Katana

A katana is a Japanese sword that was the signature weapon of the Samurai class found in feudal Japan during the 14th-17th centuries. The katana is characterized by its distinctive appearance: a curved, slender, single-edged blade with a circular or squared guard and long grip to accommodate two hands. It has become renowned for its sharpness and strength. Traditionally, a katana is a two-handed weapon, but in television fiction it is not uncommon to see characters using one hand to wield the blade.

In DC Comics, Katana is the code name used by a warrior hero whose real name is Tatsu Yamashiro. She takes her name from the Soultaker sword, which is the infused with the spirit of her husband, Maseo. The Soultaker was forged in the 14th century by Muramasa, whose swords were said to be cursed and make those who were evil commit evil acts. It sometimes takes the souls of those it kills, storing them inside the sword, where they can engage in limited communication with whoever wields it. These souls can be reincarnated by the means of a sacred ritual, under which they serve their summoner, even if it is against their will.

On the AMC television series The Walking Dead, a katana is the preferred weapon of choice of the survivalist known as Michonne. It is an effective weapon against fighting zombie walkers and affords her extra reach so as to stay clear of their infectious bite and allows her to easily decapitate them - sometimes taking down multiple opponents with a single blow.

Michonne came upon a woman named Andrea who was fleeing from a walker and beheaded the attacker, thus saving her life. When Michonne kept vigil over Andrea when she fell ill, Michonne used her samurai sword to destroy any walkers that encroached upon their haven.

Characters
The following are a list of characters known to use katanas.

Films

 * Elektra
 * Suicide Squad
 * Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)
 * Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014)
 * Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze
 * Wolverine, The

Comics

 * Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1
 * Wolverine 2