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REFERENCE THE CONNOISSEUR'S BOOK OF JAPANESE SWORDS KOKAN NAGAYAMA Translated By Kenji Mishina Tokyo: Kodansha International, 1997 348 pages. ¥7.500
As a weapon and work of art, lire sword occupies a proud place in Japan's cultural heritage. It has also attracted a devoted international following in the form of kantéi-kai, or sword-appreciation meetings. This lavishly illustrated translation of the authoritative Token Kantéi Tokuhon (A Primer of SwordAppreciation) is designed for Japanese sword connoisseurs around the world who are keen Lo learn more about the appraisal and attribution of swords. For uninitiated readers who have a little patience and need an English-language reference work on swords, The Connoisseur's Book of Japanese Swords may prove a blessing.
Chapter 1 presents a general history of the Japanese sword. It traces the changing shape of the sword since antiquity, explains different kinds of swords (including spears) and identifies the parts of...