Category Archives: Book Review

Book Review: The Art of the Japanese Sword As Taught By the Experts by Kunihara Kawachi, Masao Manabe, Stephen Comee (translation)

Book Review: The Art of the Japanese Sword As Taught By the Experts by Kunihara Kawachi, Masao Manabe, Stephen Comee (translation)Title: The art of the Japanese sword as taught by the experts
Author: Kunihara Kawachi, Masao Manabe
Publisher: Ribun Publishing, 2004
ISBN: 4-89806-226-1 C0072
Language: English
Illustrations: Color and black and white pictures
Other: 156 pages, 21 cm by 15 cm, softcover
Topics: Nihontō
ID: B0228

Small but nice introduction to Japanese Swords.

 

Book Review: Gendai omamorigatana yūhinshū by Zennihon Tōshōkai

Book Review: Gendai omamorigatana yūhinshū by Zennihon TōshōkaiTitle: Gendai omamorigatana yūhinshū
Author: Zennihon Tōshōkai
Publisher: Terebi Setōchi Kurieito, 2005
ISBN: 4-9902316-1-9 C0070
Language: Japanese
Illustrations: Color Pictures
Other: 80 pages, 21 cm by 30 cm, softcover
Topics: Nihontō, Tōsōgu
ID: B0227

A nice catalog about newly made tantō and their koshirae. These are used for special memorial gifts. Includes the name, and contact info of the smiths who made them.

 

Book Review: Masamune – nihontō no tensai to sono keifu tokubetsuten by Sano Bijutsukan, Toyama-ken Suiboku Bijutsukan, Tokugawa Bijutsukan and Nezu Bijutsukan

Book Review: Masamune – nihontō no tensai to sono keifu tokubetsuten by Sano Bijutsukan, Toyama-ken Suiboku Bijutsukan, Tokugawa Bijutsukan and Nezu BijutsukanTitle: Masamune : nihontō no tensai to sono keifu tokubetsuten
Author: Nezu Bijutsukan, Sano Bijutsukan, Tokugawa Bijutsukan, Toyama-ken Suiboku Bijutsukan
Publisher: Sano Bijutsukan, 2002
ISBN: 4-915857-54-9
Language: Japanese and some English
Illustrations: Color Pictures
Other: 175 pages, 29.5 cm by 22.5 cm, softcover
Topics: Nihontō, Tōsōgu
ID: B0226

Fabulous catalog on Masamune, the famous sword smith.

Book Review: Swords of the Samurai by Victor Harris and Nobuo Ogasawara

Book Review: Swords of the Samurai by Victor Harris and Nobuo OgasawaraTitle: Swords of the Samurai
Author: Nobuo Ogasawara, Victor Harris
Publisher: British Museum Publications, 1990
ISBN: 0-7141-1450-2
Language: English
Illustrations: Black and white and some color pictures
Other: 175 pages, 28 cm by 21.5 cm, softcover
Topics: Abumi, Documents, Kabuto, Katchū, Kura, Menpō, Nihontō, Paintings, Tōsōgu
ID: B0225

Very nice catalog that was published in 1990 at the occasion the the exhibition Swords of the Samurai then new Japanese Gallery at the British Museum. The catalog does not only contain a nice selection of swords, but also several famous armours, tsuba, koshirae etc.

Book Review: Nihontō no koshirae (Nihon no bijutsu No. 332) by Nobuo Ogasawara

Book Review: Nihontō no koshirae (Nihon no bijutsu No. 332) by Nobuo OgasawaraTitle: Nihontō no koshirae (Nihon no bijutsu No. 332)
Author: Nobuo Ogasawara
Publisher: Shibundo Publishing, 1994
Language: Japanese
Illustrations: Color and black and white pictures
Other: 98 pages, 23 cm by 18.5 cm, softcover
Topics: Nihontō, Tōsōgu
ID: B0224

Nihon no bijutsu was a fabulous series on Japanese art, with 545 issues published between 1966 and 2011. A few issues were devoted to Japanese arms and Armour. This issue, written by Nobuo Ogasawara, focusses on the history of koshirae. Lavisly illustrated with color and black and white pictures.

Book Review: Nihontō – yūkyū no bi o mitsumete by Zennihon Tōshōkai

Book Review: Nihontō – yūkyū no bi o mitsumete by Zennihon TōshōkaiTitle: Nihontō - yūkyū no bi o mitsumete
Author: Zennihon Tōshōkai
Publisher: Zennihon Tōshōkai, 2012
ISBN: 978-4-9905267-5-7
Language: Japanese
Illustrations: Color and black and white pictures
Other: 63 pages, 29.5 cm by 21 cm, softcover
Topics: Nihontō, Tōsōgu
ID: B0222

Nice catalog on newly made swords, tsuba etc. at the occasion of the third exhibition around the theme in 2012. One tsuba of the fabulous Ford Hallam is included in the catalog.

Book Review: Shashin de oboeru nihontō no kiso chishiki II = Introduction to Japanese swords through pictures 2 by Zennihon Tōshōkai

Book Review: Shashin de oboeru nihontō no kiso chishiki II = Introduction to Japanese swords through pictures 2 by Zennihon TōshōkaiTitle: Shashin de oboeru nihontō no kiso chishiki II = Introduction to Japanese swords through pictures 2
Author: Zennihon Tōshōkai
Publisher: Zennihon Tōshōkai Jigyobu, 2010
ISBN: 978-4-9905267-0-2
Language: Japanese and English
Illustrations: Color Pictures
Other: 48 pages, 29.5 cm by 21 cm, softcover
Topics: Nihontō
ID: B0221

The simple but nice bi-lingual follow up introduction level booklet on Japanese swords. In this second volume, the main focus is on the manufacturing of the sword.

Book Review: Shashin de oboeru nihontō no kiso chishiki = Introduction to Japanese swords through pictures by Zennihon Tōshōkai

Book Review: Shashin de oboeru nihontō no kiso chishiki = Introduction to Japanese swords through pictures by Zennihon TōshōkaiTitle: Shashin de oboeru nihontō no kiso chishiki = Introduction to Japanese swords through pictures
Author: Zennihon Tōshōkai
Publisher: Terebi Setōchi Kurieito, 2009
ISBN: 978-4-9902316-2-0
Language: Japanese and English
Illustrations: Color pictures
Other: 48 pages, 29.5 cm by 21 cm, softcover
Topics: Nihontō
ID: B0220

A simple but nice bi-lingual introduction on how you handle Japanese swords, some terminology etc.

Book Review: Meitō 100sen – Owari tokugawake denrai by Tokugawa Bijutsukan

Book Review: Meitō 100sen – Owari tokugawake denrai by Tokugawa BijutsukanTitle: Meitō 100sen : Owari tokugawake denrai
Author: Tokugawa Bijutsukan
Publisher: Tokugawa Bijutsukan, 1971
Language: Japanese
Illustrations: Black and white pictures, Color illustrations
Other: 29.5 cm by 21 cm, softcover
Topics: Bagu, Documents, Kabuto, Katchū, Menpō, Nihontō, Paintings, Teppō
ID: B0219

Catalog with mainly Tokugawa related swords, but also a few armour, tōsōgu and many documents.