Iwato Ichimonji Katana
岩戸一文字 　刀
Item TK017

• Period：Koto

• Designation: JUYO TOKEN (Den Iwato Ichimonji)

• Mei (Signature): Mumei

• Nakago - O-Suriage Mumei, 2 Mekugi-Ana

• Nagasa - 70.6cm

• Sori - 1.2cm

• Motohaba - 2.95cm

• Sakihaba - 1.85cm

• Motokasane - 0.62cm

• Kissaki - 2.6cm

• Nakago length - 21.5cm

Iwato Ichimonji - Branch of the Famous Ichimonji School

Among Bizen works of the Kamakura period, the two major schools were Ichimonji and Osafune. The Ichimonji school flourished in regions such as Fukuoka, Yoshioka, and Iwato from the Kamakura into the Nanbokuchō period, producing many skilled smiths.

A small branch of the Ichimonji school that settled in Iwato-no-shō, Bizen Province, after the late Kamakura period is known as the Iwato Ichimonji. According to the swordsmith Yoshii (吉氏), the founder of this line was Yoshiie (吉家).

This blade features a well-forged itame-hada, with fine and dense ji-nie, chikei, and a faint utsuri. The hamon shows a shallow notare mixed with small chōji, small gunome, and pointed elements, with frequent ko-ashi, strong ko-nie, and an overall refined execution.

Compared to Fukuoka Ichimonji works, this blade exhibits a more compact hamon pattern, making it identifiable as Iwato Ichimonji within the broader Ichimonji tradition. With its varied hamon activity, beautiful hataraki (temper features), and especially the excellence of the forging, this is a blade of exceptional quality.