Count Katsu Kaishu(1823-1899) was a Japanese naval officer and statesman during the Late Tokugawa shogunate and the Meiji period, and is particularly known for his role in the surrender of Edo.

In 1860, Katsu was assigned to command the Kanrin-Maru, and (with assistance from US naval officer Lt. John M. Brooke), to escort the first Japanese delegation to San Francisco, California en route to Washington, DC for the formal ratification of the Harris Treaty. The Kanrin-Maru, built by the Dutch, was Japan's first steam-powered warship, and its voyage across the Pacific Ocean was meant to signal that Japan had mastered modern sailing and shipbuilding technology. Kaishu remained in San Francisco for nearly two months, observing American society, culture and technology. Following returning to Japan, Katsu held a series of high ranking posts in the Tokugawa navy, arguing before government councils in favor of a unified Japanese naval force disregarding traditional hereditary domains and professionally trained officers. During his command as director of the Kobe Naval School, the institute would become a major source of activity for progressive thinking and reformists between 1863 and 1864.

In 1866, Katsu was appointed negotiator between the Edo Shogunate forces and the anti-Shogunal domain of Choshu, and later served as chief negotiator for the Tokugawa Shogunate, ensuring a relatively peaceful and orderly transition of power in the Meiji Restoration.

Although sympathetic to the anti-Tokugawa cause, Katsu remained loyal to the Tokugawa Shogunate during the Boshin War. After the collapse of the Tokugawa forces in late 1867, Katsu negotiated the surrender of Edo castle to Saigo Takamori and the Satcho Alliance in 1868. Katsu followed the last Shogun, Tokugawa Yoshinobu, into exile in Shizuoka.

Katsu returned briefly to government service as Vice Minister of the Imperial Japanese Navy in 1872, followed by first Minister of the Navy from 1873 until 1878. He was the most prominent of the former Tokugawa retainers who found employment with in the new Meiji government. Although his influence within the navy was minimal, as the Navy was largely dominated by a core of Satsuma officers, Katsu served in a senior advisory capacity on national policy. During the next two decades, Katsu served on the Privy Council and wrote extensively on naval issues before his death in 1899.

Texts cited from Wikipedia

Recommended Tsuka and Blade Lengths for General IAIDO Practice
Height (cm)		150	155	160	165	170	175	180	185	190	195	195 +
Recom. Blade length (Shaku)		2.2	2.25	2.3	2.35	2.4	2.45	2.5	2.55	2.6	2.65	2.7	2.75	2.8
Recom. Blade length (cm)		66.6	68.2	69.6	71.2	72.7	74.2	75.7	77.3	78.8	80.3	81.8	83.3	84.9
Recom. Tsuka length (Sun)		7.5	7.5	8	8.5	8.5	8.5	9	9	9	9.5	9.5	9.5	10
Recom. Tsuka length (cm)		22.7	22.7	24.2	25.8	25.8	25.8	27.3	27.3	27.3	28.8	28.8	28.8	30.3
* Please note that this is a recommended chart only. Please ask your Sensei for further advice. In general, female practitioners are recommended to choose a blade length 0.05 Shaku shorter than men. *Please note that the length of a Iaito mounted with a Leather Tsuka wrapping may vary from 2 to 3 bu.

Certains historiens considèrent que le Japon d'aujourd'hui n'existerait pas sans les actes de Katsu Kaishu de par son rôle important de négotiateur entre les forces du Shogunat en déclin et les domaines anti-shogunat durant la période Edo. Ce sabre lui rend hommage et des vagues sont utilisés sur la Tsuba pour le décorer ; ces vagues rappellent fortement Kanrin-Maru, un navire de guerre dont Katsu Kaishu était commandant.

> Le Hamon est de style Tadayoshi (Le forgeron légendaire de la préfecture de Hizen durant la période Edo). De son vivant, Katsu Kaishu adorait les sabres de ce forgeron.
> Fuchi/Kashira en laiton avec finition de style argent antique.
> Des Dragons ornent les Menuki  aux finitions de finition de style argent antique.
> La Tsukasame est blanche et les corde de la Tsuka sont de cuir noir .
> La Saya est de style Hansendan Tamecha (Saya avec bandes creuses - de couleur marron foncé brillant et finition noire mate).
> La Sageo est en soie blanche.
> La taille de la lame est disponible jusqu’à 2,45 Shaku.
> Le poids sans la Saya est de 820 grammes (pour 2,45 Shaku).

Ce sabre possède une superbe balance grâce à un alliage renforcé de zinc et d’alluminium.

Chaque élément de ce sabre est soigneusement assemblé à la main par les experts-forgerons aussi en charge de la fabrication de Shinken (vraies lames japonaises).

Fait au Japon !

- La production de ce Iaito prend de 8 à 10 semaines -

- Longueurs de lame et de Tsuka recommendées pour la pratique générale du IAIDO -
Hauteur (cm)		150	155	160	165	170	175	180	185	190	195	195 +
Longueur de lame recom. (Shaku)		2.2	2.25	2.3	2.35	2.4	2.45	2.5	2.55	2.6	2.65	2.7	2.75	2.8
Longueur de lame recom.  (cm)		66.6	68.2	69.6	71.2	72.7	74.2	75.7	77.3	78.8	80.3	81.8	83.3	84.9
Longueur de Tsuka recom. (Sun)		7.5	7.5	8	8.5	8.5	8.5	9	9	9	9.5	9.5	9.5	10
Longueur de Tsuka recom.  (cm)		22.7	22.7	24.2	25.8	25.8	25.8	27.3	27.3	27.3	28.8	28.8	28.8	30.3
* Veuillez noter que ceci est seulement une charte de recommendation. Veuillez demander à votre enseignant/Sensei pour des conseils plus avancés. De manière générale, nous recommandons aux pratiquantes féminines de choisir une lame plus petite de 0.05 Shaku en comparaison des valeurs indiquées ci-dessus.