
Highly valued and respected by samurais, it remains a significant weapon in traditional martial arts today. In Japanese history, the katana served as a mighty sword on the battlefield and in duels. Apart from storing your foam katana in a cool, dry environment, it should also be kept flat on its pommel, not on its tip. MaintenanceĪll latex-coated blades need maintenance, such as using a silicone spray to prevent the foam sword from drying out. It can also be a good idea to opt for a foam katana that includes a scabbard to complete your samurai attire. Some foam katana swords feature realistic-looking tsuba with utilitarian or elaborate cut-out designs while others feature a black handle or tsuka in the traditional diamond pattern wrap. The katana sword is distinguished for its tsuba or sword guard, which often has a rectangular or rounded shape. Since the Japanese sword is most recognized for its hamon, you may also see some foam blades that simulate the temperline patterns. The blade of a foam sword is often hand painted to look like real metal. The best cosplay props are realistic and dangerous-looking. Hence, cosplayers may downsize the weapon to be more durable and less cumbersome to wear in events. Sephiroth in the Final Fantasy VII video game is known for his gigantic katana sword, with an overall length ranging from 180 to 240 centimeters. When it comes to size, practicality is an important factor. The katana varies in length, but it usually has a blade length of around 60 centimeters long and never shorter than 40 centimeters long, as this makes it a Japanese blade known as a wakizashi instead. While there is no strict measurement for a cosplay sword, it is ideal to opt for one that replicates the size of a real samurai sword. In battles and martial arts, the katana sword usually fits the height of the swordsman. Still, cosplay prop swords are lightweight, so they are not recommended substitutes for martial arts practice swords. If you want a foam katana for sparring, think of a high-quality polyethylene foam that is shock-absorbing, maintains its shape, and gives more weight.

Polystyrene foam has a closed-cell structure and comes in several densities. For safety reasons, the core rod of LARP swords does not extend to the tip. These swords often come with some structural element, such as a fiberglass or a hard plastic inner core that helps to maintain their shape. Type of Materialįoam swords for cosplay and LARP are constructed from high-density foam which is firm and durable. Still, it is important to opt for a durable and realistic-looking weapon. While it is fun to carry a samurai sword with a carbon steel blade, several pop culture events don’t allow metal and wooden swords, making a foam katana an ideal choice.

Knowing the history and information about the samurai sword may help you show your creative side and own your character.

So, it is not surprising that a foam katana is one of the most common weapon props seen in cosplay and live-action role-play or LARP today. Apart from the samurai, several fictional characters from anime and manga popularized the katana sword.
