WW2 Imperial Japanese Sword Book Nihonto Overview 1938 4th Ed w Box Pre-War

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WW2 Imperial Japanese Sword Book Nihonto Overview 1938 4th Ed w Box Pre-War:
$250.00

Description

Nihonto Overview (Japanese Sword Survey)

By Uchida Soten

Published December 1938 (4th Edition)

Okamoto Igyokan, Osaka, Japan

This is an authentic pre–World War II Japanese sword reference book, published during the early Showa period, when Japan was redefining its cultural and military identity.

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Historical Background

In the late 19th century, after the Meiji Restoration, Japan rapidly adopted Western military systems.

During this period, Western-style sabers temporarily replaced traditional Japanese swords in the military.

However, following the Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese Wars, Japan’s confidence as a nation grew.

By the early Showa era, nationalism and a return to traditional Japanese identity intensified, leading to a renewed appreciation of the Japanese sword—not merely as a weapon, but as a symbol of history, craftsmanship, and spirit.

This book was published precisely during that transition.

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About This Book

Authored by Uchida Soten, a pre-war Japanese sword researcher, this work was written as a serious study and reference, not as a decorative or casual publication.

The publisher, Okamoto Igyokan of Osaka, specialized in Japanese swords, martial traditions, and classical Japanese culture, producing books intended for collectors, researchers, and sword owners.

The book systematically explains:

• Blade shape and curvature

• Hamon and jihada

• Structural characteristics used in sword evaluation

At the beginning of the volume are plates featuring:

• Yasutsugu (National Treasure)

• Norimune (National Treasure)

These illustrate the standards by which Japanese swords were evaluated in pre-war Japan.

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Condition

• Includes the original storage box

• The spine of the box was detached and has been reinforced with adhesive to stabilize the structure

• Book shows age-related toning and wear

• No missing pages

• No writing or markings

• Fold-out plates and illustrations are present

This copy is best suited as a historical reference and study book, not as a pristine collector’s archive piece.

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Summary

This is a genuine survivor from a period when Japan was consciously returning from Western military influence to its own traditions.

For collectors, researchers, or historians, this book offers a direct window into how Japanese swords were understood and valued before and during WWII—through the eyes of pre-war Japan itself.

Own a piece of history.

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