! (first like btw)
A few experiences i obtained as a sword Enthusiast 🤔
👉 In relation to any type of Swords, There's a "few" details (Authenticity) that none of the outsiders from that certain culture could replicate (😅 and i have observed such detail for a few years).
👉 As for Katanas in outside of Japan, it's true that you need a few "experiences" to choose what kind of Swords you wished. Ranging from price, and Quality.
🙏 You get what you Pay for 😅👍
Note : the plastic wrappings from the blade is not only used to protect the saya, but to Prevent Rust, and Tarnishing (and Possibly, deformation by Humidity).
I believe the plastic on the blade is a protective layer between the heavily oiled blade and the scabbard.
I seriously doubt that blade is oiled, which would explain the plastic.
@@jsullivan2112 Oh, it was oiled. The only sword in my collection that didn't come coated in oil and have that kind of plastic wrap over the blade is my DSA Vindaaris, which was completely wrapped up in plastic in its package but did not have plastic or grease on the blade itself.
cool katanas either way. thanks for reacting, shogo!
React to $200 katana vs $2000 katana cutting challenge
Outside Japan, a katana is a katana. There is no knowledge about the difference of iaito and katana and they consider it as a mere weapon that can be made by literally anything with any methods, effectively removing the cultural aspect behind the making of a katana. I've seen Skallagrim's response video, and now Shogo with his own perspective. I feel complete now. XD
Well is like umm for example the European blades that have similar design but different names and different uses like broadsword and two handed sword
@@RadiantCloudSky Not really? You’re referring to labels invented to differentiate blades that historically were just called “swords” in both contexts. OP is talking about how they’ve been removed from their original cultural context in order to appeal and cater to modern budgets and popularity.
I guess when you don't need to worry about strict guidelines and handmade traditional techniques and only specific types of steel, then you can get a decent sword without spending thousands. Great video btw.
Hi shogo, i love your videos about katana and i was wondering where did you buy your iaito with the "musashi" tsuba at 1:54 . I love this one and i immediatly recognized it on the Mini Katana's last video thumbnail
I bought it on the Tozando website! tozandoshop.com/letsaskshogo
There’s a tab named “Musashi Katana!”
Thank you for your Video i have been looking for a video like this for ages you have got a subscribe from me😊
I think the pushback to the pricing for the Japanese made katanas is because, while the $200-300 swords are generally quite cheaply made you can get a very functional high quality sword for between $600-1000, it won't be made with tamahagane, because the traditional methods are very labour intensive and high quality steel is available and legal for non japanese swordmakers to use. The pricing for the Japanese made swords is largely due to the traditional methods used, and is absolutely justified, but not everyone buying a sword is looking for that.
Can you react to mini katana? There a company that makes multiple different kinds of katanas from anime and custom katanas. They even make multiple shorts about how to properly wield a katana, how to properly display one, and they even suggest that you buy one of their cleaning kids to make sure that the katanas never rust.
I’ve already made a react video to their shorts!✨
@@LetsaskShogo oh! I’ll go check it out!!!
I found this video while on a deep dive looking at methods of creating and using weapons (Since I want to make a weapon of my own one day or commission one to be made) and i'm actually very curious how that hardening method would effect different types of blades, for example a glaive made with 1060 steel, that had it's edge hardened with this method, If i ever get into smithing in the future this is definitely something I want to try and compare against blades without it
Shogo! Thanks for being so open minded. I'm subbed on multiple accounts and have been following you since you had maybe 2000 subs.. I don't know why I thought there was a chance of you being unfair. 😂
I remember the sword shop in the malls. I bought an aikuchi 20 years ago for around $100. It had plastic on the blade too. A steak knife was sharper than it and it looked like it was made from melted silverware. Live and learn. 🤣🤣🤣
I purchased my first katana for $350. It's a beautiful weapon and will certainly perform its intended purpose. I'm learning how to use it.
I learned so much about katanas, thank you!
Thankyou Shogo, I like this video.
Just letting you know the plastic covering the blade is because they apply protective oil to the blade. And to keep it from rusting because they don't sell immediately. I have about 30 katanas and some were a little above $100.00 dollar's while some I have are around 300.00, and I enjoy every one of them. But I would love to have one like the ones you own. I love your videos they are so informative. Thank you
so are 200-300$ katanas genuinely legit? im guessing the price differences between japan and western katana sellers are due to the restrictions in japan compared to overseas
Well I’m one that believes that the older traditional Japanese Katana makers are the best in the world when it comes to making Katanas. They spend countless years under the apprenticeship of a master and learn what to look for in the qualities of the metal being used and are extremely selective. Massive amount of respect to those traditional masters, my hats off to you and hope that I get to meet and speak with one in person some day.
Ehh a $300 knockoff with modern steel will outperform them in every metric. Elasticity, corrosion resistance, edge retention, doesn't matter. Tradition Katana's just get clapped. Times change.
@@tomwalker8944 go tell that to a master sword smith or all the people that literally spend thousands of dollars for those swords. I’d take the traditional sword any day of the week as they’ve been proven through countless generations yet are still around and still very usable as well as extremely sharp.
@@P-J-W-777 I'll gladly tell'em to his face, and offer to test the edge and flexibility of one of his swords against any modern steel in abusive testing. :) I've seen how those go time and time again.
@@tomwalker8944 I’ve seen 800 and 1,200 dollar blades not stand up to abuse tests when compared to professionally forged katana’s nor keep a sharp edge near as long.
@@P-J-W-777Cool I guess, but modern steel claps traditional steel every time. Unlike what many people believe things typically get better with time not worse. A 1000$ katana with high quality modern steel would probably have, cut 15th century katanas in half with no damage.
I remember seeing that intro video, cringing, and turning it off. Fun times. Always love learning from you Shogo
So happy to see this reaction 🤩🤩🤩🤩
there are high quality swords ouside of japan, made by well know smiths like howard clark, Bob Engnath. some of the thaisuki swords are trationally made, same for motohara evolution blades, and citadel. of course nothing compares to the care of nihonto, but being honest for many of us those are more for showing and caring than practice.
Is Cheness still a thing? They were amazing budget blades for 350 plus. I have a 30 inch one that has done me well for 14 years. My best friend has a custom 34 inch blade but he's also 6'4" so it's the perfect length for him. I think mine was called the nagasa. Also there was a guy on the Oregon coast that made tamahagane blades. He got the tamahagane from his sword master in kyoto. I forgot his name but he's the only person that I've met outside of Japan that can get tamahagane. I met him at a renfaire on the coast. He does some really beautiful work! He was wearing one of his blades on his hip. He only does custom orders starting at 2000 for just a bare blade.
@@Rikushio17 i think they still do business but through their site and SBG but im no sure.
The reason Japanese Katana are so expensive is because Japanese law limits the number of blades a sword smith can make per a month or year. Last I checked, most are only allowed to legally produce 2 to 3 swords a month and may require special permission just to make 3. Firstly, it would be very difficult for the sword smiths to survive if they only sold swords for $1000 each. ($2000 to $3000 a month) More importantly, what this means is that prices for katana in Japan are driven up because the supply is being artificially restricted; and not because they're actually that valuable in terms of labor or materials. If the restrictions on the number of katana a sword smith could produce per a month in Japan were lifted, I imagine the price of a quality katana would lower to between $1000 to $2000. If the restrictions on manufacturing methods for Japanese katana were lifted and smiths had access to morn modern tools and materials then, the prices may become even more affordable. Although this would be a dream come true to many practitioners and collectors from around the world, it could mean the loss of historical knowledge and skills overtime that the world would never get back.
Shogo you the man we love you
I appreciate how nice you were to our imitations, thanks for the positive informative video
Funny thing, I saw a "Cheap" $250 katana totally cut right through a "REAL" $9500 katana from Japan. I believe the ebay "Cheap" was made of a harder steel...
not surprising, japanese iron is notoriously bad, hence having to fold it a billion times to remove impurities. it's really not fair to compare them to modern steel alloy blades.