Between the Covers

Hardcover. First edition. Two volumes. Octavos. Volume I: [2], 6, 462, [1]; Volume II: [6], 17, 1045, [1] pp., with in-text photo illustrations, plus 32pp. of photos depicting fighting techniques, and 15pp. of team photos and events. Folding map in one volume shows all the Japanese martial artists and associations in Japan; photo illustration of two famous kendo masters, Masters Nakayama and Takano, who used two different styles of kendo (Japanese sword fighting) - "shitachi" and "ichitachi." Spines of both volumes are a little sunned else near fine in worn and modestly stained printed slipcase.

The record of the first Imperial kendo competition, which took place in 1929, a martial arts demonstration held in the presence of the Emperor. There were only two other Imperial competitions after that, one in 1934 and one in 1940. A handwritten character on one page translates as "fight!" Rare. *OCLC* lists only Harvard University and two Japanese libraries.

Item #419668