This was a quick 3-hour read. Most of its chapters are structured as lists or are comprised mostly of lists. It goes through the eras of Japanese history as well as the eras of sword-making. It mentions the five schools of Japanese swordsmiths and goes into fine detail about the parts of the samurai sword. There are also lists of the maker marks that can be found on the swords as well.
It was a quick read and I did gain a couple of tidbits of information I did not have before reading the book. The read itself was not necessarily an entertaining one. However, this book is more of a reference handbook than anything else and is probably recommendable to those who need detailed info about samurai swords on hand. Otherwise, I would not really recommend this book. ( )

(from dustjacket)

The Samurai Sword has long been considered the symbol of the spirit of old Japan. It has been said to be the embodiment of the samurai's code, the expression of his steel discipline, unswerving devotion, and peerless skill. It is, in addition, one of the most outstanding examples of Japan's tradition of highly skilled craftsmanship. The product of the tireless efforts of hereditary artisans, whose sole purpose in life was the achievement of perfection in their craft, the samurai sword is indeed a beautiful work of art as well as a formidable weapon. In the opinion of informed critics, both the workmanship an quality of the Japanese sword far surpass that of the Western Damascus and Toledo blades of folklore fame.

Surprisingly, there are a greater number of these swords in America today than there are in Japan. During the U.S. occupation of Japan after the end of the Pacific War, countless servicemen collected these swords perhaps without realizing their value, and brought them back to the United States as souvenirs. The number of such swords is estimated to between 250,000 and 350,000.

The present volume is the first book of its kind in English. It is a complete handbook of the samurai sword. The informative text deals with the origins and development of the sword, its historical background, the various types of swords, their parts, styles, and differences in construction, the art of the swordsmith, the famous schools, the problem of identification and evaluation, and the care and maintenance of the sword. The many lists offer convenient means vital information, while the numerous illustrations admirably augment the text.

The Samurai Sword is an indispensable book for the fortunate owner of one and an invaluable source book for all interested in this superb craft, the secrets of which have been jealously guarded for centuries.

The author, John M. Yumoto, is perhaps the foremost authority on the samurai sword outside of Japan. A native of California, he began his study of Japanese swordcraft during his early childhood in Japan. While in Japan he studied under a number of masters from different schools and learned the art of sword polishing and of identification and evaluation. He has held membership in a number of sword clubs and at present is an active member of the Japan Society for the Preservation of the Samurai Sword and the Northern California Sword Club. He has also been requested to serve as advisor to the Japanese Sword Society of teh United States, presently being organized.

Contents

List of Plates, List of Figures, Foreword, Acknowledgments
1 Japanese History and the Samurai Sword
2 Types of Swords
3 Parts of the Sword
4 Blade Shape, Construction, and Grain
5 The Making of the Sword
6 Inscriptions and Their Readings
7 Care and Maintenance
8 Appraisal and Value
9 Relative Point Values
Bibliography, Glossary, Old Provinces and Modern Prefectures, Index

1st edition $125 signed by the author in English and Japanese ( )