Best Sellers of 2019: Popular Katanas in the UK

Which katana samurai swords are most popular in the UK in 2019?

With so many katana sword options available, we like to reflect back each year on the top selling designs. With that in mind, here were our best sellers for 2019, in no particular order.

* Note: Products are not in order, but rather, grouped as a suite of best sellers from the year.

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Best sellers of 2019:

Aaiwa Katana Samurai Sword

This entry-level Katana combines a stylish Tsuba with a functional blade for training or cutting. Perfect for the beginning practitioner or collector, this is a fine sword at an affordable price.

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Blue Blade Samurai Katana - High Carbon Steel with Dragon Sheath

Hand-crafted using traditional forging techniques, this Katana bears a stunningly blue blade and an artistically detailed Tsuba. For martial artists or collectors, this will make a wonderful conversation or practice piece.

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Alexei Katana Samurai Sword

This entry-level sword has a single Bo-Hi to make it lighter as well as a decorative Tsuba and speckled Saya. Perfect for the beginning collector or trainer.

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Kikyou Katana Samurai Sword

This white Katana gleams from all but its simple black radial Tsuba. Marked with a Bo-Hi, this sword is ready for a challenge.

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Kill Bill "The Bride" Katana Samurai Sword

Now you can wield the same sword as Beatrix Kiddo, "The Bride", in the esteemed films of Kill Bill. Beautifully made using traditional methods, crafted to perfection, and based on the wonderfully displayed swords in the movies, this quality Katana Kill Bill sword replica will make a fantastic conversation piece and allows you to feel just like Beatrix in the movies. For true Kill Bill fans!

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Tashi Katana Samurai Sword

This entry-level Katana has an attractive black Tsuka and Sageo along with a functional blade suitable for cutting or training. Good for the beginning sword collector or practitioner, this sword looks great without breaking the bank.

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Ruolan Folded Red Steel Katana Samurai Sword

The blade of this Katana is a deep red and features a hardwood look. Accentuated by brighter reds of the Saya and Menuki, this sword's rich tones and firm grip will please collectors and trainers alike.

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Anatoly Katana Samurai Sword

This Katana has a radial brass Tsuba patterned after the sunrise and contrasted by black Tsuka and Saya. With a gleaming Bo-Hi, this sword is well-suited to training and cutting at an affordable price.

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Kill Bill Katana Samurai Sword - "The Groom"

Now you can wield the same sword as Bill, "The Groom", in the esteemed films of Kill Bill.

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Achilleo Katana Samurai Sword

This Katana truly stands out with a Dragon-headed Kashira based by a golden Tsuba. Finished with a pure-white Tsuka, this sword is stunning and functional. Great for collectors or practitioners.

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Honourable Mentions: Sword Stands & Engraving

To really complete the ‘set’, especially as an office display piece or a wonderful gift, many of our customers also choose to opt for a sword stand and/or engraving.

Two top-selling sword stands:

Decorative Sword Stand For Katana, Wakizashi and Tanto - Single

A simple but sleek sword stand for a Katana, Wakizashi or Tanto. Perfect for emphasizing the sword while fitting almost anywhere.

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Wall Mount Sword Holder For Katana, Wakizashi and Tanto - Double

A simple wall mount for Katana, Wakizashi or Tanto. Perfect for emphasizing the swords while fitting almost anywhere. Holds two swords.

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And engraving options (with examples of how engraving is presented): Engraving Options

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So there you have it -- the top selling katana samurai swords and swords stands from BladesPro UK in 2019. Which is your favourite?
If you have any questions, ask us any time. Check out our range for the best katana samurai swords at exceptional prices.

source https://www.bladespro.co.uk/blogs/news/best-sellers-of-2019-popular-katanas-in-the-uk

Ichigo Kurosaki

Ichigo Kurosaki is the protagonist of the manga bleach, which has been turned into a popular anime as well as a live-action film. Learn about the character and the sword he wields.

History

Background

Ichigo (a homonym of the Japanese word for the number 15) was born on July 15, 15 years before becoming a Shinigami (Soul Reaper).  At a young age, he started training at a Dojo and learning Karate. Due to his spiritual heritage, he had always been able to see the souls of dead people, but he didn’t know why and often denied having the ability.

Ichigo adored his mother.  One day, when he was nine, he saw the spirit of a girl whom he thought was about to jump into a river, and, not being able to tell it was not a real girl, jumped into the river to save her.  His mom tried to stop him, but he didn’t listen.  Reaching the girl, but unable to grab her, he passed out.  When he finally regained consciousness, he discovered his mom, dead, lying on top of him. 

As he grew older, he got into many fights with bullies and thugs, both from them attacking him and him defending his friends.  Through this, he gained allies.  He eventually entered Karakura High School, where his real journey was about to begin.

Becoming Shinigami

At home one night, Ichigo sees a strange girl (Rukia Kuchiki) in his bedroom.  Thinking she is a burglar, he is convinced of her claim to be a spirit only when she proves that only he can see her.  She begins to explain that she is a Shinigami, but Ichigo doesn’t believe her, forcing her to bind him.  Surprisingly, however, he manages to break free through force of will when he hears his sister’s cries for help.  Rushing to her, he sees her being attacked by a Hollow (a spirit who has remained too long in the Human world after death).  He foolishly tries to stop it with a baseball bat, forcing Rukia to shield him with her body and becoming severely wounded in the process.  As a last-ditch effort to stop the Hollow, Rukia stabs Ichigo with her Zanpakutō (sword), transferring a large portion of her powers into him, allowing him to easily take out the Hollow.

The next day, Ichigo sees Rukia at school, and she tells him he must take over her duties as a Shinigami while she recovers her powers.  He refuses, so she takes him to a park where a Hollow is about to attack.  Finally convincing him of the need to defend others, she helps train him while residing in his closet.   Later, a Hollow attacks, and when Ichigo cuts off part of its mask it is revealed to be Sora Inoue, the spirt of a man whom Ichigo had tried to help years ago but whom ultimately died.  The Hollow flees, and Rukia tells him its likely target is Orihime Inoue, the spirit’s still-alive sister, as Hollows often attack those they loved most in life due to their corruption.

Ichigo manages to arrive on time and begins fighting the Hollow, but, during the fight, Orihime steps between them, and the Hollow injures her.  In a moment of clarity, the Hollow realizes what it had done and stabs itself with Ichigo’s Zanpakuto, purifying it of its sins and allowing it to go to Soul Society.

Loosing it all and Getting It Back

Initially reluctant, over time, Ichigo learns more about what it means to be a Shinigami and takes his duties more seriously.  So seriously in fact, that he eventually sacrifices everything to protect those he loves.  A former Shinigami named Aizen raises an army of Arrancar.  He wields immense power, vast amounts more than a normal Shinigami, so Icihgo is forced to increase his own in order to be sure of victory.  In order to do so, Ichigo learns the Final Getsuga Tenshō and uses it to give himself unmatched power, at the cost of loosing all of it after its use.  Ichigo manages to defeat Aizen but is left powerless.

Seventeen months later, Ichigo is living a normal Human life.  He meets a group of people who reveal they have powers inherited from their mothers who were attacked by Hollows before their birth. They wish to give their Fullbring powers (powers that allow one to manipulate the souls of things or people, giving them very flexible abilities) to Ichigo  as the powers are Hollow in nature and they do not wish to carry that legacy. A man named Kugo leads them.  It is later revealed that Kugo is helping Ichigo activate his powers so Kugo can steal them .  Kugo eventually does manage to steal Ichigo’s powers, but Rukia stabs Ichigo with a sword made from the Reiatsu (spiritual power) of the Gotei 13’s senior officers as well as other strong Shinigami.  This infusion of Reiatsu restores all of Ichigo’s former abilities as well as giving him power exceeding that which he had before.

Later Life

After many years and untold adventures, Ichigo eventually marries Orihime Inoue, the first non-family member he saved as a Shinigami.  Together, they have a son named Kazui Kurosaki who has his father’s hair and his mother’s looks.  His son eventually meets Ichika Abarai, the daughter of Rukia.  Both children have inherited their parents’ powers and are potent Shinigami.

Powers and Abilities

Ichigo is naturally gifted in many areas.  He learns skills in incredibly short time, has great reflexes, is very strong, and has above-average intelligence.  Due to training at a Karate dojo from a young age, he also is very good at martial arts.  Whether this is natural or due to his heritage, Ichigo has immense spiritual power, so much so that he can perceive things and do things when tired that few others could even dream of.

From his mother’s side and his Shinigami training, Ichigo has developed as a master swordsman.  He is not only ambidextrous when wielding a sword, he can also wield two at once without any trouble.  He can utilize Shunpo to move extremely fast while using few steps to get from point A to point B.   In his Shinigami form, his already impressive strength is further enhanced, allowing him to accomplish with a single punch or kick what most people would struggle to achieve with multiple.  As a Shinigami, he is also able to withstand blows that would kill a normal person, and he has superhuman endurance.

Throughout the series, Ichigo learns more about his heritage and acquires different sets of abilities from multiple sources, including Hollow, Quincy, and Fullbringer, among others.

Zanpakuto

Ichigo originally wielded a substitute Zanpakuto, with which he was able to achieve Bankai, but after it was broken he learned it was not his true Zanpakuto.  His true Zanpakuto is formed from the combination of his Shinigami and Hollow powers, forming two differently sized black blades.  The larger blade represents Ichigo’s Inner Hollow, while the smaller blade represents his Quincy powers.

Ichigo’s blade is called Zangetsu.  As with all Zanpakuto, Zangetsu has multiple abilities.  The first and most common is Getsuga Tensho, which means Piercer of Heaven.  When performed, the blade stores some of Ichigo’s spiritual energy, then releases it as the blade slashes, releasing a blade of energy the flies forward, devastating everything in its path.  He also had a Bankai Tensa Zengetsu, which amplified Getsuga Tensho to an untold extent.  His new Bankai’s powers are unknown, but it is considered extremely potent, as it was disabled before it could be used.

See Our Replica Bleach Zanpakuto

source https://www.bladespro.co.uk/blogs/news/ichigo-kurosaki