Katana Man
Katana Man, officially designated as Samurai Sword by Public Safety, is a character in the manga series Chainsaw Man. He is a human-devil hybrid whose heart was replaced with that of the Katana Devil. As the spoiled grandson of the deceased yakuza boss who previously held Denji in severe debt, he serves as a prominent antagonist in the early story arcs. Seeking vengeance for his grandfather's death, he collaborates with Sawatari Akane to launch a brutal assault against Public Safety Division members, establishing himself as a formidable enemy who shares a deeply personal grudge against Denji.
Overview
Katana Man, officially designated as Samurai Sword by Public Safety, is a character in the manga series Chainsaw Man. He is a human-devil hybrid whose heart was replaced with that of the Katana Devil. As the spoiled grandson of the deceased yakuza boss who previously held Denji in severe debt, he serves as a prominent antagonist in the early story arcs. Seeking vengeance for his grandfather's death, he collaborates with Sawatari Akane to launch a brutal assault against Public Safety Division members, establishing himself as a formidable enemy who shares a deeply personal grudge against Denji.
Appearance
In his human form, he appears as a man in his thirties characterized by thick sideburns he has had since childhood. He wears a long black coat over a shirt and pants. To transform, he pulls his left wrist outward like a scabbard, causing blood to spill as blades burst from his body. Upon transforming, a military cap forms on his head, pierced through by a large Japanese katana that replaces the blade's guard. Additional long swords emerge from both forearms, and sharp teeth are revealed. Together with his coat, his transformed state resembles a pre-war military officer.
Personality
Raised in a spoiled environment by his grandfather, Katana Man possesses an arrogant, self-centered demeanor and frequently attempts to assert superiority over others. He deludes himself into believing he is a principled person with a human heart, rationalizing his grandfather's criminal actions as a necessary evil. In reality, he is a ruthless hypocrite who shows no qualms about sacrificing civilians or allies to achieve his ends. Despite his callousness and misplaced sense of moral superiority, he occasionally exhibits a surprisingly attentive and surprisingly protective side toward companions during later events.
Abilities
Before transforming, Katana Man is an adept marksman capable of rapidly shooting opponents with a handgun. As a devil hybrid, he possesses enhanced physical strength, regeneration, and immortality, allowing him to revive from death by pulling his left wrist. His transformed blades exhibit immense cutting power capable of slicing objects larger than their blade length. His signature move involves dropping into an iaijutsu stance with his right arm at his left side before executing a blindingly fast dash, severing enemies or targeted anatomical body parts in an instant, though its linear path can be anticipated.
Background
Following the death of his yakuza grandfather in the Zombie Devil incident, Katana Man mistakenly believed Denji had betrayed his benefactor. Seeking revenge, he partnered with Sawatari Akane to launch a coordinated assault against Public Safety Special Divisions 1-4. Although he temporarily killed Denji in their initial clash, a counterstroke from Makima forced his retreat. In their subsequent duel, Denji outmaneuvered him, leaving him severed and taken into Public Safety custody. He was subsequently brainwashed by Makima to serve in Public Safety Special Division 5. Upon regaining his autonomy in Part 2, he broke ties with Public Safety and briefly joined forces with Asa Mitaka and Denji's group.
Relationships
Katana Man harbors intense animosity toward Denji, blaming him for his grandfather's death, while Denji mockingly refers to him as "Sideburns Man." He deeply reveres his yakuza grandfather, blind to the man's criminal atrocities. Sawatari Akane served as his key ally, having performed the operation to fuse him with the Katana Devil and co-planning the assault on Public Safety. Following his defeat, he was controlled by Makima to fight within Special Division 5. In Part 2, he allies with Asa Mitaka after cutting ties with Public Safety. During his initial attack, he fought Public Safety devil hunters including Aki Hayakawa, Himeno, and Kobeni Higashiyama.
Trivia
While designated as Samurai Sword by Public Safety, his actual birth name is never disclosed in the series. Fans and characters often refer to him as the Yakuza's Grandson or by Denji's nickname, Momiage Man (Sideburns Man). This moniker gained official traction in commercial media; physical merchandise such as Bandai wafer stickers and crossover video games like Puzzle & Dragons label his human form as Momiage Man and his transformed state as Samurai Sword.
