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YOSHIOKA ICHIMONJI

Zaimei

Juyo Token

S0016

A short tachi signed "Ichi", certified as juyo token in the 49th juyo shinsa.  Hawatari, 2 shaku 4 bu (61.9 cm or 24.3372 inches).  The active jigane is a mixture of mokume and masame.  The hamon is gunome, choji midare with some togari.  There is a strong choji utsure.  There is hataraki.  The kissaki is extened and the boshi is midarekomi.

This sword is a different style from the other Yoshioka Ichimonji that I have listed. It is more subdued being a pure nioi deki and doesn't display the profuse nie patterns, the sugata is somewhat wider and the boshi is extended.  However, both blades are clearly Yoshioka Ichimonji.

The Yoshioka Ichimonji school ran from around Sho-o (1288 - 1293) to around Shohei (1346 - 1370). They were descendants of the Fukaoka Ichimonji, and were named for their location. It is believed that the founder of the school, Yoshioka Sukeyoshi, was the grandson of Fukaoka Ichimonji Sukemune.                                                                      

 

Yoshioka Ichimonj (note the utsure).

Beautiful jigane and choji-midare hamon with hataraki

             Zaimei "Ichi"                                              Sayagaki by Tabobe Michihiro