Title: A short history of Japanese armourThis 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.
Title: Samurai The Flowering of JapanVery 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.
Title: Bulletin Association Franco-Japonaise No 47 Janvier 1995This 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 jidaiThis 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 jidaiThis 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.
Title: Bushido International Journal of Japanese Arms (9 numbers)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.
Title: Buki buguVery 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 Jack Paras collection of Japanese swords, fittings and armorAuction catalog with only one kabuto and one miniature suit (on the cover). Many tsuba, swords etc.
Title: Daimyō no sonae : Katchū to bukiFabulous catalog of the Tokugawa Art Museum. Armours, kabuto, guns, battle flags, spears, jinbaori, documents, etc. All in color.
Title: Takeda jinja no shūzōhin zurokuVery nicely balanced catalog about the Takeda clan: armours, documents, paintings, swords etc. Included is also a dō that is made out of bamboo, said from the sengoku jidai.
