Kozan Oshigata 2 Vol Limited Edition 1200 Copies Numbered Copy. Japanese Style Stiched Binding with Slipcase. The Kozan Oshigata was originally held at the time of the establishment of the Kaga Hon’ami family, and, in terms of the richness of its contents, it was a supremely valuable work, regarded as the foremost treasure in this field. The Kozan Oshigata does not survive in only a single copy. Accordingly, when considering its republication, careful examination was required to determine which version should serve as the base text. After due consideration, it was decided to use as the base the edition published in August of Taisho 7 (1918) by the Central Sword Society (Chuo Token-kai). However, simply reissuing the work unchanged from the old edition-a so-called pirate-like facsimile reprint-was something that required further deliberation. For example, even to determine whether a sword by Rai Kunimitsu was included, one would have to consult fifty-one different sections. Moreover, many explanatory notes and other elements clearly required supplementation. It was therefore necessary to undertake a comprehensive re-examination of the entire work, to edit it in a more accessible manner, and to compare it with extant swords so as to make the content as clear and accurate as possible. Originally, these oshigata were not produced by direct rubbings but by hand-drawn copies, and thus some degree of discrepancy with the actual swords is unavoidable. Furthermore, the original manuscript has already been lost, and only copies made from copies have survived. As a result, when compared with extant swords, the differences have become considerable. In addition, more than two hundred years have passed since these oshigata were created, and the extant swords themselves have undergone changes, such as in the number of mekugi-ana and in their carvings. Ideally, it would have been desirable to investigate as many extant swords as possible and to include comparative examples; however, due to circumstances, it was necessary to limit the number to one hundred swords. How difficult to understand and inconvenient the old edition of the Kozan Oshigata was is well known to everyone in this field. There had long been a widespread desire for a version that was easier to comprehend, easier to consult, lighter in weight, and convenient to carry. In publishing this book, every effort has been made to meet those expectations. For the publication of this volume, a Kozan Oshigata Republication Committee was established. The committee members were Mr. Mori Eiichi, and Mr. Murakami Kosuke; the secretaries were Mr. Tokuno Kazuo and Mr. Thanks to the tremendous cooperation of all concerned, this publication was successfully completed, for which I cannot express sufficient gratitude. In particular, Committee Member Fukunaga devoted himself to this task tirelessly, and it would be no exaggeration to say that the substantive achievements of this work are largely owing to him. I wish to record my deepest appreciation. September 1, Showa 42 (1967). For buyers in the United States. For buyers outside the United States.
