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Japan at War - Militaria Book

34K views 263 replies 57 participants last post by  curly1  
#1 ·
Ciao Gentlemen,
The "Italy at War" book (hard-backed update) has been finished and printed as of recent. We are moving on to other militaria and gun related projects again and want to update the earlier "Japan at War" two volume set of a few years back. There were some production, art and smoothness issues within the pages that I am responsible for. I want to fix, update and add additional information to this edition as well. I also want to put both volumes into one large hard back edition as we did with the Italy at War" book. It came out nice at 100 initial signed and dated editions (the Italian edition). I am thinking about doing something unusual with this edition of "Japan at War". As we update each page I will make the pages available for all to see and comment on and to refine or add information as pertinent. Unusual..we'll see how it goes. We'll put the work into Dropbox and I will make the folder available to any that wish access. Might be fun. The end result, we hope for, is a well rounded Japanese militaria book that covers the mundane and perhaps brings up the unusual within Japanese militaria. We will start in a couple weeks and then I will give more information. Many good folks here, have shared information for the earlier incarnation of the book. Uniforms, weaponry, personal items, headgear, stories, photographs, etc. I'm excited to get to work with this interesting field of militaria collecting again.
Best Regards, Arditi (Russ)
 
#6 ·
I thought I would kick to you guys the basic format Gunnar and I use(d). I fixed these pages this evening. Reduced the text in size and took the text off the uniforms if it over-lapped. It has not been edited yet. These pic/page examples are small sized, but will be larger in the Dropbox, for those that want to help and have access to the working project. The Dropbox for the book has not been made yet, but I will make a post here when I do later this week. At that time, if a viewer sees something incorrect, needs to be added or has something additional to picture...one would contact me at my email and make the suggestion. I will list my email here now and later I am sure. arditidagger@outlook.com I'm excited to be working with you Guys!
Best Regards, Russ (Arditi)
View attachment 841843
 
#12 ·
Hi Russ,

I'm on board and only too happy to help out as last time. I have a heap of new acquisitions, the latest being a Type 93 Ranger Finder complete with case and tripod etc. Just waiting on the right lighting conditions before I start snapping photos. It won't be until late January before I have the time to start doing anything.

A few binding issues with the last volumes as I have had a few pages come loose. Something to bear in mind with the new edition.

Cheers,
Robert.
 
#15 ·
G'day,
Missing out on the first run, would love to get my hands on a copy, when it gets released. If you're after anything that relates to items given out by Yasukuni Shirine to the next of kin of soldiers killed in battle. I may be able to help.

Excellent to see another reference out there on our hobby.

Best regards

Matt.
 
#18 ·
Ciao Gentlemen,
I have the "work in progress" folder set-up for the Japan at War militaria book. If you want to help with the book, kick me an email, and I will send a Dropbox "invite" from the folder to your email. The pages are not in order. I am starting at the beginning of the old books and delving into a middle section, of the book, here or there. It's fun to relive these items.
What we are doing:
1. Taking pages that the text overlaps the items and redoing them.
2. Updating any information that is incorrect or adding additional information that is available.
3. Adding additional items that are not within.
4. We are open to suggestions to additional content, etc. Email me at arditidagger@outlook.com

We need, additional food and personal items, ordnance (Don may have this sewn up), tank stuff, (we have the basics already), perhaps more translated letters. Any interesting stories...I would like to add a belligerent section with mannequins. I did this with the other books and it turned out nice; such as US Marine, US Army mannequins in full combat dress (Pacific) as a visual comparison. I'm sure I am missing something.
I'm excited Gents! Best, Russ (Arditi)
 
#19 ·
Hi Russ,

There are a couple of errors in the first edition regarding some of the pictures of muzzle covers that I sent you. On page 246 the short brass rotating cover should be labeled as a cover for a Type 30 rifle (not Type 38), and on page 247 the muzzle cover in the upper picture is not a rotating one. If those same pics are included in a future edition, then you may want to change the labels.

Semper Fi,

John in Charlotte, NC
 
#23 ·
Quick update. We are at 200 updated pages from the older volumes. I have briefly put the book on hold as Steve and I are finishing up a book on toy soldiers and military relics (odd direction, but fun). We should be totally finished in a week or two and then I jump back into the Japanese militaria book. We have received some amazing items from folks on these boards recently and all will be paged. My mouth is watering at some of the other items you guys have been bringing out recently. I will come begging to your email doors fairly soon. ha In addition, I want to come up with a really cool dramatic cover for the hardback.

Again, if any of you guys want access to the dropbox folder with the pages being updated, let me know, we'll get you in there to help or look around. A deep bow of appreciation to all that have supported this project recently and in the past. Just for giggles, I'll show you the cover to the toy soldier book. Small thing at 150 pages.
A large embrace to all, Russ (Arditi)
 
#25 ·
Got it Matt! I've been finishing up this small volume on toy soldiers. Finished now as of today. I'll email you in a couple days Sir.

Just an update Gentlemen. Finished the other smaller project and now back at the Japanese book this week, Thought I'd share a couple pages of the toy soldier book. Pacific Theater related, so maybe some interest here. I picked up Lieutenant Commander Runyan's letters and papers in Pensacola this past summer. Interesting Gentlemen. he led VB-1 in their bombing of the Zuikaku and earned the Navy Cross as a result. I've incorporated some of his paper relics with a diorama I made of his bombing run on the Japanese carrier.

More update concerning the Japanese book soon. Best to all, Russ
 
#26 ·
Russ, thought I might take some side by side photograph groupings of items I found in caves during my eight years in the Pacific. All are rusty relics, and can put them next to really nice original, nearly "new" pieces. Helmet (from Sugar Loaf Hill on Okinawa), mess kit, bayonet, canteen, gas mask, ammunition, grenade, etc. Would that be something you'd would like to include in the new edition?

Semper Fi,

John in Charlotte, NC