Books for beginners in English

[Ikko Ikki]

Hello NMB, 

 

One thing that I always hear from senior collectors is that I should first buy books before hastily buying some gimei without knowing any better.  The question is what books should I buy?  I saw some comments in other threads listing some books but many were entirely in Japanese.  I'm on my way to learning it, but right now I only really know certain terms relating to nihonto and related Japanese history.  Are there any books in English that are beginner friendly?  What are the first "must have" books, and how expensive are they usually?  

 

Thank you,

Connor

[Gakusee]

 

[GeorgeLuucas]

Hi Connor, and welcome to the forum! 

My favorite three beginner books are the following:
- Facts and Fundimentals of Japanese Swords: A collectors guide by Nobou Nakahara translated by Paul Martin
- The Connoisseurs book of Japanses Swords by Kokan Nagayama
- The Japanese Sword by Kanzan Sato

All three of these books are in English, and they cover much of the same material with slightly different perspectives and writing styles. 

These are my personal favorites for beginners, but other opinions may vary. 
All the best,
-Sam

 

[George KN]

As a beginner/novice myself (1 year in though) I'm interested in some more recommendations too - I'm still very much looking for a book to help me with signatures, but I do have some others I can recommend depending on your fields of interest.

I'll definitely second Markus Sesko as a great author on the topic as I have a few of his books already (you can buy some of them from Amazon, at least in the UK). Unfortunately I'm still looking around for more affordable versions of the rest of his works. So far I've got Koto-Kantei, Shinto & Shinshinto Kantei, the Kantei Reference Book, & the Encyclopedia of Japanese Swords (Paperback). All in all about ~£170 ish (which is a lot of money to me, but they are genuinely useful and with great pictures). https://markussesko.com/books/

The only other relevant books I've got so far that are in English and I could afford are:

Military Swords of Japan 1868-1945 by Richard Fuller and Ron Gregory

Great reference guide for WW2 swords, but not for Nihonto - ~£65 (seems to be more expensive now, but I bought mine on Amazon)

Armours of the Samurai - Berlin Samurai Museum

Focuses solely on katchu, but good pictures! ~£22 (I bought in person at the museum)
https://samuraimuseu...mours-of-the-samurai

Samurai Museum Berlin - Berlin Samurai Museum

Again, not so great for swords, but interesting nonetheless ~£22 (I bought in person at the museum)

https://samuraimuseu...amurai-museum-berlin

The Art of Japanese Sword Polishing

Not super useful outside of understanding polishing more - ~£28

https://www.amazon.c...p/product/1568365187

The Art of Tsukamaki
Almost a how-to-guide to wrapping tsuka, and also has a bunch of other randomly useful beginner info in - ~£20 
https://www.amazon.c...p/product/0984377956

Selected Fine Japanese Sword from European NBTHK Collections

This is a very good deep dive into some specific swords, with good pictures and in both English and German. I actually also bought this at the Berlin Samurai museum, and while expensive, I think it is a good read (but not particularly useful for references). ~£120

~~~

Other than that, there's the FAQ of this forum here with some recommendations: https://www.nihontom...geboard.com/faq.html

 

Beginner books:
-The Connoisseur's Book of Japanese Swords By Kokan Nagayama and translated by Kenji Mishina
-The Japanese Sword: A Comprehensive Guide By Kanzan Sato and translated by Joe Earle.
-The Samurai Sword By John Yumoto
-The Craft of the Japanese Sword By Kapp & Yoshihara
-The Art of the Japanese Sword: The Craft of Swordmaking and its Appreciation By Kapp & Yoshihara
-The Arts of the Japanese Sword By B.W. Robinson
-The Japanese Sword : The Soul of the Samurai By Gregory Irvine
-Nihon-To art swords of Japan By W.A.Compton, Homma Junji, Sato Kanichi and Ogawa Morihiro
-Samurai, The weapons and spirit of the Japanese warrior By Clive Sinclaire
-Japanese swords and sword furniture in the museum of fine arts Boston By Ogawa Morihiro
-Facts and Fundamentals of Japanese Swords: A Collector's Guide by Nobuo Nakahara
-Encyclopedia of Japanese swords By Markus Sesko

 

Intermediate and up:
-Nihon Toko Jiten (two volumes) By Matsuo Fujishiro, Translated by AFU
-Nihon-To Koza (6 volumes) By Souemon/Kiyoshige, Translated by Harry Watson - AFU
-Japanese Swords and Sword Furniture in the Museum of Fine Arts Boston By Morihiro Ogawa
-One Hundred Masterpieces from the Collection of Dr. Walter A. Compton: Japanese Swords, Sword Fittings, and Other - Christies
-Japanese Swords and Sword Fittings from the Collection of Dr. Walter A. Compton
-Japanese Swordsmiths By Hawley
-Nihonto Newsletter Vol 1,2,3 By Albert Yamanaka
-Yasukuni-to Tradition and Ideal Beauty By Tom Kishida
-The School of Hizen Tadayoshi By Roger Robertshaw
-Mino-To By Malcolm Cox
-Cutting Edge: Japanese Swords In The British Museum By Victor Harris
-Sword and Same' By Henri Joly
-Swordsmiths of Japan By Markus Sesko

And then there's also the downloads section for smaller articles which may also be of interest: https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/files/

[Franco D]

Listed in red below are the titles that I believe are essential for an active nihonto collector's library. 

 

For nihonto "students" of all levels, Yamanaka's Newsletters revised (which hopefully the NCJSC will begin reprinting soon) is a must.

Why? Because it forces you to learn kantei which is the foundation of and for Japanese sword appreciation. 

 

Markus Sesko's publications now on sale:

 

Quote

Akasaka Tanko Roku ….. $8.90 – $4.50
Encyclopedia of Japanese Swords ….. $24.90 – $12.50
Geneaogies and Schools of Japanese Swordsmiths ….. $19.90 – $10
Genealogies of Japanese Toso Kinko Artists ….. $19,90 – $10
Identifying Japanese Cursive Script ….. $14.90 – $7.50
Identifying Japanese Seal Script ….. $14.90 – $7.50
Japan’s Most Important Sword Fittings ….. $14.90 – $7.50
Jukken ….. $14.90 – $7.50
Kano Natsuo I ….. $59.90 – $30
Kano Natsuo II ….. $59.90 – $30
Kantei Reference Book – Hamon & Boshi ….. $19.90 – $10
Koshirae – Japanese Sword Mountings ….. $19.90 – $10
Koshirae Taikan ….. $59.90 – $30
Koto Kantei Zenshu ….. $89.90 – $45
Koto Meikan ….. $39.90 – $20
Legends and Stories Around the Japanese Sword ….. $9.90 – $5
Legends and Stories Around the Japanese Sword 2 ….. $9.90 – $5
Masamune ….. $29.90 – $15
Masters of Keicho Shinto ….. $19.90 – $10
Nihon-koto-shi ….. $29.90 – $15
Nihon-shinto-shi ….. $29.90 – $15
Nihon-shinshinto-shi ….. $29.90 – $15
Shinshinto Meikan ….. $29.90 – $15
Shinto Meikan ….. $29.90 – $15
Shinto Shinshinto Kantei Zenshu ….. $89.90 – $45
Signatures of Japanese Sword Fittings Artists ….. $89.90 – $45
Soken Kinko Zufu ….. $9.90 – $5
Swordsmiths of Japan ….. $89.90 – $45
Tameshigiri ….. $29.90 – $15
The Honami Family ….. $19.90 – $10
The Japanese Toso Kinko Schools ….. $24.90 – $12.50

 

[Grey Doffin]

In my humbled opinion, the best material on the subject in English is the 59 volume set of English Token Bijutsu written by the staff of the NBTHK:

https://japaneseswor...ition-all-59-issues/

on my site. While there you can search for many of the other books mentioned here to get an idea what they're like.

Cheers, Grey

[Schneeds]

Another vote for The Connoisseur's book of Japanese Swords.  $42 new on Amazon.  The best $42 you'll ever spend in this realm.  

[Benjamin]

If your choice is limited, my very first catch would have been the Encyclopedia of Japanese Swords from Markus Sesko, an incredible tool to understand further material, books or online ressources, as well as all you find on this forum.

 

Benjamin

[Jacques D.]

In my humble opinion, books are no substitute for the study of blades (in hand). Books are just a plus, because how can you tell a slightly hadadachi itame from an itame if you've never seen one? I therefore encourage people to see as many blades as possible, as this is the only way to make real progress.

[Brian]

True. And also studying paintings is pointless, since the 3D texture of the paintwork is just as important as the design, and the way it is viewed in natural light is the only way to truly appreciate art. And studying ceramics is pointless unless you see them in real life and are able to view and feel the actual surface and textures. And looking at pictures of cars is pointless, you really need to drive them to understand the attraction. Hmm....collecting and studying custom knives is also a waste of time from pics. You need to feel it in hand and appreciate the sharpness and fit and finish.
Actually...now that you mention it, collecting and studying anything is really pointless unless we have it in hand. I see now we are all wasting our time. I suggest everyone stop collecting and studying absolutely everything unless you have the chance to see every example in hand. Everyone, stop immediately.
Thanks for showing us the light.

[Franco D]

What if you could sit down with a polisher, or a nihonto expert, or even a swordsmith to study swords together? How about all three? In essence that is what books to some extent allow you to do.

 

One of the very first steps in sword study is learning and developing one's vocabulary. Otherwise, how do you know where to begin to learn, and what it is that you're studying? Conversely, what do these new words really mean without access to a sword with these features? 

 

We often see right here on the NMB the results of what happens in the rush to obtain a Japanese sword before reading books and developing a proper library, never mind an extensive library. And sometimes poor results still occur even after books are purchased and read because the buyer has never really held and studied excellent nihonto in excellent polish in hand. Ignorance of one's own ignorance may be the worse kind of ignorance. Especially when it comes to Japanese swords.

 

For those that really want to challenge themselves as well their reference material they should write up a kantei for the sword or swords being studied, including a discussion of how to reach the correct conclusion along with citing all references. It was doing exactly this for our local study group that raised the bar for learning how to critically study and learn from books with sword in hand. 

 

 

 

 

 

[George KN]

Umm, in the books vs swords first debate, can I just say it's actually quite hard as a beginner on a budget to feel justified in buying a small library of expensive books and it is also equally (if not harder) to find places that would let you see quality in-polish nihonto, let alone handle them?

Yes I understand the value of both now, and have access to the right knowledge through here and my local Token society, but starting out it's a big ask.

 

To be honest I think one of the best free recommendations I'd give is reading through two or three years worth of the threads here and in the military swords section - I learnt a metric tonnes of things just by observing other people's beginner and advanced questions, and it cost me absolutely nothing 

[Lewis B]

The route to enlightenment is never easy, so we're told. Books, the internet, NBTHK publications all play a key part in the journey. They provide a taster and allow us to interpret what we see. BUT there is no substitute for seeing and handling blades in hand. Unfortunately in Europe the options are limited. Museums in Europe are poor for this subject matter (although for paintings arguably the best), but there are bimonthly NBTHK-EB meetups in various locations, plus the fantastic Japan Art Expo in Utrecht. Both opportunities offer the Nihonto student ample time under good lighting conditions (key) to observe and contextualize the multitude of features and characteristics for specific Gokaden and schools. I have learned more at the two venues so far visited plus the trip to the Steyr City Museum than I could have imagined. But the books and external reference material lays the groundwork. Good food consists of many ingredients harmonizing together to create the experience. Same is true for most collecting too, including Nihonto.

[Jacques D.]

Brian,

Once I was talking to Zenon Vandamme (sword polisher) and I asked him about forums, do you know what he told me? "I never go on forums, they're full of crap!" 

[ROKUJURO]

Jacques,

I respect Zenon's opinion, but why did you not follow his advice? You are not really helpful when you put up the yardstick in unreachable height! Of course you are correct that looking at and handling good blades is the real thing, but what novice can start at this level? 

And to get a bit more personal: You have a very high level of competence, but how was your own start into this field? Maybe you inherited a collection or had a friendly mentor to guide you?

Looking at myself, I did not have opportunities to see or learn from good blades when I started almost 50 years ago. There were just a few books in English available, and they were expensive (and not all were good as I know today). Looking at high-end blades was impossible, and still today, many wealthy collectors keep their treasures well protected and away from curious newbies. Today, I could join the local NBTHK assembly or the only sword-club available but I would have to drive quite far for it - once or twice a year! 

I think it is not so easy for beginners, and we should encourage them, hoping they will be patient enough for a long learning journey. 

[GeorgeLuucas]

Forum
noun

1.

A place, meeting, or medium where ideas and views on a particular issue can be exchanged.

 

If not for this forum+books, I would have surely ruined a blade or two in my time collecting. Thank goodness forums like this exist, otherwise how many Nihonto would have ended up on the belt sander because people didn’t know better? 

For what it's worth, I inherited a sword at 11 years old. I didn't even know the word "NIHONTO" until I was 21. Thanks to books and this forum, I know much more now; and I am more prepared to appreciate blades in hand, when I am fortunate enough to view them.

@Jacques D. your overly idealistic views on sword study totally neglect those of us who simply don't have easy access to swords, experts, polishers, and maybe most importantly: wealth.

We simply can't all have those privileges. 
With all due respect,
-Sam
 

[Jacques D.]

Okay, I'm setting the bar high, but you can't tell the difference between a nashiji hada and a konuka hada from a book. Having said that, I give an opinion and everyone can do what they want with it, it's not my problem. I would never have become a physicist without a teacher. I don't know any bakers who learned their trade from books, and I can go on and on. 

[ROKUJURO]

1 hour ago, Jacques D. said:

....you can't tell the difference between a nashiji hada and a konuka hada from a book......

Jacques,

correct, but that is not where beginners start! 

[Natichu]

5 hours ago, Jacques D. said:

Okay, I'm setting the bar high, but you can't tell the difference between a nashiji hada and a konuka hada from a book. Having said that, I give an opinion and everyone can do what they want with it, it's not my problem. I would never have become a physicist without a teacher. I don't know any bakers who learned their trade from books, and I can go on and on. 

While I hesitate to weigh in, those fields you have mentioned are trades, not hobbies and passions. Many home bakers and cooks have learned plenty, and done well, learning from books and without teachers. Many in any number of other fields pursued as a hobby do the same. Beginners here are generally not setting out to be polishers or museum curators, that is true sword professionals. They are those that have a passion and wish to learn more as part of a hobby. 

 

Certainly, getting blades in hand with a teacher present is the best way to learn. But that doesn't mean other avenues don't have value for those looking to pursue knowledge, and the pleasure of learning. Just because I can't drop everything to go do an advanced degree at MIT doesn't mean I shouldn't enjoy reading Six Easy Pieces. Talk about letting the perfect be the enemy of the good!

 

At any rate, I don't anticipate I or anyone else will change your mind or persuade you to moderate your approach when dealing with newbs, neophytes, or those just looking to learn a bit. But one can't help but feel your approach does more to hinder the passion we all share rather than further it. 

Edited September 5 by Natichu
Typos - "newb" to "newbs" and "more hinder" to "more to hinder"

[Brian]

Of course forums are full of crap. So are Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok etc etc.
But that's the result when people are allowed freedom of speech.
Personally, I'd rather weed out the crap than exist in a void. Why are you here Jacques? You never agree with anything. I think you like being an instigator and contrarian. Don't like the void either, do you?

[Franco D]

On 9/2/2024 at 12:05 PM, Ikko Ikki said:

Are there any books in English that are beginner friendly?  What are the first "must have" books, and how expensive are they usually?

 

The Craft of the Japanese Sword by Kapp & Yoshihara.  ~ $15

https://youtu.be/gxwWf-MfZVk

 

Encyclopedia of Japanese Swords ….. Sesko .... $24.90 – on sale $12.50

 

 

 

[Jacques D.]

Okay, someone prove me wrong, but with facts, not words with no real content. The world of Nihontö is extremely complex and cannot be approached like that. How many people here can decipher a hamon correctly? None, until proven otherwise.

 

Quote

correct, but that is not where beginners start! 

Precisely, after studying sugata (not so easy, in fact) that's what he should study and then move on to hamon. How can you tell whether a mumei sword is Bizen or Yamato if you can't read the hada? Did you know, for example, that in the Rai school, mokume is almost always mixed with itame?

 

Quote

At any rate, I don't anticipate I or anyone else will change your mind or persuade you to moderate your approach when dealing with newbs, neophytes, or those just looking to learn a bit. But one can't help but feel your approach does more to hinder the passion we all share rather than further it. 

I just want to spare the beginner from cruel disillusionment, so that he knows that he's stepping into a highly complex world, and that just because he's seen a piece of metal in the shape of a saber doesn't mean he's done the trick. there's a lot of money behind all this. It's clear that I'm expressing myself a little harshly, but my bad English (and my nature) prevent me from being more diplomatic.

 

[Benjamin]

Jacques,

 

I will not quote it, but I think your second post on this topic should be deleted. I don't know the quoted person but I found disrespectful to quote an insulting sentence of this person, out of context, I suppose without her permission. He could have said that long time ago and have different opinion today.

If you wished to say the same thing, no need to hide behind people that are not here.

 

By the way, have you got the insight that almost all your post on this forum drift the topic out it original context, aiming at discussion around your own person. It's unpleasant, I'm not here to discuss your physicist Curriculum Vitae, that is not interresting us here. (I think you're welcome to present your cursus at the Izakaya section).

So please, if you feel the necessity to protect beginners, speak about the topic, explain more, be respectful. You have got far more interresting things to say when you speak about sword than about you.

 

Regards.

 

Benjamin

[Matsunoki]

14 hours ago, Jacques D. said:

and I can go on and on. 

Ain’t that the truth?

[Natichu]

5 hours ago, Jacques D. said:

Okay, someone prove me wrong, but with facts, not words with no real content. The world of Nihontö is extremely complex and cannot be approached like that. How many people here can decipher a hamon correctly? None, until proven otherwise.

 

Precisely, after studying sugata (not so easy, in fact) that's what he should study and then move on to hamon. How can you tell whether a mumei sword is Bizen or Yamato if you can't read the hada? Did you know, for example, that in the Rai school, mokume is almost always mixed with itame?

 

I just want to spare the beginner from cruel disillusionment, so that he knows that he's stepping into a highly complex world, and that just because he's seen a piece of metal in the shape of a saber doesn't mean he's done the trick. there's a lot of money behind all this. It's clear that I'm expressing myself a little harshly, but my bad English (and my nature) prevent me from being more diplomatic.

 

But you just said the study of nihonto was like baking and physics, and now it's different? Talk about moving goal posts. 

 

At any rate, I agree it's highly complex and technical, and enough to make a beginner like me question at many points whether it is worth pursuing. I don't think anyone expects otherwise, or disagrees with your proposition that sword in hand is best. It seems you're suggesting the forum and those that recommend books are saying that you can learn it all without ever touching a sword. That is a patent strawman, and I don't think anyone here has ever put forward that argument.  Rather, it's that books have their place both as a supplement to that (else the NBTHK surely wouldn't have any for reference) and as a way for us beginners to build vocab and understand exactly how much our knowledge is lacking.

 

Few things have made clearer to me that I need more swords in hand to learn the basics than the small number of books I have. But they've taught me small pieces about the basics such that I have a better sense to guide my learning as I move forward and allow me to better articulate questions, and that has real value. It certainly won't bring me anywhere near your level of knowledge and experience (and I don't think anyone disagrees you are knowledgeable and would be a real asset to this forum if you would put your knowledge out there for members to read) but it is something and is what is available to me in terms of time and financial commitment. 

 

At any rate, that's almost assuredly enough from me. 

 

OP - as a fellow beginner I have found both the Connoisseurs Guide and Facts And Fundamentals to be good starting points, along with the assorted online resources around (which thankfully are free). 

Edited September 5 by Natichu
Typo - "expect" to "expects"

[Jussi Ekholm]

Now I am someone who collects sword books, yet still I wouldn't recommend getting a huge amount of them in the beginning. Getting some is perfectly fine and recommended, just blowing thousands of dollars on books in the beginning is not really feasible. However to me personally owning a huge reference library is more benefical than owning a Jūyō sword. Unfortunately here in Finland the reality of having hands on experience with high quality items is extremely rare. Getting to meetings in Europe would be one way to go but as travelling is somewhat expensive, I plan to cut travelling in Europe to extend my yearly visit to Japan.

 

Here are some things that for me are facts about books vs. real life.

- Even in Japanese museums the items might not be perfectly presented, and at least with my eyesight & eye for details, it doesn't always work out with fine details. I am happy as overall shape & size is my main thing but I struggle with small details.

- With books you can spend as much time viewing and studying as you like. Even though I spent a lot of time at few shrines looking at their awesome items, having the books of their collections I can open them any time I like and do research with plenty of time and other books for extra resources.

- It is somewhat rare occasion to be able to study multiple items by the same smith side by side. In various NBTHK-EB meetings this has been possible for me. Tōken World in Nagoya has the most swords I have ever seen at one place. However due to their layout their items are scattered in various rooms and display cases. For example they had 4 Rai Kunitoshi blades, 3 Chōgi etc. however difficult to compare the items. Then as I have huge amount of books I can pull a massive amount of Chōgi blades side by side and have a good study with all the background info about the items featured in books. Of course seeing the items in person would be amazing but having the possibility to pull huge number of items by smith X to study is amazing, even though pictures and text only.

 

However I do think Jacques is correct in some things.

- It is a fact that enthusiasts in Japan have the opportunity to advance knowledge very fast. I have personally seen friends advance really fast with access to top class teachers with super high knowledge. That way you will learn things that would be next to impossible to learn just from books.

- In order to understand kantei you need to see and view swords (with a teacher if possible). My own knowledge is theoretical vs. real knowledge as I have not seen enough items in hand. So always it is extremely nice opportunity to view swords with the owner, or experienced people who can tell more about the sword(s).

 

I would strongly recommend reading the forum a lot, there is a lot of knowledge in this forum and threads. I think having an open mind to learning is important. Often when visiting here I learn something new, I remember reading few nice tidbits even this current week that I try to remember in the future.

[Toryu2020]

In Japan there are a plethora of introductory guide books - Nihonto Kantei Nyumon and the like. In fact there is an expectation that you have done a little study and read one of these BEFORE joining a kantei kai and looking at swords in hand. It should be no different for us. Books are the beginning and in hand study the goal...

[Toryu2020]

and since I haven't posted this in a while...

 

• 
• Gold Tier
• 
• •  2.2k
• Location:@SanFrancisco in California
• Name: Thomas C Helm

Posted February 17, 2023

Perfect opportunity for members of the NMB to get in some more study - especially those new to nihonto and those who are geographically isolated. We encourage you to join us the more folks who participate the better our programs will become. Check it out!

 

NCJSC Kantei Program
In the past year the NCJSC has moved from a printed newsletter to an all electronic format, in that same time we have instituted a new kantei study program for the benefit of our members. This program has three components; Shijo Kantei, Zoom Kantei and in-person hands-on Kantei.
Our Shijo kantei or “paper kantei” program is otherwise known as “Hon’Ami Koji’s Kantei Kyoshitsu” this is because the program comes from Hon’Ami Koji Sensei of Kamakura, Japan. Hon’Ami Sensei being a 24th generation polisher in the family tradition and head of the local NBTHK branch. In the past year we have looked at mainline Soshu, Hasebe, Enju, Unji of Bizen, Nanki Shigekuni, Inoue Shinkai and others.
Zoom kantei – popular with our out of town members this is our online program that lets you join us for live study from the comfort of your own home. Though many covid restrictions have been lifted here, we intend to continue this class due in part to its popularity. In the past year we have looked at the schools of Ichimonji, mainline Osafune, Hasebe, Yoshii, and Oei Bizen among others.
In-person hands-on kantei at our regular monthly meetings. This is not a new program, in fact we have been providing this study opportunity for our members each month for over thirty years! In that time we have seen perhaps every major artist in the world of nihonto excepting perhaps Masamune himself.
Each of these programs stands on it’s own and provides incredible insight and value for the student of nihonto. However we would like to propose the following approach; Starting with the Kantei Kyoshitsu, you can see the Japanese descriptions in the original Japanese side by side with an English translation this allows you to start to learn the terms and apply them to known artists work, it can also be used as a tool for learning Japanese as it is applied in the world of nihonto, lastly in the case where the terms are not translated it is an opportunity to refer to your NTHK Novice course and the glossary there for more complete descriptions.
Next is the Zoom kantei. This is a full course of nihonto education designed to take you from the beginning to the stage where you have the tools for in-person kantei. There are no curve balls thrown here and as students we all learn together. The focus is on one or two artists each month with discussion of the subject artists work, what other artists may have done similar work, how to get to the correct answer and strategies for playing the kantei “game”. This is often supplemented with examples of the subject artists work from the Juyo To-Ken Nado Zufu and other sources. Very often we are joined by Professor Gordon Robson from Japan providing for an unprecedented level of instruction found nowhere else.
These first two may be seen as time on the “practice range” and at our monthly meetings we have the opportunity to play hard ball just as they do at kantei meetings in Japan. You may choose to bid individually or to work as a team, the rules are the same as in Japan and the swords we see are the same or better than one might encounter at a meeting there. Granted it may make for a long day but it is always worth it to remain until “the reveal”, and the setsumei (explanation) never fails to provide new insight into well-known artists. Join us.
Thomas C Helm @San Francisco in California

(note -  the NTHK Novice Course is sent free to new members)

[Schneeds]

Some priceless knowledge can only be obtained from reading. This thread reminds me of my favorite Darcy post. I read it many times before buying my first blade and it took a while to really sink in:

 

When the NBTHK ventures out and puts a Muromachi smith's name on a mumei blade, they are doing the equivalent of smacking you in the face with a chicken Monty Python style. If they just said Tegai or Sue Tegai you might get some thoughts into your head about it being some kind of master smith or maybe it is really Nanbokucho and Juyo sufficient.

 

So they are winding the hell up and smacking you in the face with a Muromachi name that you can flip open a book and read about so that you will know this is a Muromachi blade in their opinion and you can look up on their website that it won't go Juyo and it is a suriage Muromachi sword and so the value is low. 

 

That's what they are doing.

 

Attribution is the first word for quality assessment. They are spelling this out in black and white. People need to take all of the information that they have and put together the big picture and to not try to hammer these square pegs into round holes. There are perfectly round holes that they already fit into

[Tim Evans]

Connor, 

 

One place to look for Japanese sword books is at you local libraries, you might be surprised. Also interlibrary loans are worth a look. For example, my local university East Asian library has several sword books available. 

 

As mentioned, books and internet images are not enough, you need to examine swords in-hand, preferably with experienced guidance. There are some options that do not require buying a sword first. I see from your profile you are in the United States, so you may try the following:

• Find out if there is a local Japanese sword collector club
• Find out if there is a local Japanese sword dealer you can visit. Most of them are willing to help you learn. When I started out I was fortunate to have three local dealers who let me look at swords. 
• Find out if there is a local specialist Japanese antique shop
• Look for  local:
  • Gun shows 
  • Militaria shows
  • Antique shows
  • Knife/sword shows
• Usually there will be a nominal entry fee. But be aware that there will be fakes and reproductions mixed in with the authentic nihonto. It is useful knowledge to recognize the fakes, so it would not hurt to handle a few. Most likely any authentic nihonto will be out of polish, but you can still learn from them. 
• Lastly, check the the Shows section of this forum and take a trip to one of the annual Japanese sword shows. You will meet a lot of knowledgeable people and be able to look at swords in polish. Some shows will have a Sword Study room with polished swords of a particular school. You may need to join an organization such as the NBTHK-AB to access that event. 
• Yes, it will be expensive (travel, hotel, admission, meals) but it would be a great learning experience. There is also the opportunity to network with other collectors and with dealers you may want to do business with once you are ready to buy one. 
• There are resources on NMB describing correct sword handling etiquette. Learn this and you will get along a lot better with sword owners.