Books relating to Japanese castles

Title:

名城を歩く

Language:

Japanese

Description:

This is a series of magazine-like books. Each issue focuses on one of the more famous castles in Japan today & other castles in the region. The photos are plentiful & beautiful and point out each castle's unique features. Included is a large fold-out poster illustrating how the castle would look in its prime. They are great value for money & highly recommended.

Direct link:

Amazon Japan (in English)

Title:

ビジュアル・ワイド 日本の城

Language:

Japanese

Description:

This is the one book on Japanese castles that I just can't live without. Over 2,200 castles are outlined & with the more significant castles, you'll find a glossy picture along with information about its history & current state. Even if your Japanese language skill isn't so good, there is still plenty of value to be had. It is a hefty book & included is a large map showing the locations of (almost) all castles.

Direct link:

Amazon Japan (in English)

Title:

Castles of the Samurai: Power and Beauty

Language:

English

Description:

This book serves as a good introduction to Japanese castles. The first few sections provide a good background as to how these buildings came to be and the many detailed colour photos illustrate the function & artistry of every aspect of these architectural masterpieces. Further sections talk about what has became of these once-mighty structures. A brief guide for those visiting Japanese castles is included.

Direct link:

Amazon

Title:

古写真に見る日本の名城

Language:

Japanese

Description:

It doesn't matter how good or bad your Japanese ability is as this book heavily features photographs of castles & their supporting structures dating from the close of the samurai period. Page after page there are images of run-down towers, gates & turrets in strong contrast to the well-kempt survivors we see today. Their poor state is somewhat of a revelation and this book is an excellent record of the castles that were torn down not long after or were lost during WWII.

Direct link:

Amazon Japan (in English)

Title:

Japanese Castles

Language:

English

Description:

An oldie but a goodie, a real goodie. What this book does well is explain. It explains the function & beauty of every aspect of a Japanese castle. It takes the reader steadily & surely through the evolution of these structures & at every stage it points to existing castles & examples to illustrate it's point. The book is pocket sized & dates from the 60's. Get it while you can.

Direct link:

Amazon | Amazon Japan (in English)

Title:

Taiko

Language:

English

Description:

This is the book that introduced me to the power and the beauty of Japanese castles. It is in fact a novelization of the life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and the book goes into the details of his campaigns, castles & contemporaries. The significant events of inumerable Sengoku period figures are woven into the story as well as the stories behind the spectacular castles of the Azuchi-Momoyama period.

Direct link:

Amazon