Japanese Swords and Armor: Samurai Masterpieces

Masterpieces: Japanese Swords and Armor is a 232-page illustrated book about weapons and armour associated with thirty notable samurai warriors and leaders. It pairs historical and artistic context with colour photographs of objects spanning the 12th to the 20th centuries, including eight double gatefolds.

At a glance

Illustrated coverage of swords, fittings and armour associated with thirty samurai and Japanese leaders.
The listed examples include a wooden sword associated with Miyamoto Musashi, a tachi worn by Tokugawa Ieyasu and armour belonging to Minamoto no Yoshitsune.
Includes 200 colour photographs and eight double gatefolds, according to the listing.
The described objects span the 12th to the 20th centuries.

Price

£25.83Save 26%

Reference price: ~~£35.00~~

Price checked: 12 Nov 2026

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Often bought together

The Art of the Japanese Sword: The Craft of Swordmaking and Its Appreciation

£34.99

Samurai Swords - A Collector's Guide: A Comprehensive Introduction to History, Collecting and Preservation

£19.05

Pros and cons

Pros

Combines object photography with historical and artistic context in one volume.
The broad period and range of featured warriors offer more than a narrow focus on sword-making alone.
Customer feedback specifically praises the photography and the book's contextual content.

Technical specifications

12 specifications

Book details
Publisher	Tuttle Publishing
Publication date	29 Nov. 2024
Language	English
Print length	232 pages
ISBN-10	4805318384
ISBN-13	978-4805318386

Contents
Photographs	200 stunning color photos
Gatefolds	eight double gatefolds
Historical span	12th to the 20th centuries
Featured subjects	thirty of the most famous warriors and leaders in Japanese history

Dimensions and installation
Weight listed	1.47 kg
Dimensions	25.4 x 2.79 x 25.4 cm

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Readers interested in Japanese swords, samurai history and arms and armour.
Collectors or art-history readers looking for illustrated examples of historic Japanese objects.
Readers who value photography and historical context alongside descriptive text.

Less suited to

Readers seeking a general history of Japan rather than a focused book on samurai weapons and armour.
Buyers who need a lightweight book for frequent carrying, given the listed weight of 1.47 kg.

Japanese Swords and Armor: Samurai Masterpieces · photo 2 — Additional product photo 2

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.9 / 5 · 81 ratings

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Customer feedback highlights the book's research, photographs, historical and artistic context, writing and presentation. The reported appreciation of lighting and camera angles is particularly relevant to a volume built around images of historic objects. Feedback also mentions the stitched pages. These are customer-reported impressions, not a guarantee of a particular print or binding experience.

Positive themes

Customers describe the content as well researched and value the historical and artistic context.
Customers praise the photographs, including their lighting and angles.
Feedback also appreciates the writing and mentions the stitched pages.