Tokyo Antiquarian Book Dealers - Nihonto

[Robert Mormile]

Fellow NMB Members:

 

I was wondering if anyone could recommend a bookstore in Tokyo that deals with antiquarian books on Japanese Swords. I am familiar with the antique book districts in Soto-Kanda, Kanda and Jimbocho but I seem to go shop to shop without finding any 19th century book sets on nihonto. Can anyone recommend a shop that deals in such material?

 

Thanks very much. Robert

[Peter Bleed]

The Isseido can be counted on to have several sword books and they alwasy used to have some good stuff upstairs in the 'gaikokugo' section. You can also ask them for advice and they will help you find the shop on their right and several doors down that has a big sword section.

Wish I was there!

Peter

[Robert Mormile]

Peter:

 

Sorry I should have been more specific. I am looking for 19th Century books written in Japanese in the "ehon" format, like the one I attached. By the way, I purchased your book "National Treasure" last night and very much look forward to reading it.

 

Thank you. Robert

[Toryu2020]

Robert -

Takayama Honten is hands down the best source for books on Budo - they naturally get the odd sword volume on occasion some real gems pop up here. In the same building there is a seller of "Japanese books" that might also have what you are looking for.

 

At the other end of Yasukuni dori near the beginning of the many bookshops there is Ôyashobô which specializes in nothing but the kind of books you are after, they rarely have sword stuff but on occasion I have struck gold there as well.

 

The place you really need to go is Isshindô, they have every book on swords and fittings ever published. For every book you see on the shelf they have four copies in their kura! I dont know how many times I would be in a book shop miles away from Tokyo only to be told "no sword books, Isshindô-san was just here"...

 

Envy you the adventure,

-t

[Robert Mormile]

Tom:

 

Thanks very much for the recommendation! I just googled "一心堂書" and found the links. Let me post it here for everyone's benefit. Prices look quite good; must bring another suitcase... Most appreciated. Robert

 

http://jimbou.info/town/ab/ab0015.html

http://www.isshindo-shoten.com/

[george trotter]

Yes, a great bookshop. I always pay him a visit and have picked up all the "must have" books on gendaito over the years from him (my niche interest). He has a large collection of nihonto books always.

For new visitors to Kanda-Jinbocho, it is often helpful to go into the nearest bookshop from the station you get out from and ask for "nihonto no hon" and they will often give you a street/bookshop map of the area and will mark on it which of the shops are the main swordbook specialising shops...usually 6 or 7...saves a lot of searching.

Wish I was there...

[Peter Bleed]

Robert,

I would love to know about your interest in what I think of as "old" sword books. Please tell us what about them you find interesting and useful. Why were they produced? Who wrote them, yahhh dahh yahhh dahh? This seems like an overlooked topic.

Oh, and I still wish I was there in Jinbocho!

Peter

[Robert Mormile]

Peter:

 

My interest is of a historoligical nature. Not history but the study of how history was told. I realize that the books published during the 20th century are more reliable, have better photography and are easier to read in kaisho instead of sosho but there is something both intriguing and romantic about looking at oshigata (or actually drawings of early nakago) that were compiled before the modern era. I don’t have any of these books and would like to view and perhaps buy some. Useful no, interesting yes, for me, it’s the curiosity factor. Like a fishing lure designed to catch the dollar of a fisherman.

 

Most Sincerely, Robert