This is a tachi by Fukuoka Ichimonji, certified as Tokubetsu Hozon Token. It dates to the mid-Kamakura period and features an ubu-nakago and ikubi-kissaki. The blade has a mokume hada, midare-utsuri, and a hamon with large chouji, kawazuko-chouji, and tobiyaki.
kinzogan-mei · Ichimonji · Kamakura · nagasa 70cm · sori 2.7cm


Bizen-den · Bizen
22 pieces on the market now
The Ichimonji school (Ichimonji-ha) represents one of the two paramount traditions of Bizen Province swordmaking during the Kamakura period, flourishing alongside the Osafune lineage from the early thirteenth century through the Nanbokuchō era. The school's name derives from the practice of carving the character ichi (一, "one") onto the nakago, though signatures varied considerably—some blades bear only this single ideograph, others append an individual maker's name beneath it, and still others carry personal names alone. Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Tsunetsugu恒次 | 1321-1324 | 11 |
| Chikatsugu親次 | 1306-1308 | 2 |
| Sukemasa資正 | 1469-1487 | 1 |
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 tachi by Fukuoka Ichimonji, certified as Tokubetsu Hozon Token. It dates to the mid-Kamakura period and features an ubu-nakago and ikubi-kissaki. The blade has a mokume hada, midare-utsuri, and a hamon with large chouji, kawazuko-chouji, and tobiyaki.
kinzogan-mei · Ichimonji · Kamakura · nagasa 70cm · sori 2.7cm


Bizen-den · Bizen
22 pieces on the market now
The Ichimonji school (Ichimonji-ha) represents one of the two paramount traditions of Bizen Province swordmaking during the Kamakura period, flourishing alongside the Osafune lineage from the early thirteenth century through the Nanbokuchō era. The school's name derives from the practice of carving the character ichi (一, "one") onto the nakago, though signatures varied considerably—some blades bear only this single ideograph, others append an individual maker's name beneath it, and still others carry personal names alone. Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Tsunetsugu恒次 | 1321-1324 | 11 |
| Chikatsugu親次 | 1306-1308 | 2 |
| Sukemasa資正 | 1469-1487 | 1 |
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).
