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Kantei keys
- Sugata
- Little different from that of the late Heian: a slender and very elegant tachi. In Ko-Ichimonji, narrow mihaba, deep koshizori, funbari and a small kissaki. AT
- Jihada
- In the “Sasamaru”, ō-itame with nagare and a midare-utsuri that reaches the shinogi-ji. AT
- Hamon
- Suguha with ko-midare, in the Ko-Bizen manner, and sometimes an old-style gunome-chōji; in Ko-Ichimonji, ko-midare with ko-chōji, in ko-nie. AT
- Bōshi
- Not described in the sources consulted PC
- Nakago and mei
- Two-character signature, 則宗 (Norimune), with a fine chisel, and never a chrysanthemum. The nakago is often of the 雉股形 (kijimata-gata) shape, like a pheasant’s leg. AT
How to read him
- The Japanese Wikipedia says that genuine signed work is extremely scarce: a few pieces among the gyobutsu, the National Treasures and the Important Cultural Properties.
- Suekane Toshihiko, of the Kyoto National Museum, points out in Ko-Ichimonji a weak spot of the edge near the habaki.
- So as not to confuse him with mature Fukuoka Ichimonji: the latter has funbari, high koshizori and ikubi-kissaki, a very dense itame with fine ji-nie, midare-utsuri and chōji in nioi.
Gallery
The nakago of the tachi of the Hie shrine, with the signature 則宗 (Norimune). Bunka Zaidan Kyōkai, “Kokuhō zuroku”, vol. 1, on Wikimedia Commons · Public domain · source 
The tachi mei Norimune of the Hie shrine, whole (period photo). Bunka Zaidan Kyōkai, “Kokuhō zuroku”, vol. 1, on Wikimedia Commons · Public domain · source
