Japanese Swords: Cultural Icons of a Nation; The History, Metallurgy and Iconography of the Samurai Sword

This is is one of the two best books on Japanese swords, the other being 'The Art of the Japanese Sword' by Kapp & Yoshihara. This book by Colin Roach about the same size (big, coffee table style) but has 176 pages compared to Kapp & Yoshihara's 251. Roach's book comes with a DVD which is well made and follows the theme in the book. Roach is adept in Japanese martial arts, being a black belt in Akido. His understanding of the sword as a martial weapon and his research have given us a book that explains the difference in sword designs over the different periods in Japanese history. We are mostly accustomed to the Samurai sword of the Edo period. We will be enchanted by those of the Nara period where the handle is longer than the blade. It is from the exact drawings as well as the beautiful colour photographs that Roach's descriptions are best appreciated.

The book itself:My husband absolutely loved this book! I don't know a lot about Japanese swords, but he does - so I was going on a limb purchasing this item. But it did not disappoint! He spent days pouring over it while learning something new on almost every page, and he still has a ways to go before he will read every word. The pictures were very informative and were beautiful too. Plenty to learn in here, even for an aficionado. The book is larger (both in size and in length, i.e. number of pages) so it feels like a good amount of information for the price you pay. The cover is very pretty and has almost a pearl-like finish to it - a perfect addition for the coffee table. All in all, it was a great purchase. I don't think you can go wrong with this book!The shipping/damage:Ok, this is the entire reason why I only gave this product 3 stars. The first time I ordered the book, it came with a box that was too big for it - with a couple other items - and not enough padding/plastic air pockets. For such a heavy book that is paperback and would be bound to move around in a box too big for it, that of course meant that it ended up damaged through the shipping process. The book's cover had been bent significantly on the corners, and even the spine itself had been bent (don't know how the shipping process was that rough but it was apparently). I was upset because it was meant for Christmas and time was running out for a replacement to come. Amazon gladly sent a replacement, but the second time it came the cover was also damaged. I wanted another replacement, but they told me they couldn't send me one - since they were going to have to investigate the seller situation first. So I ended up giving my husband the slightly less-damaged of the two, but I was still a little disappointed about that. Don't know if they've fixed the situation with the seller, but if you're ordering this as a gift be sure to do it with plenty of time before whatever occasion the book is for - just in case you need a replacement.

This book is a phenomenal compilation of information via literature, photographs and a compact disk. The information succinctly explains the cultural etiology of the Samurai Sword (Nihonto), its historical religious significance, and its relationship, influence and integration into modern Japanese society.The chapters are well categorized in a logical sequence that detail the cultural and religious lore associated with the genesis of the traditional steel used for a sword's production (tamahagane); historically, the manifest martial need, events and evolution that created the world-renowned Samurai Sword; the various methods of craftsmanship, technique and skill employed in a blade's production which, fantastically, have resulted in a cultural heritage integrated into a modern society and industry; the historical periods of the Samurai Sword and their distinguishing characteristics and features; the transition and transmutation of the Sword into an artistic and cultural icon; the modern craftsman who continue the cultural heritage of Samurai Sword and the its impact on the modern world.The book smartly utilizes a variety of photographs that effectively illustrate technical explanations. The illustrations provide a clear understanding of the subject matter. And the book serves well to dispel common myths and misunderstandings about the Samurai Sword. I would highly recommend the book for the connoisseur, aficionado, and the novice alike who appreciate the Samurai Sword and seek a continuing education on the subject.

Well researched and illustrated history of the samurai sword and culture of Japan. A necessary book for any collector of person with an interest in Japan.

As someone who thought of myself as moderately knowledgeable about japanese history and weapons I find myself humbled. I had to backtrack several references to discover most of what I know about this subject needs to be piled up and placed into the burnable trash! An excellent piece of scholarship.

Excellent reference book with a great deal of information about the the various types of swords and the cultural importance of the sword. Well illustrated and an interesting read. Good resource information and additional resources identified. I contacted several of the resources as well as the author and found all to be very responsive and helpful. Unfortunately, as another reviewer noted, the editor did not do a very good job of proofreading and allowed the book to be printed with a number of errors that could have been easily corrected.

This is a beautiful book. I love just looking into it. Then reading about the history and background of this art is amazing.The work and love of sword craft is very special. The author has a great knowledge of what he's writing about.I never thought it could fetch my interest as it did.I really recommend this book. Just put it on your table and go back into it from time to time.Being a Norwegian it's very exotic to read about a far away culture such as the japanese...I just had some knowledge about Samurais and their swords...I guess that's why this book caught my attention.I'm glad i bought it.

Nice illustrations, the sword world is my thing, the Dojo and CD are an extra, but not for me. For quality and price it is a great buy.

Interest in Japanese culture and student of iaido I would recommend this book to friends and also fellow club members

Excellent book DVD real bonus

Great quality book fantastic information and detailed illustrations .

A beautiful book, alot of information for the beginner to intermediate level katana enthusiast! Highly recommend and proud to display along side my new katana collection! Worth the asking price!