Katana jako święty oręż. Związki religii z nihontō i ich zobrazowanie w kulturze popularnej .......... 75

THE KATANA AS A SACRED WEAPON: THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN RELIGION AND NIHONTŌ AND THEIR DEPICTION IN POPULAR CULTURE

The article examines the presence of religious elements associated with the Japanese bladed weapon nihontō and their manifestation in contemporary popular culture. The first part outlines the history of nihontō and its significance for Japan’s elites, followed by a discussion of the ritual and sacral aspects of the sword-forging process as well as sword-related myths found in the earliest Japanese chronicles. The second part focuses on the use of nihontō in contemporary popular culture, distinguishing four categories of inspiration drawn from traditional beliefs and established perceptions of this weapon: the sword’s appearance and exceptional quality; its association with a wellknown figure; the weapon as an embodiment of ideals; and the sword as a magical object.