It actually could be, depending on blade geometry. Here's a list of Japanese blade profiles; Shobu-zukuri, Unokubi-zukuri, Nagamaki-zukuri, and Moroha-zukuri (not to be confused with Kissaki-moroha-zukuri) could all be forged to be doubled-edged swords without compromising the single-edged look (in fact, Moroha-zukuri is double-edged with a single-edged profile).