Japanese Weapons: An Anthology

This anthology presents an assortment of seven articles from the Journal of Asian Martial Arts that deal with Japanese weaponry: archery, short staff, naganita polearm, and test cutting (tamashigiri) with the long sword. A few articles are highly academic and others are easier reading, based on interviews or actual practice.
Three chapters place a focus on archery and the related formalities of ritual and practice. Two of these discuss the uniqueness of Japanese kyudo—the Way of the Bow. As...