Nice book that was published during the process of creating the exhibition “Samurai – A Thousand Years of Cults in Culture” in Malmö in 2004. Although the book is more focussed on the Samurai culture as a whole, it is interesting from an armour perspective as some armours from the Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography, Kunstkamera (St. Petersburg) are in here.
This is a classic. Since then off course more elaborated works have been published, but you just must admire the pioneering work of these early researchers like H.R. Robinson.
Very nice book that was published at the occasion of an exhibition in 2012 in the Frazier History Museum. Several very nice kabuto and armours (and many other samurai related items). Nice photography.
Another number of the Bulletin Association Franco-Japonaise. This one contains mainly several interesting non-armour related articles. Only one beautiful kabuto by Yoshimichi Katsuyoshi (student of the famous Yoshimichi) is decribed by Robert Burawoy. In my copy, a small booklet (in English) was included with an Armour Glossary, also from Mr. Burawoy and an English translation of the magazine.
Title: Bulletin Association Franco-Japonaise No 47 Janvier 1995 Author: Robert Burawoy Publisher: Association Franco-Japonaise, 1995 Language: French Illustrations: Color pictures and black and white pictures Other: 45 pages, 24 cm by 18 cm, softcover Topics:Kabuto, Katchū, Menpō, Sōmen ID: B0148
This number from the Bulletin Association Franco-Japonaise magazine contains a few gems, all written by Robert Burawoy. The first one is the only extended article I know of about modern armour makers Fukutake and Ryūtarō Ichirō, famous mainly for their sōmen that are now collectors items. The second gem is an article about the Kaga armours, based on research of Teruo Orikasa. The third one is an about a helmet by Nagasone Masanori, and the last article by Mr. Burawoy is about three armours designed by Noguchi Zesai.
Title: Nihon katchūshi Vol 2. Sengoku jidai kara edo jidai Author: Ritta Nakanishi Publisher: Dai Nihon Kaiga, 2009 ISBN: 978-4-499-22956-2 C0031 Language: Japanese and English Illustrations: Color and black and white drawings Other: 96 pages, 25.5 by 26 cm, softcover Topics:Kabuto, Katchū, Menpō, Teppō ID: B0147
This two volume book series, completely drawn, is actually quite interesting and well done. It is bi-lingual and shows nicely the evolution of armour over time. This second volume focusses on the armours used from Sengoku jidai till Edo.
Title: Nihon katchūshi Vol 1. Yayoi jidai kara muromachi jidai Author: Ritta Nakanishi Publisher: Dai Nihon Kaiga, 2008 ISBN: 978-4-499-22954-8 C0031 Language: Japanese and English Illustrations: Color and black and white drawings Other: 96 pages, 25.5 by 26 cm, softcover Topics:Bagu, Bugu, Kabuto, Katchū, Kura ID: B0146
This two volume book series, completely drawn, is actually quite interesting and well done. It is bi-lingual and shows nicely the evolution of armour over time. This first volume focusses on the early armours till Muromachi.
Bushido, the magazine that Robert Benson and Elton K. Ericson started to publish in 1979, lasted only 9 numbers but what an achievement it was. Each magazine contains interesting articles on armour, nihonto, tōsōgu and budō. I have only but admiration for what they accomplished in an age where it was quite hard (and expensive) to publish a partially color magazine.
Very nice museum catalog from the Sendai City Museum with armours, guns, swords, battle flags, abumi, kura etc. A newer edition was printed in 2006 that is full color.
Title: The age of the samurai
Title: A short history of Japanese armour
Title: Samurai The Flowering of Japan
Title: Bulletin Association Franco-Japonaise No 16 Janvier 1987
Title: Bulletin Association Franco-Japonaise No 47 Janvier 1995
Title: Nihon katchūshi Vol 2. Sengoku jidai kara edo jidai
Title: Nihon katchūshi Vol 1. Yayoi jidai kara muromachi jidai
Title: Bushido International Journal of Japanese Arms (9 numbers)
Title: Buki bugu
Title: The Jack Paras collection of Japanese swords, fittings and armor