Tachi Sword Known as "Nikko-Ichimonji"

Though anonymous， from such characteristics as the gorgeous choji-midare(choji-midare shapes of ripples on the blade，) it is considered to be a work of the Ichimonji school which produced many superb Japanese swords mainly during the Kamakura period. It had originally been dedicated to Nikko Gongen Shrine，but later，Soun Hojo，a commander in the Sengoku period，took it and was given from the feudal lord Hojo to Josui Kuroda as a compensation for the peace settlement between Hideyoshi Toyotomi and theHojo Clan. Well known since the old days， it is one of the top-ranking masterpieces among numerous Japanese swords.