Japanese Swords and Armor

“Beautifully illustrated…an enduringly popular and prized addition to personal, professional, community, andcollege/university library collections.” — Midwest Book Review“This is a coffee table book of the highest order […] It features some of the most important pieces that exist in Japan.” — Robert Goforth for Library Journal“A former curator at the British Museum who developed his interest through martial arts, Martin is now based in Japan. He has made it his mission to share the appeal of these cultural objects with the world. ‘If you can understand swords, you are getting an insight into Japanese culture,’ explains Martin.” —Japan Forward

Paul Martin is a Tokyo-based Japanese sword and culture specialist who brings expertise from his tenure as a curator at the British Museum, where he managed the Japanese arms and armor collections. With a Master’s Degree in Asian Studies, he’s a Trustee for the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Sword Culture and founder of the Shin-Gobankaji Project. He is the first non-Japanese recipient and two-time winner of Tokyo’s sword appraisal competition. Paul has translated for major Japanese sword exhibitions, authored key books and DVDs, and appeared on global TV networks from the Discovery Channel, to History Channel, National Geographic, NHK World, and the BBC.