Japanese Swords and Armor
Masterpieces from Thirty of Japan's Most Famous Samurai
The first book to present the amazing swords and armour belonging to the most famous Samurai in Japanese history!
In Japanese Swords and Armor, Samurai sword expert Paul Martin presents scores of magnificent blades, fittings and armor from the 12th to the 20th centuries which belonged to thirty of the most famous warriors and leaders in Japanese history including:
- A wooden sword commissioned and owned by Miyamoto Musashi, Japan's greatest swordsman; an exact replica of the sword he wielded at the legendary duel on Ganryu-jima Island
- The tachi blade worn by Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate and the powerful unifier of Japan – which was later presented to the Meiji Emperor
- The katchu (armour) belonging to Minamoto no Yoshitsune, hero of the Genpei Wars and later gifted as a votive offering to the Kasuga Shrine in Nara
- The naginata (halberd) said to be the favoured weapon of Tomoe Gozen, Japan's famous female Samurai, that was immortalised in the classic book Tale of the Heike
- And many more!
These masterful works of art are presented in 200 stunning colour photos including eight double gatefolds. Many of these objects, which rival the greatest military artifacts found anywhere, are designated national treasures or important cultural properties by the Japanese government and reflect their importance to the Samurai, their culture, and to the nation and people of Japan.
Paul Martin is a Tokyo-based Japanese sword and culture specialist who brings expertise from his tenure as a curator at the British Museum, where he managed the Japanese arms and armor collections. With a Master's Degree in Asian Studies, he's a Trustee for the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Sword Culture and founder of the Shin-Gobankaji Project. He is the first non-Japanese recipient and two-time winner of Tokyo's sword appraisal competition. Paul has translated for major Japanese sword exhibitions, authored key books and DVDs, and appeared on global TV networks from the Discovery Channel, to History Channel, National Geographic, NHK World, and the BBC.
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