Takasagoan Bonsai Collection Foreword by Masahiko Kimura Bonsai Master from Omiya Bonsai Village

Title Takasagoan Bonsai Collection
Publication year 1995
Author Daizo Iwasaki
Preface by Kimura Masahiko

Fortunately,it is written both in English and in Japanese.

Only 2000 copies were published.Limited edition
This is a very hard-to-find book together with Kakuryuan bonsai Collection.I have seldom seen this one for sale even in Japan.

In the English foreword to this book,Kimura Masahiko,a great bonsai master recommedns this book as follows,"Mr.Daizo Iwasaki is well known as a representative figure of bonsai to dmirerrs in the world of bonsai,with whom I have been associated for a long time.
Two years ago,I had a chance to take a look at Mr.Iwasaki's shelves holding the collection.There were a variety of bonsai;from very old trees,to young trees newly brought from the mountains.It was a magnificent view to see hundreds of bonsai,all well cultivated and neatly arranged.
It is a great honor for me to have the opportunity of taking care of his bonsai collection on the occasion of this publication."

http://www.japanese-book.com/

The Works of Shoji Hamada Foreword by Bernald Leach

Title The Works of Shoji Hamada 1929-1961
Publication Year 1969
Preface by Bernald Leach

This is a dexlue and rare photo collection of briliant works by Hamada Shoji.The works in this book are selected carefully by Hamada Shoji himself.Fortunately,some pages including the foreword by Barnald Leach are written in English.All works are shown in full color.

Hamada shiji says"With the visit of Mr. and Mrs.Bernald Leach to Japan this morning,I had the added pleasure of arranging for a few rare and early samples of my work to be sent from England for inclusion in this complication.These are the outcome of my stay at Mr.Leach's pottery in St.Ives,Cornwall,during the years 1921-123.

The contents is as follows
1.127 color plates
2.Shoji Hamada at his Mashiko Kiln
3.Hamada Shoji Bernald Leach
4.Fifty Years of Firing
5.List of Plates

http://www.japanese-book.com/

Nihon Bonsai Taikan by Norio Kobayashi The Founder of Kokufu Bonsai Ten

Title General Survey of Japanese Bonsai
Publication Year 1939
Supervising Editor Kobayashi Norio-The Father of Kokufu Bonsai Ten

This is a very rare bonsai book supervised by Norio Kobayashi,who is called the father of Kokufu Bonsai ten.It was published in 1939-just before the world war 2 broke out.It is a great ref book to learn about Japanese bonsai in early Showa period.(The first Kokufu bonsai ten was held in 1934 for your ref.)

 

http://www.japanese-book.com/

The Technique of Oshigata Making of the Japanese Sword English

Title The Technique of Oshigata Making of the Japanese Sword
Publication Year 1977
Author Tokutaro Inuzuka

Fortunately,some pages are written in English.A gretr ref book if you are interested in Oshigata Making of the Japanese Sword.

The English preface says"Although the making of the Oshigata is one of the most efficient way to advance one's ability to pass correct judgment on the Japanese swords,unfortunately there has been a marked tendency for only a limited groupe of people,such as specialists or those training to be specialists,to practice this technique.This is especialy true in the case of rubbings of the tempered line."

http://www.japanese-book.com/