Title: Nihon no kassen bugu jiten (zuroku)Encyclopedia of arms related things as they are illustrated in battle scrolls, mostly illustrated with line drawings.
Title: Nihon no katchū bugu jitenGreat armor encyclopedia with many pictures and drawings, covering all eras, types etc.
Title: Nihon katchū daizukan
Author: Yoshihiko Sasama
Publisher: Kashiwa Shobō, 1988
ISBN: 4-7601-0390-2 C3620
Language: Japanese
Illustrations: Some color illustrations, many black and white illustrations
Other: 474 pages, 37 cm by 26.5 cm, hardcover
Topics: Kabuto, Katchū, Menpō, Sōmen
ID: B0205
This is the famous (and originally very expensive – 80,000 yen) encyclopedia of Yoshihiko Sasama, also called: An Illustrated Book on Japanese Armor. Almost no pictures but many illustrations from Sasama. Of course, many illustrations come back in other publications, but the big advantage here is, that the book is big, so much more detail can be seen in the illustrations. One of his latest works, so content wise probably the most up to date.
Title: Todōfukenbetsu seishi kamon daijiten
Author: Shigeru Chikano
Publisher: Kashiwa Shobō, 2004
ISBN: 4-7601-2520-5 C2523
Language: Japanese
Illustrations: Black and white illustrations
Other: 1023, 997 pages, 26.5 by 19.5 cm, hardcover
Topics: Kamon
ID: B0064
A fabulous set of books on kamon and to which family they are related. Difficult to navigate.
Title: Nihon katchū dai zukan
Author: Yoshihiko Sasama
Publisher: Kashiwa Shobō, 2007
ISBN: 978-4-7601-3171-6
Language: Japanese
Illustrations: Some color illustrations, many black and white illustrations
Other: 474 pages, 30 cm by 21.5 cm, hardcover
Topics: Kabuto, Katchū, Menpō, Sōmen
ID: B0013
This is a reprint from the famous (and very expensive) encyclopedia. Almost no pictures but many illustrations from Sasama. Off course, many illustrations come back in other publications, but the big advantage here is, that the book is big, so much more detail can be seen in the illustrations. Still in print so easy to find.
