Backstrap Translation help

[Geoff Ward]

A friend of mine found this piece at a flea market outside Dallas I have never seen Kanji on the backstrap of a dress sword like this before can someone please help with a translation? Thanks,Geoff

[Walter Schmidt]

表彰
Award (awarded by)
新潟縣
Niigata prefecture

[Geoff Ward]

Thank you kindly Walter!