James Posted April 5, 2008 Report Posted April 5, 2008 Hello Could someone please let me know what the best reference book for koto period blades would be? Thank you Quote
Brian Posted April 5, 2008 Report Posted April 5, 2008 James, In English or Japanese? Showing mainly oshigata or mostly info about the smiths? Brian Quote
James Posted April 5, 2008 Author Report Posted April 5, 2008 Yes, sorry. I should've been more specific. I'd prefer it to be in english but that's not essential and it to consist mainly of oshigatas and photos. Quote
huntershooter Posted April 5, 2008 Report Posted April 5, 2008 Fujihiro's "Nihon Koto Jiten" (Japanese text) has oshigata and text. I believe it's still in print. I find it a good reference. An English index is available. Quote
Brian Posted April 5, 2008 Report Posted April 5, 2008 James, There are many more I suppose, but for me it would be Fujishiro's Nihon Toko Jiten Koto volume (English translation available) or Nihonto Koza Koto parts 1,2 and 3. (Also available in English) What do others say? Brian Quote
Grey Doffin Posted April 5, 2008 Report Posted April 5, 2008 For my money, the best reference in English for swords of all periods is the 59 volume set of "Token Bijutsu" English edition, put out by the NBTHK. There's usually a set available somewhere; expect to pay close to $1,500. Both my "Index of Japanese Sword Literature" and the Rich Stein (hope I got that right) website have indexes to the set. The JSS/US has a 2 volume set in English titled, Sue Koto. 700 plus pages on swords of late Koto for $50. plus postage. Heck of a deal! Grey Quote
huntershooter Posted April 5, 2008 Report Posted April 5, 2008 Apologies. It was 4:40 am and had just rolled out of bed. Brian, of course, is correct. It is "Nihon Toko Jiten", Koto vol. Not reading Japanese, one thing I find helpful is having Fujishiro's (original/Japanese text) for the oshigata and the AFU translation to READ the text. Quote
James Posted April 5, 2008 Author Report Posted April 5, 2008 Thanks for the info guys, where's the best place to get Fujishiro's Nihon Toko Jiten Koto volume (English) and the JSS/US Sue Koto book? Also, just out of curiosity, has anyone thought of making an online swordsmith database? Or if not that, putting all recorded smiths and related photos/oshigatas/information, from the 59 volume set by the NBTHK for example, onto a CD (or DVD if extra space is required) and selling copies of that? Quote
b.hennick Posted April 5, 2008 Report Posted April 5, 2008 Hi James: There is a database called "Nihonto Database" created by Darcy Brockbank located on the JSSUS (Japanese Sword Society of the United States) web-site http://www.jssus.org Fee free to use it and do consider joining the JSSUS. Quote
Pete Klein Posted April 5, 2008 Report Posted April 5, 2008 http://www.sanmei.com/shop_e/enter.html I believe Tokugawa Art has the Japanese text. They are a pretty reliable company and you can use credit cards. Click on the book link. The AFU books can be hard to come by. There is someone posting them on Ebay recently out of Europe but they are reproductions and are not the ones produced by Mr. Watson to the best of my knowledge. They aren't exactly cheap either and the price seems to vary each week. Not sure what that's about. Perhaps someone else knows more. Quote
Brian Posted April 5, 2008 Report Posted April 5, 2008 $120 is a very good price too (Koto volume only) The Shinto one is getting hard to find nowdays. There has been talk of a revised edition, but I haven't heard any more about it. If you are looking for a Shinto one too..email them and let them put you on the list. They do come across them from time to time. Brian Quote
Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini Posted April 5, 2008 Report Posted April 5, 2008 I would recommend the two volumes about Sue-Koto by JSSUS too. Not covering the whole Koto period, but well worthy the price. Quote
Min Lee Posted April 6, 2008 Report Posted April 6, 2008 Couldn't you just order the Koto books(Nihonto Koza Vol. II, III, IV) from Mr. Watson direct? http://www.afuresearch.com/ Last time I exchanged e-mails with him he had the whole set of Nihon to Koza in stock (granted it was a while back)... Quote
James Posted April 6, 2008 Author Report Posted April 6, 2008 Hi James:There is a database called "Nihonto Database" created by Darcy Brockbank located on the JSSUS (Japanese Sword Society of the United States) web-site http://www.jssus.org Fee free to use it and do consider joining the JSSUS. Thanks Barry, I have been using it; but I was thinking more of an online database that contained oshigatas and photos also. http://www.sanmei.com/shop_e/enter.html I believe Tokugawa Art has the Japanese text. They are a pretty reliable company and you can use credit cards. Click on the book link. The AFU books can be hard to come by. There is someone posting them on Ebay recently out of Europe but they are reproductions and are not the ones produced by Mr. Watson to the best of my knowledge. They aren't exactly cheap either and the price seems to vary each week. Not sure what that's about. Perhaps someone else knows more. Unfortunately, it seems they only have the Japanese versions of the reference books I would recommend the two volumes about Sue-Koto by JSSUS too.Not covering the whole Koto period, but well worthy the price. Can I buy this directly from the JSS/US? Couldn't you just order the Koto books(Nihonto Koza Vol. II, III, IV) from Mr. Watson direct? http://www.afuresearch.com/ Last time I exchanged e-mails with him he had the whole set of Nihon to Koza in stock (granted it was a while back)... Buying those 3 volumes would be good but that's a bit over my current budget at the moment. Quote
Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini Posted April 6, 2008 Report Posted April 6, 2008 Can I buy this directly from the JSS/US? Guess you've to purchase them from Mr. Watson, but Grey Doffin that have posted hereabove the same suggestion can possibly give you a better input. He's much more into JSSUS then me... :D Anyway the link : http://www.jssus.org/ then click "supplies". Nihon Toko Jiten Koto was available thru Stephen some time ago, but I'm not sure if it has been already sold... Have you checked the "for sale" section ? Quote
Grey Doffin Posted April 6, 2008 Report Posted April 6, 2008 Sue Koto can be ordered from Harry Watson, who handles supplies for the JSS/US. If there isn't a link at NMB links, just google afu and you'll find him. Another good book in English will be available soon. Kyomono no Ko-Meisaku by Mr Yoshikawa has been translated into English and will be printed later this month, I hope. This book covers great swords from the Yamashiro Den, most of them Koto, and great swords from other traditions also. This work also was made possible by the JSS/US (and all your memberships, hint). Once the book is actually available I'll post a message here on the Board. I can highly recommend this book; it's very good. Grey Quote
Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini Posted April 6, 2008 Report Posted April 6, 2008 Once the book is actually available I'll post a message here on the Board. I can highly recommend this book; it's very good. Consider one copy as already sold. Quote
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