The Suzuki Katana is a street motorcycle sold between 1981 and 2006 and then since 2019. It was designed in 1979–1980 by Target Design of Germany for Suzuki .
97-592: The Katana name was later applied to a range of in-house styled sport touring motorcycles in North America through the 2006 model year and, starting at the turn of the millennium, a line of 50 cc scooters in Europe. Under a contract with Suzuki, a three-man team at Target Design worked to update the motorbike's image. The team consisted of Jan Fellstrom, Hans-Georg Kasten, and the leader Hans Muth, ex-chief of styling for BMW , who had done much to modernise
194-592: A katana . The specific term for katana in Japan is uchigatana (打刀) and the term katana (刀) often refers to single-edged swords from around the world. The word katana first appears in Japanese in the Nihon Shoki of 720. The term is a compound of kata ("one side, one-sided") + na ("blade"), in contrast to the double-sided tsurugi . The katana belongs to the nihontō family of swords, and
291-455: A big and sharp point, which was advantageous for stabbing in indoor battles. During the Meiji period , the samurai class was gradually disbanded, and the special privileges granted to them were taken away, including the right to carry swords in public. The Haitōrei Edict in 1876 forbade the carrying of swords in public except for certain individuals, such as former samurai lords ( daimyō ),
388-427: A billet. At this stage, it is only slightly curved or may have no curve at all. The katana 's gentle curvature is attained by a process of differential hardening or differential quenching : the smith coats the blade with several layers of a wet clay slurry, which is a special concoction unique to each sword maker, but generally composed of clay, water and any or none of ash, grinding stone powder, or rust. This process
485-428: A blade length greater than 60.6 cm (23.86 inches) (over 2 shaku). It is characterized by its distinctive appearance: a curved, slender, single-edged blade with a circular or squared guard ( tsuba ) and long grip to accommodate two hands. With a few exceptions, katana and tachi can be distinguished from each other, if signed, by the location of the signature ( mei ) on the tang ( nakago ) . In general,
582-438: A certain class of cars. Homologation is most popular with the production based Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) Group GT3 class, where no fewer than 20 different race sanctioning bodies around the world use the same set of rules for this class. This allows the same car to be raced under different sanctioning bodies with no modification between races. When a car loses its homologation, it can no longer be part of
679-531: A competition and can only be used in historic competitions . The same is true of most motorcycle racing series that can be considered production-based and include the various classes of such premier series as the AMA Superbike Championship or the FIM 's Superbike World Championship . As with automobiles, motorcycle manufacturers manufacture certain models for the consumer market to enable
776-562: A different manner. By the 15th century, Japanese swords, including katana , had already gained international fame by being exported to China and Korea. For example, Korea learned how to make Japanese swords by sending swordsmiths to Japan and inviting Japanese swordsmiths to Korea. According to the record of June 1, 1430 in the Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty , a Korean swordsmith who went to Japan and mastered
873-440: A genuine for-profit line) offer a line of high-performance parts not intended for use on public roads. Such components could include exhaust systems and engine internals, and are generally within the homologation guidelines of the racing series in which the vehicles are to be used. There is also a brisk after-market supplying components for converting production vehicles to race trim for production-based racing series. One example
970-487: A living. Since 1953, Japanese swordsmiths have been allowed to work, but with severe restrictions: swordsmiths must be licensed and serve a five-year apprenticeship, and only licensed swordsmiths are allowed to produce Japanese swords ( nihonto ), only two longswords per month are allowed to be produced by each swordsmith, and all swords must be registered with the Japanese Government . Outside Japan, some of
1067-446: A long time, Japanese people have developed a unique appreciation method in which the blade is regarded as the core of their aesthetic evaluation rather than the sword mountings decorated with luxurious lacquer or metal works. It is said that there are three objects that are the most noteworthy when appreciating a blade. The first is the overall shape referred to as sugata which is the curvature, length, width, tip, and shape of tang of
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#17327905106981164-484: A more radical design which incorporated favorable aerodynamics, with a special emphasis placed on high-speed stability, and was repeatedly wind tunnel tested in Italy. The same generalized design forms had already been used early in 1979 for Target's MV Agusta "Prova" concept . The 1,100 cc (67 cu in) ED2 would form the prototype for the larger 16-valve GSX1100S, GSX1000S, and GSX750S. "Muth characterizes
1261-400: A swordsmith signature and a file pattern engraved on tang, and a carving inscribed on the blade, which is referred to as horimono , are also the objects of appreciation. The Hon'ami clan, which was an authority of appraisal of Japanese swords, rated Japanese swords from these artistic points of view. In addition, experts of modern Japanese swords judge when and by which swordsmith school
1358-422: A three-dimensional cross-sectional shape of an elongated pentagonal to hexagonal blade called shinogi-zukuri , a style in which the blade and the tang ( nakago ) are integrated and fixed to the hilt ( tsuka ) with a pin called mekugi , and a gentle curve. When a shinogi-zukuri sword is viewed from the side, there is a ridge line of the thickest part of the blade called shinogi between the cutting-edge side and
1455-477: A word to describe a long sword that was different from a tachi , occurs as early as the Kamakura period. These references to " uchigatana " and " tsubagatana " seem to indicate a different style of sword, possibly a less costly sword for lower-ranking warriors. Starting around the year 1400, long swords signed with the katana- style mei were made. This was in response to samurai wearing their tachi in what
1552-455: Is a Japanese sword characterized by a curved, single-edged blade with a circular or squared guard and long grip to accommodate two hands. Developed later than the tachi , it was used by samurai in feudal Japan and worn with the edge facing upward. Since the Muromachi period , many old tachi were cut from the root and shortened, and the blade at the root was crushed and converted into
1649-894: Is a testing and certification process for vehicles, circuits, and related equipment for conformance to technical standards, usually known as type approval in English-language jurisdictions. It confirms conformity to standards or categorisation criteria typically set by the sporting authority. At international and supra-national level, the FIA and FIM mandate what must be homologated, the FIA in its International Sporting Code and appendices. National sporting authorities such as Motorsport UK must adhere to these rules but may enforce additional or specific homologation rules applicable to their series or jurisdiction, however, unaffiliated series may set their own requirements. The word homologation
1746-500: Is a theory that koshigatana (腰刀), a kind of tantō which was equipped by high ranking samurai together with tachi , developed to katana through the same historical background as sasuga , and it is possible that both developed to katana . The oldest katana in existence today is called Hishizukuri uchigatana , which was forged in the Nanbokuchō period, and was dedicated to Kasuga Shrine later. The first use of katana as
1843-550: Is based on the GSX-S1000F and is powered by a 2005–2006 GSX-R1000 K5 engine with a claimed power output of 110 kW (150 hp). The new Katana's weight comes in at 215 kg (474 lb) with the GSX-S chassis twin-spar beam alloy frame, inverted forks, GSX-R swingarm, and Brembo front calipers. Its styling pays homage to the original 1981 design. Katana A katana ( 刀, かたな , lit. "one-sided blade" )
1940-470: Is because the Japanese government allowed swordsmiths to make only 24 Japanese swords per person per year in order to maintain the quality of Japanese swords. Many swordsmiths after the Edo period have tried to reproduce the sword of the Kamakura period which is considered as the best sword in the history of Japanese swords, but they have failed. Then, in 2014, Kunihira Kawachi succeeded in reproducing it and won
2037-402: Is called tsuchioki . The edge of the blade is coated with a thinner layer than the sides and spine of the sword, heated, and then quenched in water (few sword makers use oil to quench the blade). The slurry causes only the blade's edge to be hardened and also causes the blade to curve due to the difference in densities of the micro-structures in the steel. When steel with a carbon content of 0.7%
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#17327905106982134-528: Is called a daishō . Only samurai could wear the daishō : it represented their social power and personal honour . Samurai could wear decorative sword mountings in their daily lives, but the Tokugawa shogunate regulated the formal sword that samurai wore when visiting a castle by regulating it as a daisho made of a black scabbard, a hilt wrapped with white ray skin and black string. Japanese swords made in this period are classified as shintō . In
2231-460: Is classified as a shinshintō . One of the most popular swordsmiths in Japan today is Minamoto Kiyomaro who was active in this shinshintō period. His popularity is due to his timeless exceptional skill, as he was nicknamed " Masamune in Yotsuya " after his disastrous life. His works were traded at high prices and exhibitions were held at museums all over Japan from 2013 to 2014. The idea that
2328-454: Is derived from Greek ὁμολογέω , homologeo , 'I agree'. In racing series that are "production-based", meaning that the vehicles entered in the series are based on production vehicles for sale to the public, homologation not only requires compliance with a racing series' technical guidelines (for example engine displacement, chassis construction, suspension design and such), but often includes minimum levels of sales of that model to
2425-522: Is distinguished by a blade length ( nagasa ) of more than 2 shaku , approximately 60 cm (24 in). Katana can also be known as dai or daitō among Western sword enthusiasts, although daitō is a generic name for any Japanese long sword , literally meaning "big sword". As Japanese does not have separate plural and singular forms, both katanas and katana are considered acceptable forms in English. Pronounced [katana] ,
2522-518: Is distinguished by having a pop-up headlight. Appearing in 1984 was the Katana 750SE with a pop-up headlight , still using an air-oil cooled engine. These were quite popular, even when their performance was easily outdone by other competitors at the time. The air-cooled GSX Katanas were effectively the last Suzuki sports motorcycles that were 'sporting models' derived from an existing standard model (UJM) . The next generation of Suzuki sports bike being
2619-632: Is divided into specific time periods: Katana originates from sasuga (刺刀), a kind of tantō (short sword or knife) used by lower-ranking samurai who fought on foot in the Kamakura period (1185–1333). Their main weapon was a long naginata and sasuga was a spare weapon. In the Nanboku-chō period (1336–1392) which corresponds to the early Muromachi period (1336–1573), long weapons such as ōdachi were popular, and along with this, sasuga lengthened and finally became katana . Also, there
2716-402: Is heated beyond 750 °C (1,380 °F), it enters the austenite phase. When austenite is cooled very suddenly by quenching in water, the structure changes into martensite , which is a very hard form of steel. When austenite is allowed to cool slowly, its structure changes into a mixture of ferrite and pearlite which is softer than martensite. This process also creates the line down
2813-684: Is in charge of making scabbards, nurishi is in charge of applying lacquer to scabbards, tsukamakishi is in charge of making hilt, and tsubashi is in charge of making tsuba (hand guard). Tosho use apprentice swordsmiths as assistants. Prior to the Muromachi period, tosho and kacchushi (armorer) used surplus metal to make tsuba , but from the Muromachi period onwards, specialized craftsmen began to make tsuba . Nowadays, kinkoshi sometimes serves as shiroganeshi and tsubashi . Historically, katana have been regarded not only as weapons but also as works of art, especially for high-quality ones. For
2910-424: Is lightweight, quickly removable bodywork, to replace stock bodywork that is often heavier and has features required on public roads, such as lighting systems. Some sports cars are released to the public for the express purpose of meeting the homologation guidelines of a particular series or several series. In such cases, numbers manufactured are often just enough to meet the minimum requirement for homologation by
3007-424: Is now called " katana style" (cutting edge up). Japanese swords are traditionally worn with the mei facing away from the wearer. When a tachi was worn in the style of a katana , with the cutting edge up, the tachi 's signature would be facing the wrong way. The fact that swordsmiths started signing swords with a katana signature shows that some samurai of that time period had started wearing their swords in
Suzuki Katana - Misplaced Pages Continue
3104-522: Is still owned by Rod and Carl Coleman); it had slightly higher specifications than the E27-spec SXZ. The number of SXZ bikes built by Suzuki for the New Zealand and South Africa markets was a total of 45 units. Suzuki also produced 550 cc (34 cu in), 650 and 750 cc (40 and 46 cu in) versions of the Katana. The 650 had a drive shaft , while the 1984-1986 SE/SF/SG750
3201-544: The kun'yomi (Japanese reading) of the kanji 刀, originally meaning single edged blade (of any length) in Chinese , the word has been adopted as a loanword by the Portuguese . In Portuguese the designation (spelled catana ) means "large knife" or machete . The katana is generally defined as the standard sized, moderately curved (as opposed to the older tachi featuring more curvature) Japanese sword with
3298-683: The Bisen school and Mino school produced them by division of labor. The export of katana and tachi reached its peak during this period, from the late 15th century to early 16th century when at least 200,000 swords were shipped to Ming dynasty China in official trade in an attempt to soak up the production of Japanese weapons and make it harder for pirates in the area to arm. In the Ming dynasty of China, Japanese swords and their tactics were studied to repel pirates, and wodao and miaodao were developed based on Japanese swords. From this period,
3395-631: The Keichō period of the Azuchi–Momoyama period are classified as shintō (New swords). Japanese swords from shintō are different from kotō in forging method and steel ( tamahagane ). This is thought to be because Bizen school, which was the largest swordsmith group of Japanese swords, was destroyed by a great flood in 1590 and the mainstream shifted to Mino school, and because Toyotomi Hideyoshi virtually unified Japan, uniform steel began to be distributed throughout Japan. The kotō swords, especially
3492-524: The Sengoku period (period of warring states) in the late Muromachi period, the war became bigger and ashigaru fought in a close formation using yari (spears) lent to them. Furthermore, in the late 16th century, tanegashima (muskets) were introduced from Portugal, and Japanese swordsmiths mass-produced improved products, with ashigaru fighting with leased guns. On the battlefield in Japan, guns and spears became main weapons in addition to bows. Due to
3589-589: The Shōwa period that swords were produced on a large scale again. Japanese military swords produced between 1875 and 1945 are referred to as guntō (military swords). During the pre- World War II military buildup, and throughout the war, all Japanese officers were required to wear a sword. Traditionally made swords were produced during this period, but in order to supply such large numbers of swords, blacksmiths with little or no knowledge of traditional Japanese sword manufacture were also recruited. In addition, supplies of
3686-416: The hamon can be seen by holding the sword in your hand and looking at it while changing the angle of the light shining on the blade. After the blade is forged, it is then sent to be polished. The polishing takes between one and three weeks. The polisher uses a series of successively finer grains of polishing stones in a process called glazing, until the blade has a mirror finish. However, the blunt edge of
3783-423: The katana is often given a matte finish to emphasize the hamon . Japanese swords are generally made by a division of labor between six and eight craftsmen. Tosho ( Toko , Katanakaji ) is in charge of forging blades, togishi is in charge of polishing blades, kinkosi ( chokinshi ) is in charge of making metal fittings for sword fittings, shiroganeshi is in charge of making habaki (blade collar), sayashi
3880-407: The mei should be carved into the side of the nakago which would face outward when the sword was worn. Since a tachi was worn with the cutting edge down, and the katana was worn with the cutting edge up, the mei would be in opposite locations on the tang. Western historians have said that katana were among the finest cutting weapons in world military history. However, the main weapons on
3977-472: The tang ( nakago ) of many old tachi were cut and shortened into katana . This kind of remake is called suriage (磨上げ). For example, many of the tachi that Masamune forged during the Kamakura period were converted into katana , so his only existing works are katana and tantō . From around the 16th century, many Japanese swords were exported to Thailand , where katana-style swords were made and prized for battle and art work, and some of them are in
Suzuki Katana - Misplaced Pages Continue
4074-452: The 1980s through the present, from Suzuki's own XN85 Turbo bike to subtle markings on the RG250 two-stroke bikes. The fact that modern sport motorcycles generally have a fairing and seat that visually merge into a sloped fuel tank is directly traceable to the original Katana ED1 and ED2 designs. Since 2019, Suzuki has reused the Katana name for its redesigned 2020 model. This new version
4171-472: The 1981 Castrol 6 Hour, Suzuki's only Castrol 6 Hour loss for 5 years. 25 more units of the same E27-spec SXZ machines were built by Suzuki and exported to South Africa. Australia also received the Australian-market E24. This model received a number of modifications, including lightweight wire wheels with high-performance tires, heavier brake disks, 98 link chain and sprockets, a grab strap to
4268-499: The 1999 arrival of a line of 50 cc scooters. The original design ethos reappeared at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show , when Suzuki rolled out a concept bike called the Suzuki Stratosphere , which heavily incorporated many facets of the original ED1/ED2 designs, albeit combined with a narrow, transversely-mounted inline-six engine . Features used by the design team for the original Katana can be seen in many motorcycles of
4365-579: The Azuchi-Momoyama period to the Edo period started, katana -forging also developed into a highly intricate and well-respected art form. Lacquered saya (scabbards), ornate engraved fittings, silk handles and elegant tsuba (handguards) were popular among samurai in the Edo period, and eventually (especially when Japan was in peace time), katana became more cosmetic and ceremonial items than practical weapons. The Umetada school led by Umetada Myoju who
4462-466: The Bizen school swords made in the Kamakura period, had a midare-utsuri like a white mist between hamon and shinogi , but in the swords from shintō it has almost disappeared. In addition, the whole body of the blade became whitish and hard. Almost no one was able to reproduce midare-utsurii until Kunihira Kawachi reproduced it in 2014. As the Sengoku period (period of warring states) ended and
4559-647: The E27 were delivered to South Pacific Suzuki distributors, as 20 units was the minimum required to homologate the machines as production motorcycles rather than racing specials under the rules of the New Zealand Autocycle Union (then the governing body for motorcycle sport in New Zealand). The GSX1100SXZ was crowned the overall 1981/1982 NZ National Production Champion (with riders Dave Hiscock, Neville Hiscock and Robert Holden), but failed to win
4656-576: The ED1. The unfaired ED1 design featured a tall, sculpted fuel tank , with curves and straight edges that merged the tank with a concave seat flanked by angular side panels. This meant that the rider essentially sat more in the motorcycle than on it (as was the norm). The ED1 design would be modified for production as the GS550M Katana, and later the GS650G Katana. The shark-like faired ED2 was
4753-603: The Japanese government started requiring the use of special stamps on the tang ( nakago ) to distinguish these swords from traditionally made swords. During this period of war, older antique swords were remounted for use in military mounts. Presently, in Japan, shōwatō are not considered to be "true" Japanese swords, and they can be confiscated. Outside Japan, however, they are collected as historical artifacts. Between 1945 and 1953, sword manufacture and sword-related martial arts were banned in Japan. Many swords were confiscated and destroyed, and swordsmiths were not able to make
4850-471: The Japanese steel ( tamahagane ) used for swordmaking were limited, so several other types of steel were also used. Quicker methods of forging were also used, such as the use of power hammers , and quenching the blade in oil, rather than hand forging and water. The non-traditionally made swords from this period are called shōwatō , after the regnal name of the Emperor Hirohito , and in 1937,
4947-580: The Masamune Prize, the highest honor as a swordsmith. No one could win the Masamune Prize unless he made an extraordinary achievement, and in the section of tachi and katana , no one had won for 18 years before Kawauchi. Katana are distinguished by their type of blade: In addition to these, there are various other types of blades with different shapes, such as Osoraku-zukuri , Unokubi-zukuri , and Kammuri-otoshi-zukuri . Typical features of Japanese swords represented by katana and tachi are
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#17327905106985044-498: The Suzuki Katana by what he calls its dramatic “flyline,” melding five key components into stylistic and aerodynamic unity: headlight, fuel tank, seat, and front and rear fenders. Central to the Katana's unique identity is its “V-shaped gas tank,” describing the way the tank narrows toward the rider and diverges toward the front of the bike. Muth's design was rendered in silver—like the sword. Originally, it had no windshield—that
5141-458: The Target designed machines. The GSX-F range comprised five basic models split into two general eras: the 1988–1997 GSX600F and GSX750F and the 1988–1993 GSX1100F, followed by the 1998–2006 GSX600F and GSX750F, both of which were heavily restyled compared to their predecessors. These same models were offered in Europe, but without the Katana name, which was absent in Europe from 1986 until
5238-675: The World 500cc championship and successfully defended his TT Formula One title. The E27 SXZ was fitted with wire wheels, more powerful GS1100GZ front brakes, Mikuni round-slide oval-bore VM32SS carburettors, larger 33mm bore mufflers (same as fitted to the previous Castrol 6 Hour special, the GSX1100T), performance camshafts (thought most likely to be Yoshimura profiles as Pops Yoshimura was building Suzuki superbikes and TT machines for competition during this period), braided brake lines, and an extra set of bronze sintered clutch plates. Twenty units of
5335-597: The authority of the rating is still valid today. In 1719, Tokugawa Yoshimune , the 8th shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate , ordered Hon'ami Kōchū, who was an authority of sword appraisal, to record swords possessed by daimyo all over Japan in books. In the completed " Kyōhō Meibutsu Chō " (享保名物帳) 249 precious swords were described, and additional 25 swords were described later. The list also includes 81 swords that had been destroyed in previous fires. The precious swords described in this book were called " Meibutsu " (名物) and
5432-404: The back side. This shinogi contributes to lightening and toughening of the blade and high cutting ability. Katana are traditionally made from a specialized Japanese steel called tamahagane , which is created from a traditional smelting process that results in several, layered steels with different carbon concentrations. This process helps remove impurities and even out the carbon content of
5529-425: The battlefield in the Sengoku period in the 16th century were yumi (bow) , yari (spear) , and tanegashima (gun) , and katana and tachi were used only for close combat . During this period, the tactics changed to a group battle by ashigaru (foot soldiers) mobilized in large numbers, so naginata and tachi became obsolete as weapons on the battlefield and were replaced by yari and katana . In
5626-408: The blade of a sword in the Kamakura period is the best has been continued until now, and as of the 21st century, 80% of Japanese swords designated as National treasure in Japan were made in the Kamakura period, and 70% of them were tachi . The arrival of Matthew Perry in 1853 and the subsequent Convention of Kanagawa caused chaos in Japanese society. Conflicts began to occur frequently between
5723-403: The changes in fighting styles in these wars, the tachi and naginata became obsolete among samurai, and the katana , which was easy to carry, became the mainstream. The dazzling looking tachi gradually became a symbol of the authority of high-ranking samurai. On the other hand, kenjutsu (swordsmanship) that makes use of the characteristics of katana was invented. The quicker draw of
5820-455: The collections of the Thai royal family. From the late Muromachi period (Sengoku period) to the early Edo period , samurai were sometimes equipped with a katana blade pointing downwards like a tachi . This style of sword is called handachi , "half tachi ". In handachi , both styles were often mixed, for example, fastening to the obi was katana style, but metalworking of the scabbard
5917-646: The criteria for selection were artistic elements, origins and legends. The list of "Meibutsu" includes 59 swords made by Masamune , 34 by Awataguchi Yoshimitsu and 22 by Go Yoshihiro, and these three swordsmiths were considered special. Daimyo hid some swords for fear that they would be confiscated by the Tokugawa Shogunate, so even some precious swords were not listed in the book. For example, Daihannya Nagamitsu and Yamatorige , which are now designated as National Treasures, were not listed. Homologation (motorsport) In motorsport , homologation
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#17327905106986014-413: The crystal particles formed at the boundary of hamon. Depending on the size of the particles, they can be divided into two types, a nie and a nioi , which makes them look like stars or mist. The pattern, nie and nioi of the hamon are generally difficult to see, and the viewer usually holds the sword in his hand, changing the angle of the light as it hits the blade. In addition to these three objects,
6111-403: The era thought the design would not appeal to the masses. Nevertheless, the Katana was a sales success, and it had a lasting impact on motorcycle design. Portions of the design ethos are still visible in many current sport bikes , including the faired-in seat and tank. Several variants of the 1982 (Z model year) Katana 1100SZ were produced by Suzuki to support racing. The GSX1000SZ (circa 1981)
6208-494: The forces of sonnō jōi (尊王攘夷派), who wanted to overthrow the Tokugawa Shogunate and rule by the Emperor, and the forces of sabaku (佐幕派), who wanted the Tokugawa Shogunate to continue. These political activists, called the shishi (志士), fought using a practical katana , called the kinnōtō (勤皇刀) or the bakumatsut ō (幕末刀). Their katana were often longer than 90 cm (35.43 in) in blade length, less curved, and had
6305-432: The image of the venerable Bavarian Boxer Twin. After several design variants, the ED1 and ED2 versions ("ED" for "European Design") were revealed to the public in 1980. They remained in production until 1985, when all the original model Katanas were discontinued. The new styling set a tone for many in-house designed Suzuki machines for some years to come. The original design was a 650 cc (40 cu in) model called
6402-465: The late 14th and early 15th centuries, katana blades tended to have lengths between 70 and 73 centimetres (28 and 29 in). During the early 16th century, the average length dropped about 10 centimetres (3.9 in), approaching closer to 60 centimetres (24 in). By the late 16th century, the average length had increased again by about 13 centimetres (5.1 in), returning to approximately 73 centimetres (29 in). Swords forged after 1596 in
6499-405: The late 18th century, swordsmith Suishinshi Masahide criticized that the present katana blades only emphasized decoration and had a problem with their toughness. He insisted that the bold and strong kotō blade from the Kamakura period to the Nanboku-chō period was the ideal Japanese sword, and started a movement to restore the production method and apply it to Katana . Katana made after this
6596-458: The limits of government requirements for sale to consumers, to minimize reduction in performance. Such accommodations are often reversible, so that production vehicles can be modified to racing trim. A common example of this process is the exhaust system, often modified in the production vehicle to meet legal requirements in the jurisdictions where the vehicle is sold. Since most production-based racing series allow some level of modification, including
6693-592: The market. These types of swords are typically mass-produced and made with a wide variety of steels and methods. According to the Parliamentary Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Japanese Swords, organized by Japanese Diet members, many katana distributed around the world as of the 21st century are fake Japanese swords made in China. The Sankei Shimbun analyzed that this
6790-663: The method of making Japanese swords presented a Japanese sword to the King of Korea and was rewarded for the excellent work which was no different from the swords made by the Japanese. Traditionally, yumi (bows) were the main weapon of war in Japan, and tachi and naginata were used only for close combat. The Ōnin War in the late 15th century in the Muromachi period expanded into a large-scale domestic war, in which employed farmers called ashigaru were mobilized in large numbers. They fought on foot using katana shorter than tachi . In
6887-565: The military, and the police. Skilled swordsmiths had trouble making a living during this period as Japan modernized its military, and many swordsmiths started making other items, such as farm equipment, tools, and cutlery. The craft of making swords was kept alive through the efforts of some individuals, notably Miyamoto Kanenori (宮本包則, 1830–1926) and Gassan Sadakazu (月山貞一, 1836–1918), who were appointed Imperial Household Artist . The businessman Mitsumura Toshimo (光村利藻, 1877－1955) tried to preserve their skills by ordering swords and sword mountings from
6984-479: The model to qualify for entry in a particular production-based racing series. One example of a production motorcycle that was designed and built primarily to meet homologation requirements is the 2008 Ducati 1098R , a limited-edition version of Ducati's 1098 S sportbike . Ducati even refers to the 1098R in the press as the Homologation Special . Wherever any compromise was made on the 1098S for
7081-415: The modern katanas being produced by western swordsmiths use modern steel alloys, such as L6 and A2 . These modern swords replicate the size and shape of the Japanese katana and are used by martial artists for iaidō and even for cutting practice ( tameshigiri ). Mass-produced swords including iaitō and shinken in the shape of katana are available from many countries, though China dominates
7178-580: The offset fuel cap, which allowed for a clean continuous seam weld on the tank. Upon the GSX1100S Katana's release in late 1980, Suzuki claimed it to be the fastest mass-production motorcycle in the world, ensuring that its new looks were matched by unprecedented performance levels. In comparative track testing Cycle Canada Magazine recorded a top speed of 237 km/h (147 mph) for the Suzuki 1100 Katana against 227 km/h (141 mph) for
7275-402: The prototype; changes included a small wind deflector screen, paired mufflers, and black accent paint on the front fender and airbox covers. Target's design philosophy—keeping components compact and close-fitting—was applied to all areas of the bike's design to reduce production costs, weight, and number of components required. Examples include the overlapping dials on the instrument cluster, and
7372-491: The public, to ensure that no vehicles in the competition have been designed and produced solely for racing. Since such vehicles are primarily intended for the race track, practical use on public roads is generally a secondary design consideration, so long as government regulations are met. Sales aids (for example the inclusion of luxury trim features such as leather surfaces, audio systems, and anti-theft systems), even where such accommodations are made, are generally barely within
7469-573: The purpose designed oil-cooled GSX-R series in 1985. The Katana name was reused, primarily in the North American and European market, to market the revised Suzuki GSX-F series from the end of the 1980s through to 2006. However, in most other markets around the globe, the GSX600F, GSX750F and GSX1100F are considered to be the direct replacement for the in-house styled GSX550E, GSX750E and GSX1100E sports tourers, and not as direct developments of
7566-500: The purpose of making it a more street-friendly and consumer-ready vehicle (for example, reliability, rideability, economy), the 1098R's design makes a far more limited compromise or no compromise at all. An example is the displacement—unlike the engine of the 1098S that has 1098 cc displacement, the 1098R's engine has a displacement of 1198 cc, allowing it to take advantage of the WSBK rulebook that allows up to 1200 cc for engines of
7663-493: The racing series for which the vehicle was designed. In such cases, the manufacturer often designates the car's status in the name, for instance the 1962–1964 Ferrari 250 GTO , "GTO" being the acronym for (in Italian) Gran Turismo Omologata, that is, a homologated grand touring sports car. This term is also used to describe various auto racing sanctioning bodies using the same set of rules for
7760-511: The rear of the seat, a unique front fender, and mounting hardware along with alternate mirrors and a lever activated ignition safety and stop switch. The Australian machines were fitted with standard SZ engines, which received improved carburetors and a new inlet manifold. The 1100s were raced with mixed success in Australia in 1981, but rule changes for the 1982 Australian Castrol 6 Hour saw teams scrambling to find 1000cc versions. In New Zealand,
7857-508: The relatively peaceful Edo period , katana increased in importance as a weapon, and at the end of the Edo period, shishi (political activists) fought many battles using katana as their main weapon. Katana and tachi were often used as gifts between daimyo (feudal lord) and samurai, or as offerings to the kami enshrined in Shinto shrines , and symbols of authority and spirituality of samurai. The production of swords in Japan
7954-401: The removal of exhaust systems that reduce emissions at the cost of engine performance, vehicles that were produced and sold primarily to meet the homologation guidelines of a particular series are often designed for easy modification of such components. Many manufacturers of vehicles used in production-based racing (whether the vehicles were produced solely to meet homologation guidelines or as
8051-435: The same exhaust camshaft as the standard GSX1100SZ (part 12700–45820). The 1000SZ also sported round-slide, oval bore Mikuni VM32SS carburetors and was often fitted with optional wire wheels, which were lighter and—with an 18" rear—allowed tire choices more suitable for the track. The GSX1100SXZ "Wire-Wheeler" was an even rarer and peculiarly southern-hemisphere factory-built variant of the standard Katana 1100SZ. Faced with
8148-411: The sides of the blade called the hamon , which is made distinct by polishing. Each hamon and each smith's style of hamon is distinct. Hamon does not refer to the white area on the side of the blade. The white part is the part that is whitened by a polishing process called hadori to make it easier to see the hamon , and the actual hamon is a fuzzy line within the white part. The actual line of
8245-746: The single-seat Honda CB1100R , which on paper looked likely to be the dominant machine in the upcoming local production racing series, the New Zealand Suzuki distributor at the time asked Suzuki for a new, upgraded machine to beat the Honda. Suzuki responded by building 20 units of the New Zealand E27-spec GSX1100SXZ. During this period, Suzuki sales were at an all-time high in New Zealand (with around 42% market share) due in large part to Suzuki's racing successes. In 1981, Kiwi Suzuki rider Graeme Crosby had finished fifth in
8342-570: The standard GSX1100E. The next fastest tested was the 82 Kawasaki GPz1100 at 225 km/h (140 mph) followed by the Laverda Mirage 1200 222 km/h (138 mph), Yamaha XJ650 Turbo 207 km/h (129 mph), Ducati 900SS 204 km/h (127 mph) and the Honda CX500 Turbo 203 km/h (126 mph) So radical was the design departure from previous mass-market cycles that most major motorcycle magazines of
8439-415: The steel. The age of the steel plays a role in the ability to remove impurities, with older steel having a higher oxygen concentration, being more easily stretched and rid of impurities during hammering, resulting in a stronger blade. The smith begins by folding and welding pieces of the steel several times to work out most of the differences in the steel. The resulting block of steel is then drawn out to form
8536-450: The sword and strike the enemy in a single motion. Previously, the curved tachi had been worn with the edge of the blade facing down and suspended from a belt. From the 15th century, low-quality swords were mass-produced under the influence of the large-scale war. These swords, along with spears, were lent to recruited farmers called ashigaru and swords were exported. Such mass-produced swords are called kazuuchimono , and swordsmiths of
8633-568: The sword was made from these artistic points of view. Generally, the blade and the sword mounting of Japanese swords are displayed separately in museums, and this tendency is remarkable in Japan. For example, the Nagoya Japanese Sword Museum "Nagoya Touken World", one of Japan's largest sword museums, posts separate videos of the blade and the sword mounting on its official website and YouTube. In Japan, Japanese swords are rated by authorities of each period, and some of
8730-429: The sword was well suited to combat where victory depended heavily on short response times. (The practice and martial art for drawing the sword quickly and responding to a sudden attack was called battōjutsu , which is still kept alive through the teaching of iaido .) The katana further facilitated this by being worn thrust through a belt-like sash ( obi ) with the sharpened edge facing up. Ideally, samurai could draw
8827-417: The sword. The second is a fine pattern on the surface of the blade, which is referred to as hada or jigane . By repeatedly folding and forging the blade, fine patterns such as fingerprints, tree rings and bark are formed on its surface. The third is hamon . Hamon is a fuzzy line in the white pattern of the cutting edge produced by quenching and tempering. The object of appreciation is the shape of hamon and
8924-519: The swordsmiths and craftsmen. He was especially enthusiastic about collecting sword mountings, and he collected about 3,000 precious sword mountings from the end of the Edo period to the Meiji period. About 1,200 items from a part of his collection are now in the Nezu Museum . Military action by Japan in China and Russia during the Meiji period helped revive interest in swords, but it was not until
9021-424: The wire-wheeled bike won the 1981 National Production Championship, as well as numerous club and national races. The Katanas were rendered obsolete for racing by the release of the 'race replica' Suzuki GSX-R750 . There were plans for a 1983-model year Katana 1100SXD to be produced, but it never went into production. One pre-production unit was produced for the then-New Zealand distributor Colemans Suzuki (the bike
9118-457: Was tachi style. In the Muromachi period, especially the Sengoku period, people such as farmers, townspeople, and monks could have a sword. However, in 1588 Toyotomi Hideyoshi banned farmers from owning weapons and conducted a sword hunt to forcibly remove swords from anyone identifying as a farmer. The length of the katana blade varied considerably during the course of its history. In
9215-462: Was Suzuki's requirement. On the side cover Muth added the Japanese character for the katana sword, interleaved with a red image of the same sword. “The sword first serves as a weapon, but a katana also has a mythological meaning in Japan,” Muth said when he presented the design to Osamu Suzuki. “If you don’t treat it right, its sharpness can be lethal. The same is true for a motorcycle.”" The production 16-valve Katanas of 1981 differed only slightly from
9312-487: Was a 998cc variant of the GSX1100SZ produced in sufficient numbers to homologate the bike as a production machine that was eligible for racing modification under the then-current international superbike racing rules (which included a 1000 cc displacement limit). The GSX1000SZ had frame serial numbers beginning with GS10X-500001~, and were fitted by the factory with a performance inlet camshaft (part 12711–49201) paired with
9409-556: Was considered to be the founder of shinto led the improvement of the artistry of Japanese swords in this period. They were both swordsmiths and metalsmiths, and were famous for carving the blade, making metal accouterments such as tsuba (handguard), remodeling from tachi to katana ( suriage ), and inscriptions inlaid with gold. During this period, the Tokugawa shogunate required samurai to wear katana and shorter swords in pairs. These short swords were wakizashi and tantō , and wakizashi were mainly selected. This set of two
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