#ichimonji

Bleach

Ah, I was wondering why the new Ichimonji had the name backwards, with the “Ichimonji” in front (Ichimonji Norimune 一文字則宗), but it’s actually not a singular sword. He represents all the swords that the smith Norimune ever produced. Apparently all the Norimune swords that has been identified so far do not have any names, that’s why we can only have a catch-all representative like this. 

Incidentally, apparently “Ichimonji Norimune” is another name for the Kiku-Ichimonji. I had been wondering too just what makes Kiku-Ichimonji different from the regular Ichimonji. Turns out it was just because Norimune was given permit to use the imperial chrysanthemum symbol by emperor Go-Toba. Although in reality it doesn’t seem like the name “Kiku-Ichimonji” was ever formally used as a label/identifier, it’s just a colloquial term that people use. That’s why the Touken Ranbu staff calls this new character with Norimune and not Kiku-ichimonji. as a matter of fact, nobody seemed to have ever found a genuine Norimune sword that has the chrysanthemum symbol at all. There’s copycats/fakes from later years, but never a real Norimune “kiku-ichimonji”. 

Norimune was the founder of the Ichimonji school, so some people consider him of a “separate” style, and refer to him as part of the Ko-Ichimonji style (”old” Ichimonji). In game he was the former oyabun/capo of the Ichimonji mafia family before Daddy Birb Sanchoumou LOLOL. I was confused why he had a hakama instead of the modern-looking trousers the other Ichimonji boys had. Turns out it’s because he was Grandpa.