Nikkō Ichimonji, National Treasure tachi sword at Fukuoka City Museum, Japan
The Nikkō Ichimonji is a historical sword housed at the Fukuoka City Museum, featuring a broad blade with fine patterns typical of 13th and 14th century craftsmanship. This approximately 87 centimeter long blade comes from a period when Japanese smiths perfected techniques for creating superior sword quality.
The sword was originally made by a renowned Fukuoka smith and later came into the possession of the Hojo clan. In 1590, it passed to the Kuroda family as a gift following the end of the Odawara Castle siege.
The blade shows the metalworking methods of the Fukuoka Ichimonji school, where craftsmen marked swords with a single horizontal line instead of traditional signatures. This mark became the school's hallmark, setting them apart from other sword makers of their era.
The sword is displayed in a special exhibition room at the museum where it is protected under optimal conditions for long-term preservation. Visitors should know that such delicate national treasures are not always on permanent display and may have varying viewing times depending on the exhibition.
The sword retains its original lacquered scabbard decorated with grape motifs, which also holds the designation of National Treasure in its own right. This scabbard is as valued as the blade itself and reveals the skill of craftspeople who made matching equipment of the highest quality.
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