Help needed finding sword textbooks

Will York

Will York

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Jan 21, 2000
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[EDITED TO SAY:] I should have checked Amazon before posting, but didn't realize it could be that easy. They had all three of these. I'll leave the titles posted here, in case anyone else is looking for them:

Samurai Sword--A Handbook, by John Yumoto
The Japanese Sword--A Comprehensive Guide, by Kunzan Sato
The Craft of the Japanese Sword, by Leon Kapp

Thanks again,
Will
 
This is a little something more serious:

The Connoisseur's Book of Japanese Sword by Kokan Nagayama

There are a lot more books about japanese sword that are hard to find anywhere.
 
Originally posted by beluga
This is a little something more serious:

The Connoisseur's Book of Japanese Sword by Kokan Nagayama
Click to expand...
Thank you, Beluga. Can you tell me in what way this book is more serious? I appreciate your input.

-Will
 
It explains more clearly about the 5 tradition of swordsmiths in japan. In the 5 tradition, it tells you about all swordmaking school, the leading swordsmith from each school and their characteristics.

It really is the 'bible' when I learned (still learning) about japanese swords.

Those books that you mentioned also contain the 5 school, but less elaborately.

You really want to check thas one out.

I forgot to mention that there is also a book about Gendai swordsmith between 1868 - 1945. It does not explain how to make swords, but rather stresses on the oshigata of each documented smiths. Oshigata is the sigature rubbing of the sword tang. Pretty cool stuff.

Here's the name of the book : 'An Oshigata Book of Modern Japanese Swordsmiths 1968-1945) by John Scott Slough'

Or this book : 'Military Sword of Japan 1868 - 1945 by Richard Fuller and Ron Gregory'.

The last book I mentioned is about the fitting of military swords.
 
I wrote one of the reviews for Nagayama's book on Amazon actually (what was I on? :D). I received it as a gift from a good friend and thought it was really well done for the type of book it is.

It's an excellent book, but it's not as graphically pleasing as some of the other books if you want pics of swords. It does touch on some of the more basic stuff and then goes onto a lot of pretty good info on smiths and schools over time. It's not a necessary book unless you're into Nihonto (the information isn't *quite* as applicable when referring to modern western-made swords, except if you want to try classifying one as a particular style).

It's also kinda an expensive book...so be sure you know WHY you are getting it before you shell over a lot of money for it when you may not need it. Yumoto's book and Sato's book are really excellent also, and I'd suggest looking through them before looking into Nagayama's too seriously.

Optimally, try to find a library system or interlibrary loan system where you can borrow the books, look over them and see which one(s) you like most. If you don't think book A or book B will be beneficial but you really like book C, you can order book C first.
 
Thanks again Beluga and also to you, Robert. I appreciate the input very much. The first three books were recommended to be my Chris Bowen as primers on the subject, and I've ordered them from Amazon. I may go ahead and get the Nagayama book after perusing the first three.

Thanks again for both your help,

Will
 
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