The Sora Katana is the main weapon The Hero wields. It's made of shimmering brown metal harvested from a meteorite, although the exact process that created it is unknown. It is so powerful, many other clans seek to claim it.
At Jian's shop, you can improve the Sora Katana's power.
Appearing in Red Steel 2, the katana was the reason for most of the events in the game. It was stolen by Payne, the leader of the Jackals. When the Hero defeated Payne in a duel, he got the Sora Katana back. It was later revealed that Shinjiro was behind the massacre for the sword, going so far as to hiring other factions for it. At the end of Red Steel 2, The Hero defeats Okaji, and finally Shinjiro by fatally stabbing him on a rock, then breaking the katana in two to end the struggle of power for it. The Hero ultimately throws the handle over the cliff, leaving it's true fate unknown.
During gameplay, it allows you to use Kusagari Powers once reacquired. Damage upgrades purchased at Tamiko's hideouts will change its appearance.
- Level 1: Gives the blade a dark orange sheen, and adds a continuous shimmer effect. ('Give the blade a good pass with sharpening steel and oil, just to smooth out the notches.')
- Level 2: Gives the blade an orangish-yellow sheen. ('Adjust the weight of the hilt to better fit the blade’s balance to your stance.')
- Level 3: Gives the blade a yellowish-green sheen. ('Strop the length if of the blade with rottenstone, red iron, and nanoferrous polymers.')
- Level 4: Makes the blade glow cyan. ('Heat the blade, and then… actually, never mind, it’s too complex to explain.')
- Level 5: Makes the blade glow a fiery reddish-orange. ('Use a secret technique to improve edge rigidity. No, I won’t tell you what it is.')
There are also two preorder codes that can be entered in the Extras menu to change its appearance. These codes are the same for every copy of the game.
- Kuro no Ken: Enter the code 360378 to get Shinjiro's sword. It is a black katana with a dragon pattern etched into both sides of the blade near the hilt.
- Nihonto Hana: Enter the code 360152 to get this. It is a katana with a rose vine pattern on both sides of the blade near the hilt. It also has branch and flower decorations on the handle.