Below are some of our key current new titles. For further details please click on the link above right to download our latest leaflets and catalogues. For Kodansha Comics, click on the link above.

New Titles

5 7 5 - The Haiku of Basho

John White, Kemmyo Taira Sato; £30 HB; 03/2019; 978-0-901032-54-6; 245 x 170 mm; 360 pages; 19 colour illustrations; paintings & calligraphy

A seminal contribution to the corpus of Bashō translations, being the first collection to present accurate, lyrical English renditions while retaining the 5-7-5 syllabic structure of the original Japanese. This is a handsomely produced volume of poetry by the recognised master of the genre.

LIVING WITH THANKS: The Gojō Ofumi

Kemmyo Taira Sato; £60 HB; 03/2019 978-0-901032-53-9; 234 x 156 mm; 536 pages; notes, chronology, bibliography, glossary, index

This impressive new scholarly translation and commentary on the key work of Jōdo Shinshū’s 8th lineage successor to founder Shinran is an extremely valuable contribution by a leading academic in the field. Professor Sato is Director of the Three Wheels Shin Buddhist Temple in London, and Visiting Professor at the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies.

DIVINE ENCOUNTERS Sacred Rituals and Ceremonies in Asia

Hans Kemp; £59 HB; 08/2019; 978-988-14939-2-7; 330 x 250 mm; 400 pages; all colour: 276 high definition photos; deluxe

The extraordinary Hans Kemp has spent the last 27 years travelling the furthest reaches of Asia taking defining photographs. 17 of those years have been spent assimilating the experiences, knowledge and images he needed to realise his wish to unveil the myriad aspects of Asian spirituality in book form for others to appreciate. A truly stunning achievement.

THE CHAPTER OF THE SELF

Trevor Leggett; £12.99 PB; 03/2019; 978-0-901032-52-2; 195 x 130 mm; 234 pages; 6 b/w photographs

Trevor Leggett examines and discusses the issues raised in this Hindu book of law as it pertains to the notion of yogic practice leading to the realisation of the Universal Self (ātman-brāhman), closely referencing the great Indian sage Shankara. (The Chapter of the Self is part of āpastamba dharmasūtra, an ancient text on Hindu law comprising praśnas 28+29 of the āpastamba kalpasūtra.)

Stories My Father Told Me

Park, Young-shin; £21HB; 05/2019; 978-1-56591-491-9; 200 x 160 mm; 296 pages; all-colour; 31 paintings on canvas; 94 stories

The simplicity of the philosophy of an honest farmer-father who suffered under colonialism and the Korean War and lived on to experience the affluent modern culture that South Korea has become. Viewing suffering positively is the first step towards happiness: these stories give voice to a generation wishing to pass on to their children that the right attitude can bring far more happiness than material wealth.

BANGKOK THAT WAS: photographs 1956-61

Fabrizio La Torre; £28 PB; 03/2019; 978-1-932476-91-0; 260 x 200 mm; 148 pages; 126 black & white + 10 colour photographs

It was in 2008 that François Bayle discovered the vast collection of stunning photographs which constituted the opus vivendi of his uncle Fabrizio. Unquestionably one of Italy’s finest ever photographers, in 1968 he decided to stop. His vast travel portfolio lay dormant for 40 years until François worked with him to bring it back to life. Unquestionably a truly a worthy undertaking!

THE WAY OF THE NINJA

Masaaki Hatsumi; £23 PB; 06/2019; 978-1-56836-591-6; 254 x 178 mm; 224 pages; 450 b/w photographs; 20 illustrations

In his classic work Masaaki Hatsumi reveals the hidden secrets behind this arcane, fascinating martial art. He looks at the traditions, training, and techniques, then shows how this knowledge will lead readers to an understanding of two essential principles: that ninjutsu is the distillation of the martial arts; and that ninjutsu illuminates its true spiritual significance. First paperback edition.

JAPANESE SWORD FIGHTING

Masaaki Hatsumi; £23 PB; 06/2019; 978-1-56836-592-3; 254 x 178 mm; 240 pages; 450 b/w photographs; 20 illustrations

Renowned budō-ka (martial artist) and ninja grandmaster Hatsumi explains how Japanese sword fighting embodies the essence of all martial arts and the spirit of the samurai. By learning and understanding the philosophy and techniques found in these pages practitioners will enter the path of Mastery, whatever their chosen discipline might be.

KOREAN GARDENS: Tradition, Symbolism and Resilience

Jill Matthews; £30 PB; 04/2019; 978-1-56591-490-2; 240 x 190 mm; 208 pages; 132 colour photos; 10 plans + diagrams; Glossary & extensive Endmatter

The Johnsons flew and sailed to Borneo & the South Seas, to Kenya, and to the Congo, filming 'Simba' (1928) and other popular, ground-breaking nature movies. This 1940 classic of the travel writing genre (biggest non-fiction title of that year) is reproduced here with additional original b&w photos, intimate correspondences and more…

THE SENTINELS: Cranes of South Africa

Daniel Dolpire & David Allen; £39 HB; 10/2018; 978-0-639-94733-4; 305 x 260 mm; 176 pages; 164 colour photos; 5 maps

Perhaps more than any other living creatures, cranes evoke the retreating wilderness, the vanishing horizons of clean water and air upon which their species (and ours, too, though we learn it very late) must ultimately depend for survival. This fabulous book is a photographic eulogy to the 3 species of crane in South Africa.

THE BIG SEVEN: Adventures in Search of Africa’s Iconic Species

Gerald Hinde & Will Taylor; £45 HB; 10/2018; 978-0-639-94732-7; 300 x 250 mm; 176 pages; 106 super-high definition colour photos

The Big Seven are the most exciting, charismatic and often dangerous of the big game species. This book reveals their lives and the authors’ adventures in both words and magnificent photographs. This book offers the reader a rare and intimate insight into the lives of these wonderful and increasingly endangered creatures.

MOODS OF NATURE

Heinrich van den Berg; £45 HB; 10/2018; 978-0-639-94731-0; 338 x 265 mm; 144 pages; printed in colour: 105 b/w, 9 colour photos

Heinrich van den berg demonstrates the extraordinary skill and artistry with black & white photography which empower him to reveal the unique essence and soul of each subject. “Colour photography is like a novel that spells everything out in detail, whereas black-and-white is like poetry – its strength isn’t in what’s said: it’s in what’s left out.”

FOOD OF KOREA: 200 Recipes

Korean Food Promotion Institute; £30 PB; available; 978-1-56591-487-2; 260 x 200 mm; 332 pages; Hundreds of colour photos; 200 recipes

The increasing profile of Korean food is reaffirming its reputation as healthy food that is delicious - and captivating the taste buds of the entire world! The enormous number of recipes presented in this book incorporates all the variety of types, flavours and ingredients to offer a huge selection of dishes, fully representing this vibrant, spicy cuisine.

I MARRIED ADVENTURE: The Lives of Martin and Osa Johnson (Revised)

Osa Johnson; £17.99 PB; 03/2019; 978-1-56836-587-9; 218 x 136 mm; 432 pages; 138 original b/w photos

The Johnsons flew and sailed to Borneo & the South Seas, to Kenya, and to the Congo, filming Simba (1928) and other popular, ground-breaking nature movies. This 1940 classic of the travel writing genre (biggest non-fiction title of that year) is reproduced here with additional original b&w photos, intimate correspondences and more…

SECRETS OF NOH MASKS (new softcover edition)

Michishige Udaka; £20 PB; 11/2018; 978-1-56836-590-9; 252 x 190 mm; 164 pages; 100 colour photos of 32 masks

Noh master Michishige Udaka creates sublime masks and also performs and teaches. In stunningly revealing photos, 32 representative masks are presented, accompanied by deeply insightful texts about the masks and the highly nuanced ancient dramatic art of Noh itself. Ruth Ozeki, who studied Noh theatre under Udaka in Japan, contributes a new Foreword.

KOREAN FOOD IN ART: Exploring Korean Cuisine through the Genre Paintings of the Joseon Dynasty

Korean Food Promotion Institute; £47 HB; available; 978-1-56591-480-3; 266 x 228 mm; 186 pages; 114 colour photos; 4 table setting plans

This is the first book to examine the roots and development of Korean cuisine not through historical documents and writings, but rather through the visual evidence and clues present in genre paintings of the Joseon Period (1392 - 1897). Fine art combines with social commentary to reveal the food culture of all sectors of Korean society. An amazing book.

JEWELS OF THE PALACE: Royal Recipes from Old Korea

Korean Food Promotion Institute; £30 HB; available; 978-1-56591-488-9; 258 x 188 mm; 168 pages; 320 colour photos; 70 classic recipes

This remarkable book illuminates the heart of Korean classical cuisine through historical context, anecdote and 70 richly illustrated representative recipes. It is an exhaustive, beautifully illustrated and explained record of the finest of Korean classical cuisine filled with practical recipes chosen to have wide international appeal.

VANISHING KINGS: Lions of the Namib Desert

Philip Stander; £35 HB; available; 978-0-9946924-6-7; 280 x 210 mm; 360 pages; all colour: 250+ colour, 59 b/w photos; 18 maps, 37 charts & diagrams

This is the story of the unique desert lions of Namibia, recorded by a meticulous conservationist and scientist who photographed and documented them methodically over decades. With behavioural wildlife film specialists Will & Lianne Steenkamp, Dr. Stander has worked hard to focus the world’s attention on these amazing animals and their plight and help safeguard their future.

MY FIRST 500 KOREAN WORDS

TTMIK; £37 PB; available; 978-1-186701-61-4; 231 x 168 mm; 496 pages; all colour; exercises, tests, puzzles

An investment which provides all the tools a student needs to successfully engage with the Korean language at the entry level: basic syntax, vocabulary and grammar, as well as speaking and listening skill. Together they offer the key – confidence! Fully supported by free audio downloads for listening and pronunciation perfection.

NATIONAL MUSEUMS OF KOREA: The Permanent Exhibition

The National Museum of Korea; £82 PB; available; 978-1-63519-009-0; 260 x 210 mm; 360 pages; 404 colour photos; detailed captions

This publication is the long-awaited comprehensive catalogue of the finest pieces in the permanent exhibitions of the National Museum since its enormous expansion following the move to its stunning new premises. Hundereds of the finest pieces are included, and the text places them in their historical and cultural context, with captions including name, era, dating & provenance, material & dimensions.

EARTH FIRE SOUL: The Masterpieces of Korean Ceramics

The National Museum of Korea; £45 Flexi; available; 978-1-63519-010-6; 260 x 220 mm; 240 pages; 300 pieces; all colour

Korean ceramic art through the ages has often astonished the viewer with its aesthetic sensitivity, its beauty of shape and form and the immense skill that has gone into its creation. This collection is the finest in the world, presented in a book of the highest quality, every piece carefully described and catalogued.

KGALAGADI SELF-DRIVE: Routes, Roads & Ratings

Heinrich van den Berg; £29 HB; available; 978-0-620-47406-1; 358 pages; 280x220mm; all colour; 100s photos, route maps, charts, ratings, wildlife info

The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park lies in the far north of Northern Cape (⅓) and the Southwestern corner of Botswana (⅔). Its name means ‘Land of Great Thirst’ and ‘Kalahari’ is a corruption of it. Like “Kruger Self-Drive”, this is the driver’s bible, covering every aspect of safari self-drive: route planning, overnight stays, distances & times, optimum wildlife viewing and more.

SAVUTE: Botswana’s Wildlife Kingdom

James Gifford; £30 HB; available; 978-0-9946924-2-9; 245 x 260 mm; 168 pages; 130 colour photos, 15 b/w; map

Savute must rank as one of the most spectacularly enigmatic African wildlife paradises: a river that rarely flows, a marsh that metamorphoses from wasteland to watery wonderland and, towering over them both, a silent parade of prehistoric hills. Within these habitats lies a complex web of wildlife whose unique behaviour is vividly brought to life in this astonishing visual journey.

PLANET OKAVANGO

Hannes Lochner; £59 HB; Large format, deluxe; available; 978-0-620-75145-2; 220 pages; 380x290mm; ; all colour: 100s colour and b/w photographs

Multi-award winning photographer Hannes Lochner spent 5 years continuously living in the Kalahari Desert to produce his widely acclaimed books. He felt he needed water. So he spent the next 36 months living in the Okavango Delta doing what he does best – capturing those once in a blue moon moments that define his amazing talents, then writing about them. This is a stunning book.

MUKOITA II – Cutting techniques

Japanese Culinary Academy; £50 HB; available; 978-4-908325-09-0; 288 x 218 mm; 256 pages; all colour: 1,116 photos, recipes, glossary, index

The fourth in the ground-breaking series completes the detailed look at cutting techniques begun in the best-selling previous book, dedicated to cutting FISH: in this case the focus is SEAFOOD, POULTRY and VEGETABLES. As always, richly illustrated and finely described, with supporting recipes. “By Chefs for Chefs!”

RAINBOW BODY

Loel Guinness; £110 HB; Large format; available; 978-1-932476-87-3; 279 x 260 mm; 304 pages; all colour, 68 plates; endnotes; glossary; index

Philanthropist Loel Guinness’ journey into the heart of Bön teaching over many years of hard academic study as well as physical experiences in the high Himalaya is stunningly evoked in this deluxe work of extraordinary depth and colour. Never before has Bön Dzogchen been revealed in such detail from personal insight. All art newly commissioned for the book.

THE LHASA HOUSE Typology of an Endangered Species

André Alexander; £79 HB; available; 978-1-932476-84-2; 279 x 235 mm; 408 pages; 474 colour, 61 b/w photos; 585 plans + elevations; 11 maps

This book details the practical, beautiful vernacular domicile architecture of the Tibetan capital against a background of continuing demolition since 1952. A richly illustrated masterwork from the late author - the foremost specialist in the field. For conservationists as well as architects / urban planners.

THE KODANSHA KANJI SYNONYMS GUIDE

Jack Halpern (Ed.); £29 PB; available; 978-1-56836-585-5; 228 x 152 mm; 680 pages; 1,245 synonym groups, covering 5,630 kanji; 21,000 compounds

A groundbreaking bilingual kanji thesaurus that provides intermediate and advanced-level users with complete, precise guidance on the distinctions between characters of similar meanings. The Kodansha Kanji Synonyms Guide is the first-ever reference work to group together kanji characters that are related in meaning but different in detail.

WOOD BECOMES WATER: Chinese Medicine in Everyday Life

Gail Reichstein; £18.99 PB; 10/2018; 978-1-56836-588-6; 232 x 185 mm; 224 pages; b/w line drawings throughout

Learn how techniques perfected over thousands of years can bring balance, harmony and well being to both your physical and spiritual being. This groundbreaking work is a practical exploration of how ancient Chinese medicine can be an integral part of our lives today. A best-seller that has helped countless people since it was first published, this is the 20th anniversary edition.

CLASSIC KOREAN TALES, WITH COMMENTARIES

Choe, Key-sook; £18.99 PB; available; 978-1-56591-489-6; 210 x 140 mm; 240 pages; 41 colour illustrations, 40 colour photos

To describe this book as a collection of classic folk tales would grossly misrepresent and undervalue a literary work by an academic who sets defines the genres, exemplifies each, contextualises, characterises, explains.. and demonstrates the continuing relevance. 2 or 3 tales exemplify each genre, with illustrated commentary, interpretation & examples of modern parallels.