Japanese Katana Omiya Jugen Teruhide NBTHK Hozon

Japanese Katana Omiya Jugen Teruhide NBTHK Hozon

Nichiten Forge  Kurihara Akihide School
NBTHK Hozon (Preserved Sword)

This refined Shōwa-period katana was forged by Ihara Teruhide, also known as Omiya Jugen Teruhide, an accomplished swordsmith active in Ōmiya, Saitama Prefecture. He belonged to the Nichiten Forge tradition and was a direct disciple of Kurihara Akihide, one of the most influential instructors of modern Japanese swordsmiths.
The blade exemplifies the disciplined and functional elegance of the Kurihara school, with strong proportions, a confident sugata, and excellent overall balance. The NBTHK Hozon certification confirms the sword as an authentic Japanese sword of recognized historical and artistic value.
The Koshirae and mounting are typical Dragon style

Swordsmith background

Teruhide’s real name was Ihara Fukutarō (born 1914). He studied under Kurihara Akihide and later entered the Japanese sword-forging training system, where he developed a solid foundation in orthodox techniques combined with modern discipline. During the wartime period he worked as an army-commissioned swordsmith, and in the post-war era he was instrumental in preserving the craft, founding the Saitama Prefecture Sword Forging Association.
Within the broader Nichiten Forge circle, his work is often mentioned alongside contemporaries such as Suzuki Katsuyoshi (Zōyuki), reflecting a generation dedicated to safeguarding traditional swordmaking during a difficult transitional period.

Specifications

Blade length (nagasa): 73.8 cm (2 shaku 4 sun 3.5 bu)
Sori (curvature): 2.0 cm
Width at hamachi: 3.4 cm
Kasane: 8 mm
Width at kissaki: 2.4 cm
Saki-kasane: 6 mm
Mekugi-ana: 1
Period: Shōwa era, dated 1979
Province: Saitama Prefecture

Collector’s note

This katana will appeal strongly to collectors who value a clear lineage to the Kurihara Akihide school, official NBTHK Hozon authentication, late Shōwa workmanship with classical proportions, and historical relevance within the Nichiten Forge and Saitama swordsmithing traditions. It is a well-balanced, honest katana of modern Japanese swordmaking that bridges tradition and continuity into the contemporary era.