Essential reference books for collectors

[Dean Brock]

I have no idea if this has been covered here before and I have overlooked it, but I want to start a thread on Japanese militaria reference books to serve as a bibliography for us beginning collector's and advanced alike who may not be aware of a specific title. This is to include uniforms, field gear, medals etc. The only exceptions would be be books on Japanese swords and firearms because I believe that these would deserve threads of their own.
Many times beginning collectors to which I include myself, will post questions that could have easily been answered by having the appropriate reference material handy to help make an identification, uses of , branch of service etc. A well known collector on this forum gave me some advice and it rings true, " Buy the Book before you buy the item" So with that, I will start with those titles that I am aware of, and if I am off on any of the titles please correct me. Everyone is sure to have something to throw into the mix so type away.


Uniforms and Equipment of the Imperial japanese Army in World War II by Mike Hewitt, 2002 , Schiffer books


Imperial Japanese Army and Navy Uniforms and Equipments, by Nakata

In the name of a Living God ( Japanese medals , civic), by P.L. Murphy and S.L Ackley


A DICTIONARY OF MILITARY TERMS
English - Japanese and Japanese - English
Lt.Col. H.T.Creswell, et al (1942)
A publication of the University of Chicago Press, this unique, scholarly reference fills a needed gap when translating military materials. Unlike conventional Japanese-language dictionaries, this was prepared specifically with contextual references to military use. An effective tool to draw from your bookshelf for research, it affords the reader the important perspective and insight to both period and application.

[MikeB]

Reference Books

Glad you started this thread Dean. I would agree with you on the Nakata book as well as Hewitt's. Hewitt has great illustrations and covers most of what a collector will find on the market today. While Nakata's book is in Japanese (it has an english insert that cover parts of it,) and it too provides another good reference for comparison with Mike's book. Both may be found on e-Bay although you can purchase Hewitt's book from Yahoo at a bit cheaper price. I would also agree with you on the military (1940's) version of the dictionary. They have terms that are lacking in dictionary's today. I would also recommend Gary Nila's books on Imperial Japanese Navy uniforms and related items. Mike

[LToms]

Another book that I like is "Handbook on Japanese Military Forces" this is a reprint of the 1944 War Department Handbook. I found it listed several times on www.bookfinder.com as both new and used.

Phil

[Banzi64]

Another book I was told was a must is " JAPANESE ARMY FIELD CAPS DURING THE CHINESE CAMPAIGN 1932-1941". Written by Ueno Satoshi

[Eric Doody]

Here are some more books...

The Japanese Army 1931-45 (1), 1931-42, by Philip Jowett, Osprey Publishing, ISBN 1-84176-353-5


The Japanese Army 1931-45 (2), 1942-45, by Philip Jowett, Osprey Publishing, ISBN 1-84176-354-3

<O</OJapanese Paratrooper Forces of World War II, by Gordon Rottman & Akira Takizawa, Osprey Publishing, ISBN 1-84176-903-7

Japanese Military Uniforms 1930-1945, by Ritta Nakanishi, Koji Ogawa/Dai Nihon Kaiga, ISBN 4-499-20587-5

<O</OJapanese Infantry Arms In World War II, by Ritta Nakanishi, DAINIPPONKAIGA Co., Ltd., ISBN 4-499-22690-2

<O</OJapanese Military Uniforms 1841-1929, by Ritta Nakanishi, Dainippon Kaiga Co., Ltd., ISBN 4-499-22732-2

I have a few more that I can post later if no one else does.</O

[Eric Doody]

Here are two more...

Japanese Army Haversacks and Tube-holdalls 1931 – 1945, by Ueno Satoshi, Ludovika Militaria Akademai

<O</OJapanese Army Regular Footwear 1873 - 1945, by Ueno Satoshi, Ludovika Militaria Akademai


More to follow later.<O</O

[Dean Brock]

Eric,
These are great!! Keep I'm coming!!!!! I'll bet some of these are as difficult to find as an original havelock. I had a few more listed somewhere on my want list , just have to find it......

[MikeB]

Essential Reference Books

Does anyone know what titles cover bayonets? I have a few and would like to learn more about them.... Mike

[John Egger]

Books......

Dean,
As you & I discussed "buy the book before you buy the coin" is sound collecting.....but learning some simple kanji characters is just as valuable. And it's not that hard. Simple numbers, dates (month, day, year) terms like army, navy, soldiers......you get the idea. A vocabulary of 50 kanji will save you money and make collecting alot more fun. Just look at the list of books offered and it takes about 10 seconds to see many are in Japanese. This is where the above becomes sound advise. if you make an investment in your collection also make an investment in your education.

There are a number of good books listed....but one of the best will be one that many Japanese collectors in the US have never seen. Put together by the 'All Japan Collecting Society" a few years ago it had a limited printing & only sold in Japan. No English text. There are just under 600 pages of photographs from private collections and you'll see alot that you don't see anywhere else. The book is soft cover and mostly black & white with some color pics. The price is high (by US standards)....over $100 but it's worth it and it will be one of the best collecting investments you'll make. This book shows up on ebay every once in a while....thats how I got mine. I gladly give you a picture of the cover so you'll know it when you see it. Sorry, I'm not sure of it's correct name.
Hope this helps,
and I owe you a call.
John

[Eric Doody]

Does anyone know what titles cover bayonets? I have a few and would like to learn more about them.... Mike

Mike,

Japanese Bayonets, by Larry Johnson, Cedar Ridge Publications, ISBN 0-9619789-0-2

Larry Johnson's book is by far the book to have insofar as bayonets, but the book is very hard to find at a decent price. If you follow eBay, expect to pay $200 to $350 for this book as a lot of folks are looking for it. Keep you eyes open at shows for this book as you could find one at a bargain price. I believe the book sold for $29.95 when it first came out back in 1988.

Since Larry Johnson wrote this book a bunch of new information has been learned about Japanese bayonets...enough information to fill a second book on the subject.

If you would like to know more about the bayonets that you have, feel free to post them on the forum as there are a couple of folks that are knowledgeable on bayonets that visit the forum.

Eric

[Eric Doody]

Here are three more...

Japanese Military Small Arms and Equipment, by Shigeo Sugawa, ISBN 4-336-03729-9

<O</OJapanese Soldiers At The China Front 1930’s, by Shigeo Sugawa, Banzai

<O</OJapanese Machine Guns, by Shigeo Sugawa, Sugawaweapons


Eric<O</O

[Jareth]

Eric helped me get a Japanese book "Aviator Uniforms and Equipment of IJN" 2004 by Model Art Co. Great soft cover book (132 pgs) with numerous original period photos of aviators & their equipment.

[Eric Doody]

Imperial Japanese Grenade Rifles and Launchers by Gregory A. Babich and Thomas A. Keep, Dutch Harlow Publishing Company, ISBN 0-9722627-0-9

<O</OThis is an excellent book covering Japanese spigot grenade launchers, Type 100 grenade launchers, experimental grenade launchers, Type 2 grenade launchers, simple grenade rifles and launchers, and improvised grenade rifles and launchers. In addition, army and navy arsenal procedures, inspection marks, ordnance nomenclature, cup wrenches, carrying pouches, cleaning equipment, and launching cartridges are also covered. There are roughly 250 pages and over 300 photographs and drawings in this book. If you collect Japanese rifles, rifle cartridges, and/or ordnance, this book is a must.<O</O

[Eric Doody]

Here are two more...

Japanese Military Sake Cups 1894-1945, by Dan King, Schiffer Publishing Ltd., ISBN 0-7643-1881-0

A Guild to Handheld Military Binoculars 1894-1945, by Dr, Stephen Rohan, Optical Press, ISBN 0-9709003-0-9

Eric

[Type 99 Sniper]

Japanese Rifles of World War II by Duncan O McCollum ISBN 1-880677-11-3

Military Rifles of Japan by Fred Honeycutt Jr. and F. Patt Anthony
ISBN 0-9623208-7-0

Banzai Special Project #7 The Japanese Sniper Rifle

Those are my Top 3 so far....