Alt text: David Thatcher Samurai Art

David Thatcher - Samurai Art

JOURNAL

NOTES FROM THE FIELD

A considered record of exhibitions, museum study, auction visits and photographic projects from the world of Japanese arms and armour.

Visitor viewing Kaga province samurai armour at the British Museum exhibition

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THE JOURNAL

Notes from the field of Japanese arms and armour. This journal reflects my work within the field, including exhibitions, art fairs, auction visits, museum study, and related photographic projects.

Cover of David Thatcher's book SAMURAI on Japanese armour, kabuto, mengu and jingasa

SAMURAI: My New Book on Japanese Armour

A new 220-page A4 reference book on Japanese samurai armour, kabuto, mengu and jingasa, combining original photography, close object study and practical observations drawn from decades of handling and restoration.

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Visitor viewing Kaga province samurai armour at the British Museum exhibition

Samurai – The British Museum

A personal study of selected works from the exhibition, focusing on samurai armour as art rather than function, with detailed observations often absent from the catalogue.

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David Thatcher standing in the Watanabe Art Museum, Tottori, surrounded by Japanese samurai armour

The Watanabe Art Museum, Japan

A reflection on two visits to the Watanabe Art Museum in Tottori, spanning twenty years, and on the scholarship, private collecting, and legacy behind one of Japan’s most important regional armour collections.

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