Facts and Fundamentals of Japanese Swords: A Collector's Guide [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

This book is well written and flows fluently through the subject matter. The illustrations are very well done as well as the photographs that are in black and white. I was especially impressed by the photo depictions of the Hada. It covers the topic of the Japanese Sword so that a beginner can understan the topic without a dictionary. Each part of the sword is covered with the correct terminology which is easy to follow. I am happy to add this book to my library of knowledge on such a complicated subject as the Japanese Sword.

As I've noted in other reviews, the appreciation of nihonto (Japanese swords) for those who don't speak or read Japanese is a bit of a challenge owing to a relative dearth of widely available books on the finer points of studying these antique weapons and works of art. We are fortunate to now have several different introductory books in print (by the likes of John Yumoto, Leon Kapp/Yoshindo Yoshihara, Kazan Sato, Clive Sinclaire, and Colin Roach), some recent museum exhibition catalogues from exhibits of nihonto in the U.S., and now this latest welcome addition, "Facts and Fundamentals of Japanese Swords: A Collector's Guide." This book is an English-language revision and translation of a Japanese-language book by Nobuo Nakahara, a researcher and expert on nihonto.

Unlike most other books out there, this is not so much an introductory overview that focuses on history, culture, or over-arching basics with pretty color pictures, but more of a specialty text that focuses on some finer details of studying nihonto (i.e. the sword itself). And unlike the similarly translated encyclopediac work, "The Connoisseur's Book of Japanese Swords" by Kokan Nagayama, this is a much slimmer volume (191 pages) written in a less dense and more accessible, conversational style. The book is divided into four main sections: An Overview (covering blade types, parts, and historical development), Fundamental Elements (covering specific aspects of the sword such as hada, hamon, kissaki, nakago, horimono, etc.), Sword Appreciation (discussing etiquette and kantei-sho), and an appendix featuring many different pictures of various blades. The translator, Paul Martin (an authority on nihonto in the English-speaking world), has also included a handy vocabulary review at the beginning of each sub-chapter (with a larger glossary in the back) as well as several sections of Q&A with Nakahara-san in which preceding topics are clarified and expanded further.

The organization of the book and the breadth of material make it suitable for a relative novice like myself, though the information presented is fairly specialized and geared towards those seriously interested in studying nihonto and collectors interested in some of the finer points of kantei (sword appreciation and identification). Also, as Mr. Martin points out, Nakahara-san "has some fairly strong opinions that, while intellectual and enlightening, are not always in line with the mainstream point of view." These seem to include a very narrow definition of what constitutes shobu-zukuri, the belief that some tachi were worn in the sash (blade facing upwards like an uchi-katana), the rise of the importance of the wakizashi beyond the katana in the Shinto era, the role that kesho polishes and horimono play in potentially disguishing flaws, the problems presented by mumei (unsigned) and suriage (shortened) blades, and the paramount importance of nioi-guchi in determining the quality of a blade. There are also some excellent finer points on proper handling etiquette when examining blades, like why to avoid wearing gloves that are sometimes provided at shows. This is but a small sampling of the kind of thought-provoking information presented throughout the book and is not available in any other English-language reference that I can think of. The book also has ample illustrations and black and white matte photos to supplement the text, but doesn't try to be an "eye candy" kind of volume. For those who don't have easy access to nihonto study groups and club newsletters, this is wonderful information presented in a fashion similar to oral tradition from master to student.

This isn't a kind of "if you could just get one book, get this one" reference, and it's more sophisticated and technical than any available colorful introductory book, but it's an approachable primer packed with great information that really gets you thinking. As a comparison, Nagayama's "Connoisseur's Book..." is far more fact-filled and comprehensive, but also dense and difficult to digest compared to this accessible and efficient text. As Nakahara-san intended, "Facts and Fundamentals..." sets you on the path to learn "the correct way to study Japanese swords" and also "teaches people how to get the most out of swords." Highly enjoyable and recommended for anyone seriously interested in Japanese swords.

For the experienced collector, this book presents some controversial but I believe valid points about the preservation and collecting of Japanese swords. Very well written and documented with clear, relevant photos. Also some of the best photos of swords in a book of this price that I have seen. Excellent translation also, with comments from the translator expanding on some of the material to make it more accessible to those without a full knowledge of Japanese sword terms and jargon. I found this book so useful that I have bought multiple copies and gifted them to other collectors. Probably not the best book for beginners as much of what is put out goes against canon, but once you've been around a while, it's refreshing (in my opinion anyway) to hear some alternative opinions and explanations.