The Red Demon

Across the tapestry of time, folklore has served as society's mainstay of expressing both imagination and fears. Despite the myriad of traditions across our planet, the tale that seems universal is that of heroes battling bloodthirsty creatures. Among these, the land of the rising sun stands out for its evocative array of legendary figures and mythical monsters.

Delving deeper into the island nation’s narratives reveals a truly staggering amount of rich and occasionally, overlapping tales that could be interpreted in a myriad of ways. Like a delicate dance of opposing ideas, we set out to craft a legendary saber that would evoke both a sense of courage and fear. We wanted it to embody this paradox and for that, the Mirah was chosen for its sleek, warrior-like efficiency.

The design journey began with a full-faced samurai mask on the emitter; its visage reminiscent of the monstrous Namahage, sometimes depicted as frightening foreign invaders but elsewhere believed to bring good fortune. From there, we created a unique variant of the seigaiha wave pattern and applied it to the switch section and Covertec wheel band of the hilt. This serves as a subtle homage to Agatamori’s victory over the water dragons where he turned the river crimson with their blood.

The intricate details of this saber were then completed with a matching fearsome mask on the opposite side of the Covertec wheel before the entire hilt was subjected to the acid etching process. For the main grip section, we wrapped it in a rich genuine Nappa leather strap that has been dyed to a regal maroon hue. Finally, the entire hilt was meticulously powder coated in red to conjure a foreboding appearance.

From the Namahage's paradoxical nature to the river of vanquished dragons, these stories embody a balance of bravery and terror. It is there that a menacing mask brings fear and fortune in equal measure, and crimson denotes both bloodshed and triumph. That is why we have called this mighty blade the "Akaoni" or "赤鬼", otherwise known as the Red Demon. It will be built in BOTH Neo CFX and Neo Proffie configuration in very limited quantities, and will be available for purchase on October 14th at 9am EDT.