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The Nawa-Katō Association Copy: A 1981 First Edition Masterpiece

This book

• Title: E de Miru Jidai Kōshō Hyakka: Torimonoga-dōgu Hen (絵でみる時代考証百科: 捕者道具編) — Illustrated Encyclopedia of Historical Research: Capture Tools Edition.
• Author: Nawa Yumio (名和弓雄, 1912–2006).
• Publisher: Shinjinbutsu Ōraisha (新人物往来社).
• Date: March 25, 1981 (First Edition, First Printing).
• Format: A5 Hardcover with Slipcase, 248 pages.

The Rare Signature & Provenance

This volume is a high-status Association Copy, featuring a formal, hand-brushed dedication and the red personal seal (hanko) of the author. It is dedicated specifically to Katō Katsuyuki-sensei.

• Who was Katō Katsuyuki? Katō (1920–1999) was a titan of the Japanese martial arts world—a world-renowned historian of samurai swords, traditional armor, and a high-ranking member of the NBTHK (Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords).
• The Peer-to-Peer Link: In the specialized world of Bujutsu (martial arts) scholarship, this is the “holy grail” of signatures. It represents a professional gift between the two most prominent historical weapon experts of their generation. Nawa’s use of the title “Sensei” in the dedication marks this as a peer-to-peer exchange of the highest respect.

Why This Book is Unique

Revealing the “Secret” Stances: For the first time in 1981, Nawa committed the Masaki-ryū “Five Forms” and “Eight Secret Methods” to paper. These had been guarded oral secrets (kuden) for centuries, published here specifically for peers like Katō Katsuyuki to ensure their survival.

Scientific De-mythologizing: Nawa was famous for his “scientific” approach. This book famously debunked myths like “water walking,” instead providing forensic proof of how specialized tools were actually used by undercover Edo-period police.

The Last Master-Scholar: Nawa Yumio was the 14th Grandmaster of Masaki-ryū. He didn’t just study history; he held the lineage. This book was his attempt to save “real” ninjutsu and police history from being lost to 1980s cinematic fantasy.

248 Pages of Forensic Art: Every diagram in the book was hand-drawn by Nawa. This was essential to capture “martially correct” details—the exact tension of a Manriki-gusari (weighted chain) or the precise angle a Jitte must hold to snap a samurai’s blade—details a commercial artist could never replicate.