Imperial Japanese Army and Navy Uniforms and Equipment

Nakata's book, aside from showcasing some of his Imperial Japanese reproduction line, is a good all around reference on I.J.A. and I.J.N. militaria. Some of the pictures are a little incongruous (i.e. photo of a Japanese South Manchurian Railroad colorguard in a section on wartime publications) but every addition is interesting. Notable pages for me were numerous photos of the front pages of Japan's national dailies at different points during the second Sino-Japanese war and Pacific (Greater East Asia) war. Bouyant reports of the fall of Hong Kong and Singapore contrast with news of the invasion of Saipan and a final, somber front page of August 14th 1945, with only the Imperial Rescript announcing surrender occupying the page. The book nicely documents changes in Army and Navy uniforms, headgear, and equipment from the 1860s through WWII. Pages of photos show different variations of field caps and helmets, additionally there are several nice color shots of recruiting posters from the war and there are several pages of excavated war relics alongside other pages of similar artifacts in original condition. Aside from a few minor organizational points the book is excellent and is a good servey of Japanese Militaria. One wonders whether Nakata will come up with a new edition, maybe showing more of his collection.