NihontoWatchThis is a masterpiece by the swordsmith Kurihara Akihide, a confident work refined from pure iron that bears the name of Dr. Kusaka Kazuji, who developed Kusaka Juntetsu. The workmanship is a piece reminiscent of the hamon of the Bizen Ichimonji school; when held to the light, the ko-itame is well-tightened with an intense, fluid gunome-midare, featuring deep nioi and thick ko-nie, resulting in a magnificent and gorgeous finish interspersed with sunagashi. Kurihara Hikosaburo Akihide was from Tochigi Prefecture and a former member of the House of Representatives who loved swords from an early age, having a particular hobby in forging and studying under the second generation Masa-o. He established the Nihonto Denshusho within the garden of his residence in Akasaka Hikawacho, inviting Kasama Shigetsugu and others to serve as teachers and opening the path for instructing disciples. His students include many such as the Living National Treasures Miyairi Akihira and Amada Akitsugu. In Showa 10, he held a Japanese sword exhibition at the Nihonto Denshusho and the Ministry of Education. While striving to hold this annually thereafter, he published "Nihonto" and "Nippon Shumi" as institutional journals. He is known as a man of merit in this field who promoted the prosperity of swordsmiths, polishers, and scabbard makers.
NihontoWatchAkihide昭秀
Offered by Kusanagi
This piece has sold
Get an email when a new Akihide piece hits the market.
As written by the shop
Machine translation from the shop's Japanese · may contain errors ·
Tochigi · around 1926-1989
Tōken Taikan top 95%
6 pieces on the market now
Shōwa to the present: destruction and revival
The twentieth century nearly killed the craft twice: wartime distortion, then the occupation ban. The NBTHK’s founding in 1948 and licensed forging from 1953 rebuilt the sword as an art, crowned by Living National Treasures and the mukansa rank.
Certifies a genuine blade worth preserving: a signature confirmed correct, or, if unsigned, an era, province, and school that the NBTHK can reliably identify.
The NBTHK (Nihon Bijutsu Tōken Hozon Kyōkai, the Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords) is a public-interest incorporated foundation founded in 1948 and supervised by Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs (Bunkachō); it is based at the Japanese Sword Museum in Tokyo. Its expert panels physically examine each submitted work (shinsa) and issue a certificate (kanteishō) ranking it by artistic and historical merit. NBTHK papers are the most widely recognized standard of authentication for Japanese swords and fittings.
NBTHK official sitePlease notify us of your intention to return, by email or fax, no later than the day after the item's arrival. Return shipping, insurance, and refund transfer fees are the customer's responsibility.