The Otaku Armoury puts the spotlight on Japanese weapons in pop culture and a katana that should be recognised for its deadliness is Soultaker. Wielded by the DC comic heroine, Katana, Soultaker is a sword with a mystical origin and tragic circumstances.
Properties
Soultaker has the ability to capture the souls of the people that it kills, trapping them inside the blade. It’s sharp enough to cut through any material.
The katana develops a mystical connection to its wielder, giving them the power to communicate with the imprisoned spirits.
Background
The sword was created by the infamous 14th century Japanese swordsmith Muramasa Sengo. The Soultaker katana was lost until the 20th century, when it was found by the corrupt General Karnz of Markovia and sold to the Yakuza.
An ambitious member of the organisation, Takeo Yamashiro, wielded the blade and used it to slay his brother Maseo in combat. Maseo’s wife, Tatsu, disarmed Takeo and took the sword for herself. Becoming Katana, she vowed revenge on her brother-in-law and hunted him across the world with Soultaker.
Katana’s connection to Soultaker goes beyond weapon and wielder. It’s her method of communicating with her husband. It represents her tragedy and reminds her what she chose to become a superhero.
She eventually managed to hunt Takeo down and thwarted a Yakuza ritual to enslave the souls within the sword. Stabbing him with the sword, she trapped him inside and was able to exorcise the demons that had plagued her past.
To learn more about Katana and how she represents female samurai, check out this article from The Comic Vault.
Yamato Magazine 
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