Token
Oshigata Taikan
by
Inutsuka
Tokutaro
Token
Oshigata Taikan
by
Inutsuka
Tokutaro
Printed 300 only and this is 185th. Masterpiece oshigata book of Inutsuka Tokutaro. Weight 5.6 kg and size is 34cm X 25cm with 10cm thickness. Cover is genuine leather with original case. This book contains more than 500 swordsmiths with super-clean oshigata, boshi, hamon, smith history, and his characteristics. Most of blades are from Kokuho, JuyoBunkazai and Juyo Token level. Printed only once in 1975. SOLD
Nihon
Meito Zukan
by
Sato
Kanzan
26.5cm X 37cm size big book. Printed 1500 only. This contains Kokuho and Juyo level swords in detial and the history of Nihonto, their features, swordmaking and Shogun's blades are explained together. Full list of Kokuho and Juyo Bunkazai blades are listed also. Written by Sato Kanzan and directed by Honma Kunzan. English article about history of Japanese sword is included. Total 304 pages. $500
Out-of-print
Kaji Hei
Oshigata
Complete
2 volumes
by
Ikeda
Suematsu
Vol. I : Zuroku Bunkyu-Genji
Hon
Vol. II : Gimei no Sougou
Kenkyu
Kaji Hei Oshigata was first published in 1862 and reshaped as two volumes with excellent quality. Hundreds of real size shoshin-mei oshigatas, which nearly didn't appear in other books, are listed in Vol. I (286 pages) systematically. Each page contains about 5-6 oshigatas. Vol. II (236 pages) is for Gimei research. Nakasone-Kotetsu, Taikei Naotane, Suishinshi Masahide, and other smith's gimei and shoshin-mei are illustrated and clearly compared. This volume will give a lot of points to distinguish genuine blades from gimei ones. Book size is big, 22cm X 30.5cm, and nearly mint condition. Printed in 1984 as a limited edition. Very hard to find as a complete set with this condition. SOLD
Koto/Shinto Toko Sakuhu Jiten & Token Nyusatsu Kantei Jiten
Complete 2 volumes
by
Fukae YasunobuAs the author reveals on the preface, this book is purely made for wise bidding at auction and kantei. In left book, about 300 smithschools (150 Koto and 150 Shinto & Shinshinto) and their features are well classified. On the other hand, the right book shows essential points when one buy the blade and 120 Kantei problems and their answers. Following sugata, hamon, hada, boshi, horimono, and nakago, the smith or school of blade can be guessed with the help of these two excellent books. Published in 1984 with small prints and they are quite rare books. 208 pages and 320 pages, 20cm X 26.5cm, excellent condition with original cases. $500 Out-of-print
Nihonto
Zenshu
by
Honma
Kunzan & Sata Kanzan
A complete 9 volumes with excellent condition! Printed in 1966, 1st edition. These books are one of the masterpieces in Nihonto history. Every chpaters are written by the famous professionals in their fields and assorted by the previous NBTHK president Honma Kunzan and Sato Kanzan. It covers all area of Nihonto from the beginning to the end including lots of clear oshigata, swordmaking process, kodogu, kantei, etc. Quite rare and hard to get. Large size, 19cm X 27cm. SOLD
Kubikiri
Asaemon Token Oshigata
Complete
2 volumes
by
Fukunaga
Suiken
Tameshigiri (Cutting Test) was a practical way to judge the sharpness of the blade in Nihonto. Using condemned criminals, this cutting test were done by various ways. These two books written by Fukunaga Sensei show the history of Tameshigiri, its system, method, and cutting tested blades with their oshigatas. Based on the famous Yamada Family's secretive book 'Token Oshigata' and their methods to examine the blade sharpness, many real photos and pictures are well illustrated. Hundreds of famous blade and their oshigata which did cutting test were listed. Volume I is 225 pages and volume II is 211 pages. Published in 1970, 19cm X 26.5cm, and ivory silk hard cover. Books are in excellent condition. SOLD
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in the Museum of Fine Arts Boston by Morihiro Ogawa This is one of very well-known English reference and sought by many people. About 400 items of swords and kodogu are listed with excellent photo and documentation. Lots of juyo level blades and sword fittings are well organized. Book is quite heavy and large, 26cm X 37cm. 423 pages, published in 1997. SOLD |
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by Fukunaga Suiken These complete 5 volumes of Nihonto Encyclopedia are written by the famous Token scholar Fukunaga Suiken. Fukunaga Sensei is a medical doctor but he is also well known as a credible Token scholar. His kantei is one of the faithful papers. These books are limited printing and literally 'Big Dictonary'. Out of printed and quite hard to find. There are many oshigata books but these books explain the every terms which are encountered in Nihonto Study. Of course, lots of swordsmiths and information are well explained. Photos are quite clear and high quality. Pages are more than 1700 in total and size is 19cm X 26cm. $600 Out-of-print |
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by Fujishiro Yoshio Rare book written by Fujishiro Yoshio who wrote the famous Nihon Toko Jiten. This book was published about 60 years ago, 1939 prewar, but in excellent condition. It contains 250 famous swordsmth profiles with their clean oshigata and market values, classified as Katana, Wakizashi, and Tanto respectively. 1 smith / 1page format. Quite easy to follow. It's also interesting that he divided the value of the blade following the different signature style. For example, the first Kunisada if he signed "Sesshu ju Fujiwara Kunisada", the value was 300 but if he signed "Izumi no kami Kunisada", it was 320, and "Oite Osaka Izumi no kami Kunisada" signed blade was 350!. $200 |
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- Sabigatana ga Kahou ni narumade - Subtitled "From rusted blade to become the family treasure". The book searches for the procedure to make the blade as a fine art. From the discovery of rusted blade to make it a beautiful blade, this book guide all procedure. Japanese sword craftmen list, dealer list, and realistic price of swords are also listed in this book. Many interesting stories about polishing, saya-making, habaki-making, etc. 157 pages, printed in 1972. 15.5cm X 21.5cm. $150 |
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by Shizuoka Branch of NBTHK Yoshisuke was the founder of sunshu shimada school in Kamakura era at Suruga province. After then, many famous smiths were born in Suruga including subsequent Yoshisuke line, Hirosuke, Sukemune, etc. This bigbook can be called Surugato Taikan as it covers all Yoshisuke line from Koto to Shinshinto and other Suruga, Enshu, Izu, Totomi, Dushu, and Sunshu smiths. Quality can be comparable to Iimura's Taikan series. Printed in 1976, about 400 pages, containing many full size oshighata, 22.5cm X 31.5cm, silk hard cover with original case. Limited edition. $400 |
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from Akita Branch of Nihon Shyuka Token Kai This 350 limited printed book was published in 1981 to show the secretive blades in Akita Ken. 125 remarkable blades have been preserved for a long time and these are exposed in this book for the first time. Large oshigata and sugata of blades are quite clearly photographed with blade information. This book will be a great asset for the serious Nihonto collector. 252 pages, 21cm X 29.5cm large size with excellent silk hard cover. This book has been 'not for sale' book and extremely hard to find. $400 |
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by Murakami Takasuke The late Dr.Murakami Takasuke was one of the famous appraisers who worked in Showa Era. His kanteisho is also regarded as one of the faithful papers. This was published by his pupils such as Shibata Mitsuo and Fukunaga Suiken as a limited print after his death. This is 893th of 1200 prints. Lots of clear photos and oshigatas are from private collections in Japan so most of them are only seen in this book. From Koto to Gendaito, about 300 blades are listed well. 19cm X 26.5cm, original box, Brown silk hard cover, 369 pages. Printed in 1979. $400 |
Nihonto
no Kenkyu to Kansho
by
Tsuneishi
Hideaki
These two complete set are for the professional Nihonto collectors. Koto vol. 488 pages, Shinto vol. 433 pages. Most of contents are Japanese description, not oshigata books. From Koto to Gendaito, smiths' rankings, history, characteristics and their value are included. 14cm X 20cm, luxurious silk hard covers, excellent condition. $350
Out-of-print
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by Sato Kanzan 'Kikou' means 'Journey' in English. This book with great B/W photos leads you the journey of Nihonto with the guide of Dr. Sato Kanzan. It shows a lot of rare photos of the origin and famous blades of the 5 traditions of Nihonto: Yamato, Bizen, Yamashiro, Mino, and Sagami. Also this book has lots of interesting information including Gendaito smiths, famous Nihonto museums in Japan, Change of Nihonto price, etc. Excellent photos and large size, 22.5cm X 29cm, 172 pages. This book was specially printed and was not sold in public. $200 |
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by Yokota Takao This book shows the great Nihonto which was carried by the great Samurai from Heian Era to Edo Era. It also shows the change and tradition of each Era with good examples to enlighten your eyes on Nihonto. Book contains lots of important history and relics of Samurai together. Many Juyo Bunkazai level blades are listed here. Printed in 1994 but out of print now. 196 pages, 18.5cm X 26cm. $150 |
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