Yeah, as it goes the idea of a Katana was designed to slice and slash through the specific armor and attire of it's origin era. But the Westerner's blades were more diverse and served more purposes. 

Hand-and-a-half Swords(the sword often referred two as a Longsword) was the battlefield mainstay for it's toughness, sharpness, and power. it could slice, chop, and pierce all in proper hands. Then you get shorter blades, thrusting blades, curved blades, and the commonly misinformed "Two-handers" such as Flamberges and Claymores, which were only meant to disrupt pike-lines. The large blades could cut through handles of the spears, or wedge a hole and allow the fighter into the face of a pikeman. But they were never meant for dueling or for general combat.

Sorry.. I don't mean to seem like a know it all.. I just really like some topics and like throwing my two cents into the mix.. Plus I hate the anime glorification of a lot of things.