The official corporate page lists Fast Base Inc.’s business activities as sports equipment sales, social media advertising services, and sports event planning and management. As of June 2026, the company reported two employees and three external contractors [3].

Origins

The origins of Katana are closely linked to Yosuke Sakurai, who spent part of his childhood in the United States and was exposed to American baseball culture from an early age. At 15, Sakurai launched a baseball media platform that eventually amassed over 83,000 followers, providing him with early experience in media, marketing, and online business [4].

In 2020, Sakurai entered Doshisha University. In 2022, he and Riki Yamazaki founded Katana Japan with the goal of creating a Japanese brand capable of competing internationally and demonstrating the value of Japanese manufacturing [5]. Rather than establishing a traditional wholesale distribution network, the company adopted a direct-to-consumer online model, enabling direct communication with players and customers worldwide [6].

Development of the glove

A key figure in Katana’s product development is Taisei Miyake, a Japanese glove craftsman. After an injury interrupted his playing career in softball and baseball, Miyake began repairing teammates’ gloves, which led him to professional craftsmanship. He reportedly produced gloves for approximately eight brands before beginning work with Katana in 2023 [7].

Miyake’s collaboration with Katana began when he approached Sakurai with a proposal to build a superior glove. His prototypes became the foundation for Katana’s production, and he subsequently became one of the central craftsmen behind the brand [8].

Yosuke Sakurai

Yosuke Sakurai is the co-founder and CEO of Katana. Born in 2001, he spent part of his childhood in the United States and developed an early interest in baseball and international marketing. His background in baseball media influenced Katana’s digital-first approach. Under Sakurai, the company aims to use baseball as a vehicle for introducing Japanese craftsmanship to an international audience [9].

Riki Yamazaki

Riki Yamazaki, born in Saitama in 1992, is the co-founder and COO. He played baseball at Seibō Gakuen High School and Aomori University before gaining experience in logistics, sales, marketing, and the sports industry. Katana credits this combination of baseball experience and business knowledge as integral to the company’s development.

Ben Meyer

Ben Meyer joined the organisation as an investor and strategic contributor. Born in Los Angeles and of Japanese heritage, he has played professional baseball internationally, including for Curaçao and St. Martin, and previously worked in baseball technology. He joined after encountering the brand’s Japanese-made gloves in 2023.

Taisei Miyake

Miyake represents the craftsmanship side of Katana’s identity. Responsible for glove development and production, he is described by the company as one of the young craftsmen supporting its product creation.

Katana USA

Katana has also developed a presence in the United States. Triston Busse, a former Division I college baseball player and coach, serves as CEO of Katana USA. He joined the organisation in 2023 and is responsible for expanding the brand’s presence and business relationships in the US.

Katana’s identity combines Japanese tradition with modern baseball performance. The brand draws inspiration from Bushidō, the traditional warrior code of the samurai. The name Katana refers to the Japanese sword, used symbolically to represent discipline, precision, craftsmanship, and pride, while the baseball glove represents the modern sporting application of these values.

The philosophy is summarised through three main ideas:

1. Japanese craftsmanship

The company presents glove making as a craft requiring extensive manual skill. Its production philosophy emphasises careful material selection, handwork, precision, and attention to detail.

2. Tradition meets innovation

Katana combines traditional Japanese manufacturing techniques with the requirements of contemporary baseball players, rather than positioning itself solely as a traditional manufacturer.

3. Japan to the World

A central aspect of Katana’s identity is its international ambition. The company seeks to make Japanese glove craftsmanship recognisable to players in markets such as the United States and Europe, describing its mission as creating a bridge between Japanese craftsmanship and athletes worldwide.

Katana highlights the significant amount of manual work involved in its products. The company states that a Katana glove undergoes more than 60 individual processes, from leather selection to stitching and finishing [10].

For higher-end products, Katana emphasises Japanese-made construction and specialist craftsmanship. The JP Series, described as the brand’s most exclusive line, uses S-Kip leather and is 100% handmade in Japan. Production is limited, currently advertised at only 12 gloves per month for the JP line [11]. This strategy prioritises scarcity, craftsmanship, and individualised production over volume.

While baseball gloves are the central product, Katana offers several tiers and configurations.

Native Series

The Native Series serves as an accessible entry point to Katana’s philosophy. It emphasises durability and long-term performance, using warm-climate, grain-fed steerhide designed to provide a dense and resilient fibre structure.

Osaka Made

Osaka Made occupies a distinct level within the lineup, intended to emphasise Japanese production and craftsmanship.

Japan Premium

The Japan Premium range sits at the top of Katana’s hierarchy, focusing on Japanese craftsmanship, premium leather, limited production, and specialist glove-making.

JP Series

The JP Series includes gloves designed for specific positions:

• Infield
• Outfield
• Pitcher

For example, JP Series infielder models have been offered in sizes of approximately 11.25–11.50 inches, while outfielder models have been offered around 12.25 inches [12]. The series is also marketed as a collector-oriented premium product, with some models including dedicated glove bags and premium presentation boxes.

Katana operates a custom glove programme allowing customers to configure gloves according to playing position:

• Pitcher
• Infielder
• Outfielder
• Catcher
• First baseman

Starting prices for custom gloves are listed at approximately ¥59,000, though final costs depend on configuration and model [13]. This model aligns with the brand’s philosophy of presenting gloves as personalised sporting equipment rather than mass-produced commodities.

Katana is positioned as a premium Japanese specialty brand rather than a traditional mass-market sports company. Its positioning can be summarised as:

Japanese craftsmanship + baseball performance + limited production + international DTC distribution

Characteristics associated with the brand include:

• Emphasis on leather quality
• Hand craftsmanship
• Japanese manufacturing
• Small-batch production
• Detailed finishing
• Customisation options
• Premium presentation
• Connection to Japanese cultural aesthetics

Its international marketing and English-language website indicate that Katana is deliberately designed to appeal to players outside Japan [14].

International expansion is a distinctive characteristic of Katana. The company adopted an international outlook from the outset, utilising a DTC model that allows overseas customers to purchase directly from the brand [15].

The website highlights professional and international players using Katana gloves, including Anderson Espinoza, Hisashi Iwakuma, Drew VerHagen, Ondřej Satoria, Mitch Neunborn, and Cooper Morgan [16]. The company states it has more than 5,000 glove users, including professional athletes worldwide [17].

Unlike conventional sporting goods companies reliant on distributors and retail channels, Katana operates using a direct-to-consumer model with zero wholesale [18]. This approach offers several advantages:

• Direct customer relationship: Enables direct communication with players and collectors.
• Global reach: Allows a Japanese manufacturer to reach international customers without a large retail network.
• Premium positioning: Limited production and direct presentation reinforce exclusivity.
• Brand storytelling: Facilitates direct explanation of craftsmanship, heritage, and manufacturing processes.

However, this model also means the company remains considerably smaller than major established baseball equipment manufacturers.

The name derives from the Japanese katana, the traditional single-edged sword associated with the samurai. Katana Japan uses the sword as a brand metaphor rather than suggesting a literal link to sword manufacturing. The connection is philosophical:

Katana sword → discipline → precision → craftsmanship → pride

These concepts are transferred to baseball glove making, with official branding explicitly linking Bushidō values to the care and precision used in construction [19]. The Japanese character 刀 is central to the brand’s visual identity.

Katana’s visual and cultural identity revolves around several recurring themes:

Japanese identity

The brand strongly emphasises Japan, Japanese manufacturing, Japanese craftsmen, and the concept of Made in Japan.

Samurai and Bushidō symbolism

The katana sword provides a recognisable cultural symbol associated with discipline, honour, precision, and craftsmanship.

Minimalism and premium aesthetics

Presentation tends towards a premium, collector-oriented aesthetic rather than that of a mass-market sporting brand.

Craftsmanship

The individual craftsman is central to Katana’s storytelling, with frequent emphasis on the people making the gloves rather than solely on technical specifications.

Katana is categorised as a premium niche baseball glove brand. Its competitive environment is the segment of baseball players and collectors interested in high-end Japanese gloves. Appeal is particularly strong among:

• Serious baseball players
• Professional and semi-professional players
• Collectors
• Enthusiasts of Japanese baseball equipment
• Players seeking Japanese-made gloves
• Customers interested in custom equipment
• Consumers attracted to small-batch craftsmanship

The premium JP Series has been listed at ¥77,000, illustrating the positioning of flagship products significantly above ordinary entry-level baseball gloves.

According to the company, Katana experienced rapid early growth. Sakurai states the brand reached six-figure revenue within its first year through organic growth and without advertising expenditure. The company subsequently expanded its international customer base and professional player presence [20].

As of 2026, Katana reports more than 5,000 users and a growing number of professional athletes using its gloves [21]. As a relatively young company, it is distinct from Japanese glove manufacturers with decades-long histories; its narrative focuses on building a new global brand around existing Japanese glove-making expertise.

The corporate entity behind Katana Japan is Fast Base Inc. (株式会社Fast Base). Published corporate information states:

• Established: December 8, 2023
• Representative directors: Yosuke Sakurai and Riki Yamazaki
• Location: Midori Ward, Saitama City, Saitama, Japan
• Capital: ¥1,000,000
• Business: Sporting goods sales, social media advertising, and sports event planning/management
• Employees: 2 employees plus 3 external contractors as of June 2026
• Registration: Saitama Legal Affairs Bureau [22]

A distinction exists between Katana Japan as the consumer-facing brand and Fast Base Inc. as the underlying corporate entity.

1. Katana Japan Sporting Goods ・Katana Baseball
2. CONCEPT
3. Company
4. Story
5. Story
6. JP series IF Limited V.1
7. JP series RHP Limited
8. Custom Glove
9. JP series OF Limited
10. Products
11. JP series IF Limited
12. JP series OF Limited
13. Story
14. 刀ジャパン・Katana Japan・刀グラブ
15. 订单状态
16. お問い合わせ/正規取扱店
17. Brand Kit – Katana Documentation
18. Overview – Katana Documentation
19. Governance – Katana Documentation
20. About
21. PT. Katana | Indonesia Company Registry
22. About us — Katana