Download or read book Art of the Japanese Sword written by Yoshindo Yoshihara and published by Tuttle Publishing. This book was released on 2012-09-10 with total page 592 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In The Art of the Japanese Sword, master swordsmith Yoshindo Yoshihara offers a detailed look at the entire process of Japanese sword making, including the finishing and appreciation of Japanese blades. Japanese sword art stands out in many ways: functionality as a weapon, sophisticated metallurgy and metalsmithing, the shape of the blade itself--all contribute to the beauty of these remarkable weapons. The Art of the Japanese Sword conveys to the reader Japanese samurai sword history and Japanese sword care, as well as explaining how to view and appreciate a blade. With 256 full-color pages, this sword book illustrates in meticulous detail how modern craftsmen use traditional methods to prepare their steel, forge the sword and create the unique hardened edge. By gaining a good understanding of how a sword is actually made, the reader will be able to appreciate the samurai sword more fully. Topics include: Appreciating the Japanese sword History of the Japanese sword Traditional Japanese steelmaking Making the sword Finishing the sword

Download or read book Modern Japanese Swords and Swordsmiths written by Leon Kapp and published by Kodansha International. This book was released on 2002 with total page 244 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A comprehensive overview of the major events in the history of the contemporary Japanese sword and the work of many of the best smiths active today.

Download or read book Japanese Master Swordsmiths written by Morihiro Ogawa and published by . This book was released on 1989 with total page 88 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book The Craft of the Japanese Sword written by Leon Kapp and published by Kodansha International. This book was released on 1987 with total page 176 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From raw steel to tempered blade, this text presents a visual account of thencient craft of swordmaking as practiced in modern Japan.

Download or read book The Art of the Japanese Sword written by Kunihira Kawachi and published by Ribun Shuppan Company. This book was released on 2006-07 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The more than thousand-year-old art of sword making in Japan is one of the world's most brilliant metalworking traditions. In danger of being lost when sword manufacture was prohibited after the Second World War, today the art is making an astonishing comeback in the hands of a new generation of swordsmiths. In this book master swordsmith Kunihira Kawachi introduces through beautiful color photographs examples of swords that he has created or restored. Questions and answers covering many aspects of sword culture are followed by a thorough chapter teaching how to care for and appreciate Japanese swords, and a discussion of the many legends surrounding the swords of the most famous swordsmen in Japanese history. A central section illustrates the tools and techniques for making Japanese swords with more than 50 color and monochrome photos. Finally, a chapter of essays presenting the lives and opinions of those involved in sword making in Japan today is followed by appendixes listing such useful information as the best museums in which to view fine sword collections around the world. This modest book is packed with information of use to all connoisseurs and collectors of Japanese swords, as well as anyone interested in Japanese metal crafts or martial culture.

Download or read book 21 written by 土子民夫 and published by Kodansha International. This book was released on 2002-05 with total page 264 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: New Generation of Japanese Swordsmiths is a Kodansha International publication.

Download or read book Japanese Swordsmiths written by and published by . This book was released on 1967 with total page 276 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Japanland written by Karin Muller and published by Rodale Books. This book was released on 2006-10-31 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: During a year spent in Japan on a personal quest to deepen her appreciation for such Eastern ideals as commitment and devotion, documentary filmmaker Karin Muller discovered just how maddeningly complicated it is being Japanese. In this book Muller invites the reader along for a uniquely American odyssey into the ancient heart of modern Japan. Broad in scope and deftly observed by an author with a rich visual sense of people and place, Japanland is as beguiling as this colorful country of contradictions.

Download or read book The Connoisseur s Book of Japanese Swords written by Kōkan Nagayama and published by Kodansha International. This book was released on 1997 with total page 384 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Connoisseur's Book Japanese Swords is a Kodansha International publication.

Download or read book Hawley s Japanese Swordsmiths written by Willis Meeker Hawley and published by . This book was released on 1998 with total page 1032 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Military Swords of Japan 1868 1945 written by Richard Fuller and published by Arms & Armour. This book was released on 1993-03 with total page 127 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "A reference/historical guide to the ""collectable"" market of Japanese military swords. Subjects covered include rebellion swords, Army, Air Force and home-defence emergency-issue swords, civil officials' swords, detail on blades, swordsmiths and markings, and collecting."

Download or read book Index of Japanese Swordsmiths A M written by Markus Sesko and published by BoD – Books on Demand. This book was released on 2012 with total page 446 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This index contains a comprehensive listing of more than 20,000 Japanese swordsmiths, from the early days right down to modern times, i.e. from kotô to shinsakutô. It is not simply a list of names, it also provides biographical information according to the extent of a smith's fame. Aim is to give the reader a coherent picture of a certain smith, that means his civilian name, how did he sign, in which style did he work, and who was his master or his school environment. Thereby, the most common theories on a smith are included and discrepancies in the transmissions are pointed out. This work is a revised and completely new recorded list of smiths by incorporating all relevant Japanese and non-Japanese sources. Incorrect entries and double listings were deleted and readings corrected. The smiths are listed in alphabetical order and sorted according to their used characters. A list of all characters used in the names of the smiths in this index is available, sorted by stroke order, so that the search of a smith with an unknown reading is also possible."--Back cover.

Download or read book Drawing the Samurai Sword written by Darrell Max Craig and published by Tuttle Publishing. This book was released on 2018-05-15 with total page 305 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: To the Japanese, the sword is a spiritual weapon. It possesses a particular divinity, reflecting the soul of its maker, owner, and user. Around its mystical powers has grown the centuries-old ritual and practice of Samurai swordsmanship which is still avidly practiced today as is a fascinating and intricate martial art. This unique guide unlocks all the mysteries of the ancient tradition of Iaijutsu—explaining the history and significance of the sword in Samurai culture and documenting the techniques of swordsmanship as found in no other martial arts book. Darrell Max Craig is one of the foremost teachers of Kendo in the West. He spent many years in Japan competing and training at the very highest level. His book, Drawing the Samurai Sword, provides a thorough examination of all aspects of Iaijutsu—including information on sword care and selection, necessary gear, sword and dojo etiquette, and useful drills for practice and demonstration. This book also teaches readers about: How to evaluate your Samurai sword and handle it safely How to wear the traditional Hakama uniform How to perform the Kata forms to hone your technique The brutal history of sword testing, and today's more humane equivalent The classic and exciting story of "The Forty-Seven Ronin" And much more! Featuring a new preface by the author, original color photos and added information about sword testing, this generously-illustrated book is a treasure trove of information for aspiring students and experienced practitioners alike.

Download or read book Katana written by Stephen Turnbull and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2011-01-01 with total page 170 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Samurai sword of Japan is probably the finest edged weapon ever made. This volume by leading Samurai expert Stephen Turnbull reveals the story of how and why it achieved this distinction. Particular attention is paid to the development of the familiar curved blade from the original straight blades, the associated development of Japan's famous steel-making techniques and the challenges from contemporary warfare. Together with the technical details of forging, polishing, mounting and testing; this volume is brought to life with details of the great swordmakers themselves. Moreover, no history of the sword would be complete without a detailed examination of its use in combat, from the greatest Samurai armies to individual duels and revenge killings. Personal accounts allow the reader to discover the art of Japanese swordsmanship in the hands of masters such as Miyamoto Musashi to the unnamed Japanese warrior defending his family's honour. This lively text is perfectly complemented by artwork reconstructions of the sword in use and colour photographs of the swords in use.

Download or read book The Art of Japanese Sword Polishing written by Setsuo Takaiwa and published by Planeta Publishing. This book was released on 2006 with total page 200 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: To understand Japanese sword polishing is to understand the Japanese sword. Down through the years, the great sword connoisseurs in Japan have been sword polishers. A swordsmith can spend a large amount of time forging a classic sword, but refining and bringing out its final shape, color and texture so that all the details of the steel and hamon (the temper line) are clearly visible is the responsibility of another craftsman - the sword polisher. An experienced polisher can tell immediately by whom a blade was made, so discintctive is each smith's work and so vital is such knowledge to the skilled polisher.The Art of Japanese Sword Polishing is the first book in English to examine in great detail the polisher's techniques - skills it often takes up to ten years of apprenticeship to master. The book illustrates the methods, materials and tools used for this process. But its true aim is to enable the reader to fully appreciate the beauty of a well-crafted Japanese sword. As readers learn both how the sword polisher enhances the beauty of the blade and how he handles the problems of coaxing out its finest qualities through his polishing techniques, they will come to a deeper understanding of the fine art of making the Japanese sword and will be able to view, purchase or collect swords with greater pleasure.

Download or read book Samurai Swords for the Material Battle written by Otto Maxein and published by BoD – Books on Demand. This book was released on 2021-04-30 with total page 214 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With the advent of World War I, infantry rapiers or cavalry sabers had practically become obsolete on the European battlefields due to the introduction of machine weapons and tanks. At the same time, in Japan, the samurai sword experienced an impressive renaissance due to the growing demand of Japanese officers for traditionally forged swords. Samurai Swords for the Material Battle tells the story of the last Samurai Swords forged for battle and answers the question of why Japan's soldiers entrusted their fate to these swords in the inferno of material battles. Impressive visual documents tell of the events of that time and allow the viewer to imagine the hell through which the soldiers of all warring parties went. Using the example of the works of contemporary swordsmiths, the author not only proves the art status of these swords. He also examines the question of whether only swords from Tamahagane can be genuine Nihon-to. Purists will be shocked by the estimation of a leading contemporary swordsmith who recommended that the Japanese War Ministry supply all swordsmiths with Manchurian steel. Likewise, the estimation of Japanese swordsmen who fought to the death with their swords is likely to turn many Budo devotees' idea of the ideal fighting sword on its head. Based on the personal fates of Japanese soldiers, the author evokes the spirit of the last samurai. The reader can understand how the Japanese sword myth and the samurai's code of honor shaped the Japanese society up to the time of the Second World War and had a decisive influence on their actions. By not looking at the swords in isolation, but placing them in the focus of contemporary historical events, this book differs from many reference books in this genre and complements the existing literature in a unique way. Competently and carefully researched, it is for the connoisseur of the subject as well as for beginners or readers interested in contemporary history a real treasure trove and exciting reading to the end.

Download or read book Samurai Sword written by John M. Yumoto and published by Tuttle Publishing. This book was released on 2013-01-08 with total page 208 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The samurai sword: a symbol of the spirit of old Japan, it embodies the samurai's steel discipline, unswerving devotion and peerless skill. With its creation, a feat of craftsmanship passed down by generations of artisans, the samurai sword is generally considered to be superior even to the famed blades of Western Damascus and Toledo. The Samurai Sword Handbook is a precise exploration of the samurai sword designed for sword collectors as well as anyone intrigued by these ancient blades. Detailing the origins and development of the samurai sword, its historical background, styles, famous schools and differences in construction, this revised edition of the classic reference outlines methods of identifying and researching the sword, as well as caring for it properly. This must-have for sword lovers is sure to be a bestseller. Topics of this Samurai book include: Japanese History and the Samurai Sword Types of swords Parts of the sword Blade shape, construction, and grain The making of the sword Inscriptions and their readings Care and maintenance Appraisal and value Relative point values