Category Archives: Book Review

Book Review

Book Review: Nihon katchū daizukan by Yoshihiko Sasama

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Book Review: Nihon katchū daizukan by Yoshihiko SasamaTitle: Nihon katchū daizukan
Author: Yoshihiko Sasama
Publisher: Kashiwa Shobō, 1988
ISBN: 4-7601-0390-2 C3620
Language: Japanese
Illustrations: Some color illustrations, many black and white illustrations
Other: 474 pages, 37 cm by 26.5 cm, hardcover
Topics: Kabuto, Katchū, Menpō, Sōmen
ID: B0205

This is the famous (and originally very expensive – 80,000 yen) encyclopedia of Yoshihiko Sasama, also called: An Illustrated Book on Japanese Armor. Almost no pictures but many illustrations from Sasama. Of course, many illustrations come back in other publications, but the big advantage here is, that the book is big, so much more detail can be seen in the illustrations. One of his latest works, so content wise probably the most up to date.

Book Review

Book Review: Gai Sō Shi – Study collection of Japanese Sword Fittings by Robert E. Hayes

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Book Review: Gai Sō Shi – Study collection of Japanese Sword Fittings by Robert E. HayesTitle: Gai Sō Shi - Study collection of Japanese Sword Fittings
Author: Robert E. Hayes
Publisher: Nihon Art Publishers, 2010
ISBN: 978-3-9805755-5-3
Language: English
Illustrations: Color and black and white pictures
Other: 179 pages, 28.5 cm by 22.5 cm, hardcover
Topics: Tōsōgu
ID: B0204

Robert E. Hayes is one of the top tsuba scholars, and in this book he uses 179 pieces of his collection to guide us through the world of tsuba. Very interesting to get the chance to get into his mind…

 

Book Review

Book Review: katchū men mononofu no kasō by Kazuo Iida

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Book Review: katchū men mononofu no kasō by Kazuo IidaTitle: katchū men mononofu no kasō
Author: Kazuo Iida
Publisher: Tōken shunjū, 2010
ISBN: 978-4-86366-081-6
Language: Japanese and some English
Illustrations: Color and black and white pictures
Other: 320+9 pages, 26 cm by 18.5 cm, softcover
Topics: Menpō, Sōmen
ID: B0203

This is as far as I know the only serious book on menpō . Several of the examples in the book have become famous and have ended up in big collections. This is a reprint in softcover from the hardcover version from 1991 (B0014). The pictures in the big hard cover edition are slightly better in my eyes.

Book Review

Book Review: Japanese Sword Guards Masterpieces from the Sasano Collection Part One by Masayuki Sasano

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Book Review: Japanese Sword Guards Masterpieces from the Sasano Collection Part One by Masayuki SasanoTitle: Japanese Sword Guards Masterpieces from the Sasano Collection Part One
Author: Masayuki Sasano
Publisher: Daisuke Saito Mega Co. Ltd., 1994
Language: English
Illustrations: Color (?) and black and white pictures
Other: 341 pages, 30 cm by 21.5 cm, hardcover
Topics: Tōsōgu
ID: B0202

Another important book from Mr. Sasano on tsuba. He passed away before he could finish a second part…

Book Review

Book Review: Early Japanese Sword Guards Sukashi Tsuba by Masayuki Sasano

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Book Review: Early Japanese Sword Guards Sukashi Tsuba by Masayuki SasanoTitle: Early Japanese Sword Guards Sukashi Tsuba
Author: Masayuki Sasano
Publisher: Robert G. Sawers Publishing, 1974
Language: English
Illustrations: Some color pictures, many black and white pictures
Other: 292 pages, 26.5 cm by 19 cm, hardcover　
Topics: Tōsōgu
ID: B0201

An important book from Mr. Sasano, who went against the stream in the tsuba world with his theories. This is a rework and English version of a book written in 1970, Tsuba no Bi.

Book Review

Book Review: Armures japonaises dans la collection Jean Saporta – Japanese armor from the Jean Saporta collection by Jean-Christophe Charbonnier

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Book Review: Armures japonaises dans la collection Jean Saporta – Japanese armor from the Jean Saporta collection by Jean-Christophe CharbonnierTitle: Armures japonaises dans la collection Jean Saporta - Japanese armor from the Jean Saporta collection
Author: Jean-Christophe Charbonnier
Publisher: ToriiLinks Editions, 2007
ISBN: 2-9520006-3-8
Language: French and English
Illustrations: Color Pictures
Other: 176 pages, 30.5 cm by 22 cm, hardcover
Topics: Abumi, Bagu, Bugu, Kabuto, Katchū, Kura, Menpō, Sōmen
ID: B0199

Beautiful book from Jean-Christophe Charbonnier about the magnificent collection of  Jean Saporta. The collection has since then been sold, but Mr. Saporta has been very active in gathering a new collection, so there is hope for another book!

Book Review

Book Review: Casques, masques et armures des seigneurs de l’ancien Japon by Jean-Christophe Charbonnier

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Book Review: Casques, masques et armures des seigneurs de l’ancien Japon by Jean-Christophe CharbonnierTitle: Casques, masques et armures des seigneurs de l'ancien Japon
Author: Jean-Christophe Charbonnier
Publisher: ToriiLinks Editions, 2003
ISBN: 2-9520006-0-3
Language: French and English
Illustrations: Color Pictures
Other: 207 pages, 30.5 cm by 22 cm, hardcover
Topics: Kabuto, Katchū, Menpō, Sōmen
ID: B0198

Beautiful book from Jean-Christophe Charbonnier with a wide selection of top quality kabuto, menpō, sōmen, katchū from private collections. Excellent explanation about the various schools, beautiful photography.

 

Book Review

Book Review: Armures du Japon II – 100 pièces sélectionnées dans la collection du Musée Stibbert de Florence by Robert Burawoy

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Book Review: Armures du Japon II – 100 pièces sélectionnées dans la collection du Musée Stibbert de Florence by Robert BurawoyTitle: Armures du Japon II : 100 pièces sélectionnées dans la collection du Musée Stibbert de Florence
Author: Robert Burawoy
Publisher: ToriiLinks Editions, 2006
ISBN: 2-9520006-2-X
Language: French and English
Illustrations: Color Pictures
Other: 144 pages, 30.5 cm by 22 cm, hardcover
Topics: Abumi, Bagu, Bugu, Katchū, Kura, Menpō, Sōmen
ID: B0197

Beautiful book from Robert Burawoy with 100 selected pieces from the Famous Stibbert Collection in Florence. Excellent photography, with explanation in French and English. This is the best book about the Stibbert Collection.

Book Review

Book Review: Katchū bugu no kenkyū (Studies on Arms and Armour – With a Focus on Modern Helmets) by Teruo Orikasa

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Book Review: Katchū bugu no kenkyū (Studies on Arms and Armour – With a Focus on Modern Helmets) by Teruo OrikasaTitle: Katchū bugu no kenkyū : kinsei no kabuto o chūshin toshite (Studies on Arms and Armour - With a Focus on Modern Helmets)
Author: Teruo Orikasa
Publisher: Teruo Orikasa, 2010
Language: Japanese (English translation available)
Illustrations: Black and white pictures
Other: 244 pages, 30.5 cm by 21.5 cm, hardcover
Topics: Abumi, Kabuto, Katchū, Menpō
ID: B0196

During his many years as a member of the Nihon Katchū Bugu Kenkyū Hozon Kai, Mr. Orikasa wrote several highly interesting articles about Japanese armour for the magazine of the society. What makes the articles of Mr. Orikasa so interesting is the fact that he starts from thorough research, and not from pure guess work.

In this book (limited to 200), Mr. Orikasa assembled his best articles with, where applicable, some extra comments. As it is probably the first time that these articles will be available for people who are not a member of the armour society, it is a very valuable document.

B0196 - Katchū bugu no kenkyū - kinsei no kabuto o chūshin toshite (Studies on Arms and Armour - With a Focus on Modern Helmets) - Teruo Orikasa - s2
After our successful collaboration with Mr. Orikasa for our book Helmets of the Saotome School, we heard the repeating remark from readers of our Saotome book that they now want more research based information available in English, so with the kind permission of Mr. Orikasa, we have translated this important work with the help of Markus Sesko.
The original book and translation are now sold out.