Japanese Tattoo Art Design Book Magazine Gomineko Japan

If the paypal page comes up in Japanese, click the little button in the top right corner to switch it to English......

Of Brigands and Bravery - 108 Suikoden Prints by Kuniyoshi OOP

click for sample pages....

Size: 9.5” x 11” - Pages: 200 - Published: 2003 - Price: $300 - Binding: Softcover

This is the first translated compilation (in English) of Kuniyoshi's "108 Heroes of the Suikoden " (Tsûzoku Suikoden gôketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori). This publication reproduces the 74 known designs of the series in full color, each accompanied by explanatory text about each print. "The Suikoden" is the Japanese adaptation of the 14th-century Chinese vernacular novel "Shuihu zhuan", which recounts the exploits of a group of brave and righteous rebels on Mount Liang. Kuniyoshi's bold colors and enormous attention to details reawakened Japan's passion for these heroes and consequently they are and have been hugely drawn upon for tattoo imagery. Very popular with Yakuza, Tebori Artists and Japanese Style Tattoo enthusiasts. Book also includes a biography of Kuniyoshi. This one is a must have reference book.

The Faithful Samurai - 47 Ronin Prints by Kuniyoshi

Size: 9.5” x 12” - Pages: 192 - Published: 2006 - Price: $100 - Binding: Softcover

This is a copy of Kyosai's 100 Apparitions, an amazing collection of prints from one of the most macabre Ukiyo-e printers. This book is now OUT OF PRINT. Kyosai was a student of Kuniyoshi and these two stand out among the painters from the floating world for their renditions of things strange, weird and frightening. Kyosai was an avid Sake drinker and an amazing storyteller, he enjoyed frightening his audiences and could always touch a nerve with his vivid imagination. He has been said to spare no canvas in his paintings, they are busy and multifaceted, the center object rarely being what captures the eye after the initial reaction of shock wears off. Hiding in the background are oni (japanese mythological demons), ghosts, skeletons and blood hungry ghouls. (plus several things I can't identify). His pieces are brilliant for larger tattoo pieces and has a hundred little images that would make great tattoos as well. This will be one of those books you don't want to leave around the shop but pull out for your favorite customers, pieces you can truly get excited about. The book would also make a great addition to any ukiyo-e collection. Text is Japanese.

Ueki Kanaya’ｓ Genius World of Graphic Novels

click for sample pages....

Size: 8.5 " x 10.5" - Published: 2011 -Pages 136 - Price: $62 - Softcover

This is a cool collection of a variety of Showa era imagery. Samurai warriors, geisha, ninja, demons, ronin.....it's got it all! Includes sketches, monochrome and full page full color cover illustrations....plenty of food for thought!

Japanese Warrior Prints 1646-1905

click for sample pages....

Size: 10 " x 12" - Published: 2007 -Pages 200 - Price: $210 - Hardcover

This is the most comprehensive tome of Japanese Warrior illustrations (Musha-e) available today. It is a beautiful book that details, in English, the different heroes of the gunki monogatari (Japanese war tales). it recounts stories told about them and how they are depicted in Kabuki and theater. It outlines the different schools/families of woodblock artists, how they developed and how their art was affected by censorship and the social standards of the era. It includes full page renditions of artwork and explains who is being depicted and why. It outlines the story behind each print and translates any text found in the illustration. The artwork is chronological and includes pieces from the Katsukawa School, Taikoki Prints, Shuntei, Toyokuni I, Hokusai, Surimono, Kunisada, Kuniyoshi, Yoshitoshi and more. This is the Musha-e bible, folks and is a must have for any serious collection.

Samurai Armor Design

click for sample pages....

Size: 6” x 9” - Pages: 330 - Published: 2008 - Price: $75 - Binding: Softcover

This is an amazing book by the people that did the Kingyo and Noh book I have in other auctions (PIE) - if you are going to make one new acquisition this month, this should be it. It is called Samurai Armor Designs and includes 330 pages of armor, helmets and kimono, with occasional swords and accessories thrown in for good measure. Includes full color, full page photos with descriptions in both English and Japanese. Predominately photos - this is more of a coffee table book - excellent reference for artists.

More Japanese Classic Images w/CD-ROM

Size: 7” x 9” - Pages: 127 - Published: 2001 - Price: $50 - Binding: Softcover

This book is designed to help people create their own stationary/new years card...hence the inclusion of a CD-ROM. The book is a great collection of traditional Japanese imagery, all in full color. The CD-ROM allows you to play with these images, change them to monochrome designs, thicken lines and play around until you've created the exact image you're after. With some luck you'll be able to give you customer an idea of the design without having to laborously draw it out (over and over). This book includes some great images of goldfish, all sorts of flowers including mums and cherry blossom, archways, fans, men and womens kimono and fabric designs, tons of great birds - crane and hawk - sea life, Mt. Fuji scenes, dragons, foo dogs, turtles, workers, warriors, bamboo and a page each for all 12 chinese zodiac animals: dog, cock, monkey, boar, goat, horse, snake, dragon, rabbit, tiger, ox, and rat. Very cool book and a great reference book to have in the shop.

Awesome OOP Anna Tsubaki Book

click for sample pages....

Size: 7” x 9” - Pages: 100 - Published: 2001 - Price: $70 - Binding: Softcover

This is an awesome book, I love Anna Tsubaki!! It is called AN UKIYO-E HUNDRED SCENES OF THE YOUNG EDO BUDDIES and is a quite rare collection, I just found five at a back alley store in Jimbocho. Tsubaki skillfully blends a sleek contemporary art style with traditional ukiyo-e like printwork. Brilliant colors and crisp renditions of tattooed street warriors and punk kids in kimono. Artful fusion of old and new Japanese culture is reminiscent of Tenmyouya Hisashi. Full page, brilliantly colored prints. 100's of images that would make excellent tattoos and loaded with imagery that will hopefully spark original ideas. This book is limited edition and out of print. It is used, in excellent condition, text is in Japanese and English.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Kimiya Masago - OOP

Size: 8.5” x 10” - Pages: 153 - Published: 2006 - Price: $80 - Binding: Hardcover

This is a book I picked up for myself and thought I'd add, the artwork is amazing. It is by Kimiya Masago and includes an amazing collection of outlaws, ronin, warriors, menacing villans and beautiful women illustrations. Masago's artwork is beautiful and compelling. Brilliant color and a close attention to detail make his illustrations pop off the page. This book includes explanations in both English and Japanese. Great for collectors of Japanese art or Suikoden enthusiasts. Great ideas for non-traditional Japanese-esque tattoos. This book is out of print, I do have mint copies in stock but they are limited. .

Neputa Paintings

Size: 8.5” x 8.5” - Pages: 120 - Published: 2004 - Price: $48 - Binding: Softcover

This book was put out by Hirosaki University where the Neputa festival has been held for over 300 years. The paintings are done on huge lanterns which are set to float on the Sea of Japan to ward off disease and natural disasters. Themes include many warriors battling enemies and gods triumphing over demons and evil spirits. The colors are intense and brilliant. This is a great book for anyone interested in traditional Japanese art and culture, and as an artist's reference. It is a great source for anyone interested an a large traditional Japanese tattoo.The text is in Japanese but the book includes an introduction in english and the book is predominately illustrations.

Kuniyoshi's Suikoden in Outline

click for sample pages....

Size: 10” x 14.5” - HUGE!! - Pages: 102 - Published: 2004 - Price: $165 - Binding: Softcover w/cardboard case

This is an insanely cool tattoo reference book called Kuniyoshi's Suikoden in Outline, put out by the Japan Tattoo Institute. This book is intense consisting of full page monochrome outlines of the warriors (Samurai) pulled directly from his Ukiyo-e. It includes a section in the back of the same images, smaller and in color, for additional reference. The attention to detail is insane, Kuniyoshi is a true master of Ukiyo-e art and a very popular source for Japanese tattoo motif. The names of the warriors are in English, the remaining text is minimal and in Japanese.

Heroes of the Suikoden 1 by Masayuki Miyata

Size: 8.5” x 11.5” - Pages: 160 - Published: 2002 - Price: $55 - Binding: Softcover

This is a book I just picked up for myself the artwork is amazing. It is by Masayuki Miyata and is his rendition of the stories from the Heroes of the Suikoden - many images of spying, fighting, rape, plundering and pillaging. The stories of the 108 heroes of the Suikoden goes back to an old Chinese novel about 108 honorable bandits similar to Robin Hood and his merry men. At the beginning of the 19th century it became very popular in Japan and became one of the favorite subjects of Japanese prints.Horiyoshi III published a collection based on these warriors. Miyata's artwork is simple but very compelling. Text is in Japanese but minimal, predominately full color images. Great for collectors of Japanese art or Suikoden enthusiasts. Great ideas for non-tradition Japanese-esque tattoos.

Japan Warrior Arts in Outline

click for sample pages....

Size: 10 " x 14.5" -Pages 130 - Price: $165 - Softcover w/ Cardboard Slipcase

Japan Warrior Arts in Outline, put out by the Japan Tattoo Institute. This book is a brilliant resource for anyone interested in imagery for large Japanese pieces. Pulling from musha-e (woodblocks featuring samurai imagery) The book consists of large full page monochrome outlines of warriors (Samurai) in a variety of positions and activities. The book includes a section in the front of the Ukiyo-e pulled from, smaller and in color, for additional reference. The names of each Samurai is written in both English and Japanese, the remaining text is minimal and Japanese.

Heroes of the Suikoden 2 by Masayuki Miyata

Size: 8.5” x 11.5” - Pages: 160 - Published: 2002 - Price: $55 - Binding: Softcover

This is a book I just picked up for myself the artwork is amazing. It is by Masayuki Miyata and is his rendition of one of the stories from the Heroes of the Suikoden - many images of spying, fighting, rape, plundering and pillaging. The stories of the 108 heroes of the Suikoden goes back to an old Chinese novel about 108 honorable bandits similar to Robin Hood and his merry men. At the beginning of the 19th century it became very popular in Japan and became one of the favorite subjects of Japanese prints.Horiyoshi III published a collection based on these warriors. Miyata's artwork is simple but very compelling. This book is softcover, appx. 8.5" x 11.5" and160 pages. Text is in Japanese but minimal, predominately full color images. Great for collectors of Japanese art or Suikoden enthusiasts. Great ideas for non-tradition Japanese-esque tattoos.

Japanese Samurai & Ronin Imagery from the 1950's & 60's

click for sample pages....

Size: 8.5” x 12” - Pages: 140 - Published: 2003 - Price: $48 - Binding: Softcover

This is another pretty cool little book. It features some great Ronin/Samurai artwork from Japanese comics (manga) covers from the 1950's and 60's. It includes both color and monochrome prints, and is a great reference book for warrior designs. Text is in Japanese and the book read right to left. Great for collectors of Japanese art or Japanese nostalgia enthusiasts. 100's of great ideas for Japanese-esque tattoo design.

This book is out of print, I do have copies in stock in mint condition.

58 Musha by Horiyoshi III

click for sample pages....

Size: 10” x 14” - Pages: 116 - Published: 2008 - Price: $190 - Binding: Hardcover

Japanese master Horiyoshi III's new book 58 Musha is finally out and is just beautiful. The book is B4 size and hardback in a cardboard slipcover...like his others...and is on the Musha, magical warriors of legend. Most of these images depict an animal and a warrior. There are a couple of insane fox illustrations, koi, frog, a spider, a dragon. Really really amazing stuff. This is one of his best books yet.

Japanese Samurai Armor Book vol. 2

click for sample pages....

Size: 7 " x 10" - Published: 2009 -Pages 175 - Price: $40 - Softcover

This is a really cool book on Samurai armor perfect for anyone interested in Japanese warrior attire. It includes 175 pages of imagery and features entire suits of armor as well as pages devoted to helmets, chest pieces and kimono. It includes full color, full page photos, text in Japanese

Hirose Kinzo (Ekin) Illustrations

click for sample pages....

Size: 19cm x 26cm - Pages: 119 - Published: 2009 - Price: $48 - Binding: Softcover

This is a collection of paintings by newly rediscovered byobu painter Hirose Kinzo (called Ekin by his peers). He was a talented youth in Tokyo who was forced to flee under some say unfounded, charges of counterfeiting and ended up in a sake cellar in Akaoka. He painted a series of grim and haunting byobu-e (screen paintings) 23 of which still remain in the small town and are brought out each year in a somewhat macabre festival in his honor...they are displayed along the road in show windows to be viewed at night by candlelight. Ekin uses reds as his underlying colors and the images appear unsettling at first glance because of the alarming hue of the background. The actually savagery is subtle. Very compelling. Text is in Japanese but the book is primarily illustrations

Hiroshi Hirata's Mononofu - Amazing Samurai Illustrations

click for sample pages....

Size: 8.5" x 11" - Pages: 112 - Published: 2003 - Price: $100 - Binding: Softcover - OOP

This is the coolest book I've found in a while! It is called Mononofu by Hiroshi Hirata and includes over 100 pages of awesome Japanese warriors - samurai, ronin etc. This book has both black and while and color imagery, most of it is full page and includes depictions of battle scenes, lone warriors, seppuku and men astride horses - TONS of different poses and costumes perfect for tattoo reference. This book rocks. It is softcover, well bound, appx. 8" x 11.5" and 112 pages. Includes a forward in both English and Japanese and text is offered in both languages - what little of it there is. He does include the names of the warriors in English on many of the prints - which is really helpful. Great for artists, collectors of Japanese art or Suikoden enthusiasts. 1000's of great ideas for tradition Japanese-esque tattoos

The 47 Ronin - by Barry Till

click for sample pages....

Size: 8" x 8.5 " - Pages: 79 - Published: 2005 - Price: $30 - Binding: Hardcover

The 47 Ronin - A story of Samurai Loyalty and Courage is a great little book detailing the story of the 47 Ronin. This in the most famous example of samurai warriors exhibiting bushido, the samurai code of honor. After their damiyo was forced to disembowel himself for an attack on a court official, the bank of rogue samurai plotted and extracted revenge. They then retired to sengaku-ji and all committed seppuku as well, as is required by their code. It is a tale exhibiting the extreme loyalty, sacrifice and honor that the Japanese feel cements their country together. This book includes, in English, and explanation of bushido, it recounts the story of the 47 ronin and includes ukiyo-e depictions of the story from Kuniyoshi, Kunisada, Hiroshige, Yoshitora and Kuniteru II.

Ichikawa Ebizo - Kabuki Legend

click for sample pages....

Size: 9 " x 11.5 " - Pages: 114 - Published: 2010 - Price: $42 - Binding: Softcover

This is an awesome collection of photos of legedary Kabuki actor Ichikawa Ebizo. Bold, full page photos make brilliant tattoo reference as Ichikawa's facial expression mirrors the ukiyo-e depictions of Japanese heroes. His costumes are flawless, perfect to draw from for samurai wear. If you've studied the ukiyo-e and are ready to go out on a limb and create original warrior imagery, this book will help authenticate body positioning, facial expressions, and wardrobe.

A Journey to the World of Ninja and Kengo

click for sample pages....

Size: 7 " x 10 " - Pages: 111 - Published: 2007 - Price: $42 - Binding: Softcover

This is cool little book that explains, in English as well as Japanese, the social developments that led to the birth of Ninja and Kengo. It outlines Ninja training, what they need to know, how they are expected to train their minds and bodies. It describes Iga - Ninja town, and recounts stories of famous ninja and kengo - a group whose training centers around fighting with a short sword, more appropriate for their physique. It describes Yagyu, a village of master swordsmen and other historical sights and cities pertinent to the ninja's history. A very informative book with lost of photo support.

Bloody Japanese Prints by Horimouja

click for sample pages....

Size: 9 " x 12 " - Pages: 108 - Published: 2007 - Price: $70 - Binding: Hardcover

This book is intense, Horimouja (Jack Moser) really did his research and his attention to detail comes out in this collection of illustrations. The book includes 50 brilliant prints of warriors and legends of Japanese mythology as well as an explanation, in English, of the story behind each image. Very thorough text and the artwork is amazing. There is a great introduction by Horimouja himself as well as a page of photos in the back

Encyclopedia of the Japanese Swords II

click for sample pages....

Size: 9.5 " x 10 " - Pages: 159 - Published: 2007 - Price: $40 - Binding: Softcover

This is a cool little book on Katana, Japanese Samurai swords. The text is in Japanese except for occasional names of certain things, like tsuba (hilts) so it really is more of a photo reference book. but it includes photos of the blades, shafts, hilts, how to wear and what they are capable of. Personally I find the artistic detailing on the hilts breathtaking. They tend to incorporate imagery from famous battles and are always a bit of a mystery....

Bloody Prints in Japanese Art

click for sample pages....

Size: 8 " x 11.5 " - Pages: 208 - Published: 2007 - Price: $70 - Binding: Softcover

This is a different collection of Bloody Prints in Japanese Art. The book is nice and big and features over 200 pages of grim, full color prints, but definitely a book that will be more compelling to collectors of the macabre. If you have scoured Kyosai and Yoshitoshi and Ekin and want more gruesome imagery....pick this up. . This one includes the story associated with each print, unfortunately all text is in Japanese.

Ito Hikozo Illustrations - My Favorite Samurai Reference Book.

click for sample pages....

Size: 8.5” x 12” - Pages: 200 - Published: 2006 - Price: $210 - Softcover

This is the coolest book of Samurai and Ronin illustrations I've ever run across. Hikozo Ito's depictions of the Heroes of the Suikoden are mind blowing. The book includes a wide range of warriors spying, fighting, riding....- all done with intense attention to detail. The story of the 108 heroes of the Suikoden goes back to an old Chinese novel about 108 honorable bandits similar to Robin Hood and his merry men. At the beginning of the 19th century it became very popular in Japan and became one of the favorite subjects of Japanese prints. Text is in Japanese but minimal, predominately monochrome images printed on high quality paper.

This book is out of print and at present I do have 1 in stock, if I cannot fill your order I will refund your payment and put your name on our waiting list.

Pose Book - Phantom - Awesome Crazed Poses!!

click for sample pages....

Size: 8” x 10” - Pages: 112 - Published: 2011 - Price: $52 - Softcover

This book is rad. The model is amazing...he does such a great "horrified" pose!! He is incredibly versatile and this book is a must have for anyone composing Japanese human figures. Well over 100 different poses with special attention to facial expression and it comes with a cd as well.

Sumi - Illustrations by Inoue Takehiko

click for sample pages....

Size: 9” x 11.5” - Pages: 168 - Published: 2006 - Price: $58 - Softcover

This is another cool book of samurai imagery. It definitely leans more towards Japanese manga, but the illustrations are predominately full page...nice and bog and great for body positions, facial expressions and correct kimono flow. Lots of great stuff in this one. Takehiko does a great job capturing the Japanese sense of bushido....samurai heart in his characters....Mostly, as the title implies, monochrome illustrations.

Kimiya Masago Warriors

click for sample pages....

Size: 8” x 11.” - Pages: 130 - Published: 2011 - Price: $48 - magazine

Kimiya Masago's warriors are some of my favorite and his books go out of print fast. This is a great survey book of his work and includes a great number of suikoden heroes in a wide variety of poses and activities. Looooots of food for thought!

All images and text copyright Gomineko 2006-201２. Violators who lift any of my content will be shot.