Yamanaka & Company

About the author

Yamanaka & Company, a pre-WWII Japanese art dealership, produced Japanese Swords as both a catalog and cultural treatise. The book detailed katana craftsmanship, symbolism, and historical evolution, catering to Western collectors' growing fascination with East Asian artistry. Their publications bridged commercial and scholarly interests, preserving metallurgical techniques threatened by industrialization. The firm's closure during wartime geopolitics adds poignancy to their efforts to globalize Japan's artistic heritage.