* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Naginata Signed "Ichi"
薙刀 銘一
Also known as: Mei "Ichi" — Naginata by the Ichimonji School, Important Cultural Property at the Mitsui Memorial Museum
Description
Overview
Naginata Signed "Ichi" is a naginata bearing only the single character "Ichi" as its signature, attributed to the Bizen Ichimonji school and now designated an Important Cultural Property in the collection of the Mitsui Memorial Museum. Naginata surviving from the mid-Kamakura period are exceedingly rare nationwide, making this blade a valuable benchmark work for understanding naginata production by the Ichimonji school and its era more broadly.
Dimensions and Workmanship
The blade measures 50.2 cm in length, with a curvature of 1.9 cm, a base width of 3.2 cm, and a tang length of 46.6 cm. It has a naginata-zukuri shape with a mitsu-mune ridge, a shallow saki-zori curvature toward the tip, and an archaic form in which the kissaki does not flare (fukura). The steel shows a tightly grained itame pattern with rising midare utsuri, while the hamon displays the chōji-midare mixed with gunome characteristic of the Ichimonji school's flamboyant style.
Designation
The blade was designated an Important Cultural Property on July 19, 1952.
Present Location
It is now held by the Mitsui Memorial Museum in Chūō, Tokyo.