There is provided a needle thread tension controller that can control a magnitude of tension on a needle thread for each stitch, that can draw the needle thread with a slim chance of occurrence of a thread break, that easily, accurately detects occurrence of the thread break when the thread break has occurred, and that does not cause any excess or deficiency of a quantity of accumulated thread, which would otherwise be caused by drawing a needle thread. There are provided an upstream grip section 40 and a downstream grip section 60 for gripping a needle thread and a turning section 80 for turning the needle thread. In a torque control zone, rotating force is imparted to a turning arm in accordance with a torque value.