Okuizumo/Tatara Sword Chief Engineer Mr. Kihara of Wins the Award Asian Culture Award Acknowledging the Development of Successors of a Traditional Art Chief Engineer Mr.Kihara (84) from Shimoyokota, Okuizumo,
Shimane Prefecture received the "Asian Culture Award" directly from our foundation’s representative director,
Yoshihisa Nakano, on the 29th.

Our foundation, which was established in August 2019 to help preserve Asian culture and art, has established a new award this year; the award recognizes people who support traditional culture and art behind the scenes. Mr./Ms. Kihara is one of three individuals chosen to receive the “Asian Culture Award”. As chief engineer he was chosen for his great efforts in passing along the tradition of “tatara” to his apprentices. “Tatara” refers to both the traditional art of creating the Japanese sword and the traditional furnace used in smelting iron and steel.

On the 20th, at an award ceremony at Okuizumo Tatara and Sword Museum (Yokota, Okuizumo), Mr. Kihara received a certificate of commendation from our Representative Director, Nakano (75). “This is a great honor,” said Mr./Ms. Kihara.
“I would like to hand down tatara to future generations.” (Ryouta Seiyama)

Mr. Kihara receiving the award from our Representative Director, Yoshihisa Nakano at the Okuizumo Tatara and Sword Museum located in Yokota, Okuizumo, Shimane Prefecture