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Posted

Gentlemen

I have just received a new book written jointly by Yoshindo Yoshihara and Leon and Hiroko Kapp, entitled The Art of the Japanese Sword. Especially as the authors are personally known to many of us, I thought you might be interested in my review of the book at http://www.to-ken.com under Articles

 

I believe it is in a rather limited edition but will be available on Amazon very soon.

Regards

Clive Sinclaire

Posted

Thanks Clive, looks like a worthwhile book based purely on the author's experience.

However, just wondering if you can advise us if there is much detailed info on smiths/schools/kantei etc, or is this mainly targeted at the novice market?

There are a number of books addressing the "making of the sword" and other basic info...would like to know if there is much material that isn't covered by the main beginner books that we all know of?

 

Brian

Posted

Hi Brian

There are parts of the book dealing with sword appreciation and a section on the old swords and gokkaden which is beutifully illustrated with Tanobe sensei's oshigata. It is certainly a very good introductory book but may not be quite as advanced as you might wish. Personally, however, I like it but then I am a succour for sword books!

Clive S

Posted

May I echo Clive's comments on this new publication? Whilst it covers much of the ground these authors dealt with in their first book, it does so in a much more detailed and lavish way. Many of the illustrations are new, and all are in colour as well as being in a larger format. In short a work that is genuinely authoritative having been written and illustrated by people who actually make and polished swords.

Ian Bottomley

  • 1 month later...
Posted

I had a look at this book prior to the SF show and agree with the above reviews. It is not an advance study book but very well done. It does have some material not seen previously seen.

 

The nicest thing, as Ian stated, is the large format and increased number of photographs which if memory serves me, were all in color.

Posted

"would like to know if there is much material that isn't covered by the main beginner books that we all know of?"

 

Absolutely. There is more detail and pics of Yaki ire than ive seen in any other book on the subject.

 

I grabbed a copy at the show, and all three signed it.

Posted

Visually this book is really stunning, and it provides excellent pictures of the craft. The black background works surprisingly well, I had my doubts before I had this in hand. Just for heads up, Susan from Tuttle informed me that they will be publishing more sword literature in the future, hopefully the future book(s) will be as good as this one.

Posted

Thanks for that link Barry.Have one on the way.

I thought the first book was immensely informative and took the mystery out of the process.

Thanks for the heads up Clive. :beer:

  • 11 months later...
Posted

I learned yesterday that the book's producer, Mr. Paolo Saviolo still has special limited editions of the book for sale whcih were printed by Saviolo Editioni. These editions were signed by Yoshindo Yoshihara and each book has a serial number. The link to the web site is: http://www.theartofthejapanesesword.com Just follow the links if you want an autographed copy while they last.

 

Saviolo publishing is closed for the month of August for vacation, but will be shipping the orders in September. Shipping is included in the cost.

 

I just finished reading the copy I received from Amazon. Having recently watched a traditional Japanese smith make his own steel and a sword, I believe that this new book includes picture of every step of the process.

 

I do not believe anyone will find a better value than the Tuttle Publishing edition being sold by Amazon.

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