Katana

Iconic samurai Hayato wields a katana.

A katana is a slightly curved sword created for and popularized by the samurai of Tian Xia; its closest analog in the Inner Sea region is the longsword. Many samurai specialize in fighting styles centered around the combination of a katana and wakizashi, naginata, or longbow.

Katanas are forged using a distinct process and several types of steel. While most trained combatants can use a katana—which typically measures about 3¼ feet in length and weighs about 6 pounds—with two hands, it takes extensive training to wield one in a single hand. A matched set of a katana and wakizashi is known as a daisho.

Variants

The double walking stick katana, despite its name, conceals two swords more similar in length to the shorter wakizashi.

An unknown tengu bladesmith cleverly created a magical, non-lethal wooden katana known as a dueling bokken for practice.

On Golarion

The holy symbol of Shizuru is a katana in front of the sun.

The katana is a symbol in several Tian deities, nations, and organizations, including:

• Shizuru, Tian goddess of the sun and swordplay, who favors the katana and whose holy symbol is a katana in front of the sun
• Zo, the Minatan pirate clan whose flag is a katana on a blood-red field

Unique katanas

Jeratakra, a legendary katana made by Swordmaster Tsing Xiao, was part of the Pharaoh of Blades's great collection of swords.

Suishen, an intelligent katana and heirloom of the Amatatsu family, was sold to a trader some time around 4650 AR.

References

For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.