This is a katana by Yoshioka Ichimonji from the late Kamakura period. It features a wide mihaba, deep sori, and an extended chu-kissaki. The blade has a vivid midare-utsuri and a gorgeous chouji-midare hamon with kinsuji and sunagashi.
mei · Yoshioka Ichimonji · Kamakura · nagasa 70.8cm · sori 1.8cm


Bizen-den · Bizen
8 pieces on the market now
Working at Yoshioka in Bizen Province, this branch of the Ichimonji lineage arose toward the close of the Kamakura period (its dated works begin in the late thirteenth century) and carried the tradition forward into the Nanbokuchō era. It took shape as the successor to the Fukuoka Ichimonji once that earlier group had passed its apex, and the published sources rank it directly behind Fukuoka among the Ichimonji branches in both prosperity and quality. Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Sukemitsu助光 | 1299-1302 | 7 |
| Ichi一 | 1288-1293 | 3 |
| Sukeyoshi助吉 | 1303-1306 | 3 |
| Kageyasu景泰 | 1326-1329 | 0 |
| Tokisuke時助 | 1352-1356 | 0 |
A Hozon-certified blade judged to show notably superior workmanship and a better state of preservation. The bar is higher: re-tempered blades and most unsigned Muromachi/Edo works are excluded.
The NBTHK (Nihon Bijutsu Tōken Hozon Kyōkai, the Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords) is a public-interest incorporated foundation founded in 1948 and supervised by Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs (Bunkachō); it is based at the Japanese Sword Museum in Tokyo. Its expert panels physically examine each submitted work (shinsa) and issue a certificate (kanteishō) ranking it by artistic and historical merit. NBTHK papers are the most widely recognized standard of authentication for Japanese swords and fittings.
NBTHK official siteReturns/exchanges/cancellations not accepted after shipment except for significant defects; if defective, return/exchange possible within 3 days of arrival (return shipping paid by customer).

This is a katana by Yoshioka Ichimonji from the late Kamakura period. It features a wide mihaba, deep sori, and an extended chu-kissaki. The blade has a vivid midare-utsuri and a gorgeous chouji-midare hamon with kinsuji and sunagashi.
mei · Yoshioka Ichimonji · Kamakura · nagasa 70.8cm · sori 1.8cm


Bizen-den · Bizen
8 pieces on the market now
Working at Yoshioka in Bizen Province, this branch of the Ichimonji lineage arose toward the close of the Kamakura period (its dated works begin in the late thirteenth century) and carried the tradition forward into the Nanbokuchō era. It took shape as the successor to the Fukuoka Ichimonji once that earlier group had passed its apex, and the published sources rank it directly behind Fukuoka among the Ichimonji branches in both prosperity and quality. Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Sukemitsu助光 | 1299-1302 | 7 |
| Ichi一 | 1288-1293 | 3 |
| Sukeyoshi助吉 | 1303-1306 | 3 |
| Kageyasu景泰 | 1326-1329 | 0 |
| Tokisuke時助 | 1352-1356 | 0 |
A Hozon-certified blade judged to show notably superior workmanship and a better state of preservation. The bar is higher: re-tempered blades and most unsigned Muromachi/Edo works are excluded.
The NBTHK (Nihon Bijutsu Tōken Hozon Kyōkai, the Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords) is a public-interest incorporated foundation founded in 1948 and supervised by Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs (Bunkachō); it is based at the Japanese Sword Museum in Tokyo. Its expert panels physically examine each submitted work (shinsa) and issue a certificate (kanteishō) ranking it by artistic and historical merit. NBTHK papers are the most widely recognized standard of authentication for Japanese swords and fittings.
NBTHK official siteReturns/exchanges/cancellations not accepted after shipment except for significant defects; if defective, return/exchange possible within 3 days of arrival (return shipping paid by customer).
