With one thing we all agree: Rokugan can be REALLY different. As you fellows aready started t have fun with.
I have played a very nice campaign, and 3ed rules weren't exactly adequate, but we entered the Rokugan Worlds nevertless.
Admitely my players and I are getting old. Really old. And some of us are lady to learn new systens - hence my idea of using 4ed.
Draco, I not only see your point, as my old DM had the same issues reggarting letality.
My thing about the "one" Katana attack is: the very concept of attack nowadays is completely different: 20 years ago the DMs described the attacks as very bloody, even if you only lost 5Hp (of, say, 40hp max). My personal idea of attack now is WAY more abstract: for example it could be just a faint, that got my opponent off balance, and he "lost 5 hp". And if he become bloodied by those 5 hp? He just spread his ankle, nothing serious, but has its effects on the fight.
The very same thing applies to flashy spells, and dragon breaths, in my abstract concept: if the dragon tossed his fiery breath at you, and it took like 20% of your HP, the description would not be the same as we used do 20 years ago: you duck for cover in the last second, matrix style if you wish; or maybe you erected a force shield if you were a wizard.. and so on.
Following this logic I am under the impression that the "deadly" aspect of the original game, in terms of flavor, would be kept.
Actually the general description of the ashigaru been cut down in battles, by the dozens, by the samurai fits the minion concepts very well.
Of course, I could be wrong. I really enjoy these insights, as usually I take a loooong time to decide anything regarding RPG.