Antiquarian bookshops in Tokyo/Jinbocho

[sabiji]

I wanted to ask if anyone has experience in which antiquarian bookshops in Jinbocho you can find sword literature?

I was last there in 2019, and can only remember Isseido, which had a larger art book section, but I had to stop due to time constraints.

[Baka Gaijin]

Just down to the right from the corner of 302 Yasukuni Dori Ave and 301 Hakusan Dori Ave, with Suit Select , there's a small ground floor Mamasan Papasan bookshop which also sells Noh Theatre memorabilia (Masks, Fans, Scores etc), as I recall there's a  "Japanese only gentleman's club" on one of the floors above it.

 

It is between Iwanami Books' modern building with a Black and white sign "BOOK CAFE WORK" and  Hara Shobo Print dealers.

 

As you go through the one door on the left (of the book shop not the club)  some of the side shelves have Books and Magazines covering Martial Arts and the opposite side shelves are the Swords and Armour related.

 

There is a small cut across into the Noh Theatre related items and an exit door.

 

In November last year the were some O Uma Jirushi and other woodblock printed books at the back.

[sabiji]

Thank you very much! I remember the “Book Cafe Work”. Then I will definitely find the small bookshop mentioned.

[Brian]

Been ages since I was there. But I remember just walking down the book street, and every single shop I walked into had a section of books on swords or tosogu, mostly at cheap prices. You can really stock up if you feel like it. Some had far more than others, but there was no shortage.

[sabiji]

Brian, in 2019 I picked up my daughter in Tokyo after she had spent a year mainly in Kyushu. Although our hotel was in Jinbocho, the few days were so full of appointments that I actually only made it to Isseido once - just before closing time.

 

I was in Japan with my wife in 2022. In order not to burden her with too much “sword stuff”, I was only able to make two short visits to the NBTHK Museum and the National Museum. In the latter I was only in the Honkan, while in the Heiseikan (I think it was in the Heiseikan) the anniversary exhibition of the National Treasure Blades was on display.

 

And I walked past it because my wife wanted to go somewhere else. (I only noticed it when I was back from Japan...)

 

This year I'm traveling alone, so the focus is only on my hobby! And if I turn every single bookshop upside down this time...

[atm]

I just bought the Nihonto Taikan for a good price from Kanazawa Shoten. I have not been there in person, but their website lists many sword books. They’ve apparently moved from Jinbocho to Nakano. 

[Toryu2020]

The absolute best is Isshindo just up the block from Isseido - many many books on swords and fittings and a warehouse full of rare titles so if you don't see what you are looking for ask. I used to haunt the bookstores when I lived there and many places around the Kanto I would ask for sword books and they would tell me "no Isshindo bought them all"...

 

-t

[sabiji]

Oh God Thomas, what have you done? Now I have to buy an extra suitcase! 

Many thanks for the tip! The offers on their homepage look very promising! 

[Baka Gaijin]

Watashi Mo

 

Cheers Thomas

 

Just found this useful PDF

 

https://en.jimbou.in...en/walkaround007.pdf

[sabiji]

Vor 2 Stunden sagte Baka Gaijin:

 

Habe gerade dieses nützliche PDF gefunden

 

https://en.jimbou.in...en/walkaround007.pdf

iiiiiiidesuneeee!

[CSM101]

Servus Thomas,

 

It is always difficult to search the book titles. So, here is a list:Bücherliste Japan.pdf

[Jussi Ekholm]

I can also recommend Isshindo. Last summer I had bit similar experience as Thomas above, I tried to find few very rare books that were supposedly in inventory of few other book stores in area (as I had checked that online). Of course my Japanese is limited but I had book titles in Japanese on my phone, and the store address, always the answer was that they pointed me to Isshindo. 

[Brano]

If you know what you want, you should find it on Kosho

https://www.kosho.or.jp/