Book Review: Katchū bugu jūyō bunka shiryō zuryoku (vol. 5) by Nihon Katchū Bugu Kenkyū Hozon Kai

Book Review: Katchū bugu jūyō bunka shiryō zuryoku (vol. 5) by Nihon Katchū Bugu Kenkyū Hozon KaiTitle: Katchū bugu jūyō bunka shiryō zuryoku (vol. 5)
Author: Nihon Katchū Bugu Kenkyū Hozon Kai
Publisher: Nihon Katchū Bugu Kenkyū Hozon Kai, 2014
ISBN: None
Language: Japanese
Illustrations: Numerous color pictures
Other: 210 pages, 30 cm by 21.5 cm, hardcover
Topics: Abumi, Bagu, Bugu, Kabuto, Katchū, Kura, Menpō, Sōmen
ID: B1152

The fifth of the official Japanese Armour Society (Nihon Katchū Bugu Kenkyū Hozon Kai – NKBKHK) books with pictures and descriptions of the next 107 jūyō graded armours and samurai related items (#526-#632). Overall, very nice and big color pictures. Again many items also from the Momoyama and Muromachi periods. 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.