Japanese sword tang translation/ID help please!

[Emanuel]

A few years ago I had some really wonderful help here identifying my own sword, so I figured I would kindly ask for help again now for a friend of mine who bought a WW2 Type 98 officer's sword.

Here is a photo of the mei and nakago. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

 

[NihontoEd]

Murayama Kanehide

 

[Emanuel]

THANK you big time!!!

Last night I went through all the Kanji I could find and I figured out the first (Mura) and the last (Hide) and had a feeling about Yama but wasn't quite sure. The rest I could not find at all.

Again, thank you a lot!

 

[gng4life]

Murayama Kikuhide

 

[NihontoEd]

My first instinct was kanehide, but after seeing gng's post, and looking up this smith, I would have to agree with the Kikuhide call. My first time to hear of this smith.

Kikuhide (菊&#31168, Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – „Kikuhide“ (菊&#31168, civilian name „Murayama Kikuo“ (村山菊&#38596, born September 21st
1905, he worked as guntō smith and died April 8th 1952

 

[Emanuel]

Excellent info! Thank you to the both of you. MUCH appreciated.