(Kurihara) Akihide

AKIHIDE HIKOSABURÔ [SHÔWA 1926 TOKYO]

                He is from Tochigi-ken, is a former member of the House of Representatives, and has liked tôken since an early age.  He has a particular interest in tempering, and is learning from the nidai Masamori.  He has established the Nihon Tô Denshûsho (Training School) in the garden at his residence in Akasaka-ku Hikawa-chô, engaged Kasama Shigetsugu nado as teachers, and opened the road to learning to his pupils.  After he received the sponsorship of the Ministry of Education for the Nihontô Training School in 1935, he opened the Nihon Tô Denshûsho, and he has worked every year afterward to hold this while publishing the Nihon To and Nihon Shumi (hobby) as publications.  He is a man of distinguished service in this world who has worked for the prosperity of swordsmiths, sword polishers and koshirae makers.  Signatures:                SHIMOTSUKE JÛNIN KURIHARA HIKOSABURÔ AKIHIDE SAKU KORE

                                KUNSHITÔ AKIHIDE SAKU

                                KURIHARA AKIHIDE KIN SAKU KORE

This is a very interesting gendaito made by Akihide. This sword has a chogi hamon, that looks well done.  It is ubu and has never been polished or mounted.  Note that it has no mekugi ana.  It is dated Showa ni ju nen hachi gatsu kiti jitsu. (August 1945). If  you put two and two together you will understand why this beautiful Katana was never finished.  I am happy to know that the owner of this sword will leave it unpolished, and will care for it as is.  This is a sword that has the history of Japan and the United States tied within its past!