Book Review: Katchū bugu jūyō bunka shiryō zuryoku (vol. 3) by Nihon Katchū Bugu Kenkyū Hozon Kai

Book Review: Katchū bugu jūyō bunka shiryō zuryoku (vol. 3) by Nihon Katchū Bugu Kenkyū Hozon KaiTitle: Katchū bugu jūyō bunka shiryō zuryoku (vol. 3)
Author: Nihon Katchū Bugu Kenkyū Hozon Kai
Publisher: Nihon Katchū Bugu Kenkyū Hozon Kai, 1998
ISBN: 4-88583-014-1 C3672
Language: Japanese
Illustrations: Numerous black and white pictures
Other: 271 pages, 30 cm by 21.5 cm, hardcover
Topics: Abumi, Bagu, Bugu, Kabuto, Katchū, Kura, Menpō, Nihontō, Tōsōgu
ID: B0003

The third of the official Japanese Armour Society (Nihon Katchū Bugu Kenkyū Hozon Kai – NKBKHK) books with pictures and descriptions of the next 130 jūyō graded armours and samurai related items (#261-#390). Overall, the quality of the black and white pictures has increased although some are still too small or of not good enough quality. Most items are from the Edo period. Most items are tucked away in private collections, so this book is for many of these probably the only way to get some documentation.

In total 5 books exist (as of 2014) in this series. All of them were quite expensive when published as they were printed in very small quantities. Every item has a picture (on the left side of the book) and an objective description of the item on the right site, with also the time period for which the item got the jūyō (top) grade. Grades are given in a yearly Shinsa session, with a jury of senior society members.