Kotetsu Taikan Representative Japanese Swordsmith

Title Kotetsu Taikan
Preface by Honma Junji

This is a rare and deluxe Japanese sword book focusing on Nagasone Kotetsu,who was a representative Japanese swordsmith in Edo period.It includes 195 Oshigata selected carefully by The Society for Preservation of Japanese Art Swords.Not only Kotetsu's works but also Okisato's works(Katcyu or guards) are included.It can be said that it is a definitive edition including all exisiting material.If it were not for it,it would be impossible to study Nagasone Kotetsu and his works.

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."

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Masterpieces of Japanese Spears

Title Masterpices of Japanese Spears

Author Numata Kenji

This book contains many photos (B&W) of Japanese Spears and pikes masterpieces. There are expandable photos in real size of wonderful dragon sculpture on spear and so on,too.

The author, Keiji Numata was working in Tokyo National Museum, swords sections for decades and a member of Cultural Properties Protection Committee and Japan Art swards protection association.

 

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Tresured Japanese Swords Kyoho Meibutuscho

Title Meibutsu Treasured Japanese Swords
Publication Year 2011

The English foreword to this book says,"This exhbition explores the development of the concept of the masterpiece sword and shows how the development led to the establishment of the Kyoho Meibutuscho designation in the mid Edo peripd."

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Iron Craftsmanship and the Warrior Spirit

Title Nihon no Katana (Japanese Swords)
Iron Craftsmanship and the warrior Spirit
Publication Year 1997
By Tokyo National Museum

The English foreword says,"In Japan,swords have long been treated with speical reverence.More than simply tools of war,swords have had ceremonial uses as well.They have also been purely objects of appreciation,a role in which they led the way for other Japanese art and handicrafts.Already in the kamakura period the book Meitsukushi(collectios of signatures)was published,which recorded the characteristics of various swords smith.from this account we understand how Japanese people continued to preserve swords of older eras regardless of these weapons actual usuage.
This exhibit recognizes that Katana have come to highly valued by the Japnese people and asks that their pride in the "worrior spirit" and its history be appreciated."

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Inoue Shinkai Taikan(Chronicle) A Famous Japanese Swrod Master in the Edo period

Title Inoue Shinkai Chronicle(reprinted edition)
Author Iida Kazuo,Nakajima Shinichiro
Publication Year 2010

Born in 1630,Inoue Shinaki was a famous and great Japanese sword Master together with Tsuda Echizen no Kami Sukehiro in the Edo period.He was called Osaka Masamune.His swords are designated Important Cultural Assets.(No swords produced in the Edo period are designated National Treasure for your ref.)

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Japanese Sword Satsuma Koshirae Jigen-ryu Yakumaru Jigenryu

Title Satsuma Koshirae
Supervising Editor Zusho Ichiro
Publication Year 2003

Satsuma Koshirae is known to be most practical sword on the battlefield.In Satsuma domain,unlike other Koshirae,distinctive Koshirae,which is called Satsuma Koshirae,was often used.According to the author of this book,Satsuma Kosirae is based on Jigen-ryu and Yakumaru Jigenryu.

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Engravings on Japanese Swords Nihonto no Horimono

Title Engravings on Japanese Swords
Publication Year 1970
Author Sato Yoshiki and Nakamiya Yoshiro

The postscript to this book says,"Of numerous Japanese swords books,there are no one focusing only on engravings.I would like you to publish it.

It was one and a half years ago that the president of Kogei Shupan-Mr.Matsumura asked me to.In publishing it,my good friend Shibata Mitsuo gave me a lot of chips."

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Nihon Toko Jiten Yoshio Fujishiro and Matsuo Fujishiro Koto Shinto

Title Nihon Toko Jiten 2vol
Author Yoshio Fujishiro and Matsuo Fujishiro 

Most famous and most comprehensive Japanese Sword Ref Book.It can be said that this is a must-have book if you are interessted in Japanese Swords.

This is a Nihon Toko Jiten composed of 2 volumes and it is written by Matsuo Fujishiro and Yoshio Fujishiro.It is known as classic Japanese language sword reference book. This book includes detailed oshigata and information on the most important Japanese sword smiths of shinto time periods. This book has long been high on the list of recommneded reference text for Japanese swords. Fujishiro's rankings aer commonly used by many collectors and scholars.

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Nippon-To Japanese Sword Inami Hakusui

Nippon-To Japanese Sword Inami Hakusui

This is an extremely rare book on Japanese sword and it is written in English.In my opinion,this is the first Englishi reference book on Japanese sword.

The Contents is as follows.ForewordIntroductionMomenclature of The Blade and Related FactsForging and TemperingPolishingHistory-Old SwordsGokaden and ShintoKoshiraeJapanese Eras with Corresponding Christian DatesList of The Most Famous Japanese Sword Makers and Com,parative Values of Swords

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