National Treasures & Important Cultural Properties
of National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, Japan

　A kodachi is a short tachi (a sword made to be worn with the cutting edge down), which is said to have been used by noblemen to wear in a carriage or to place by their bedside. However, its purpose is still unknown. Kunimune was a swordsmith in Bizen no Kuni and some claim that he was invited to Kamakura and made swords there. This kodachi has a jigane (ground metal) with a wood grain pattern, a soft utsuri (a white misty formation that runs parallel to the hamon in the ground metal) and a brilliant hamon (the blade pattern) comprising a combination of chojiba, kawazukochojiba and gunomeba patterns.