Masaaki Hatsumi: Dojo Giga | Heaven
Heaven won three major design awards
- Most Outstanding Design — 2019 Independent Publisher Book Awards
- Gold Prize for Book Design — 2019 Indigo Design Awards
- Silver Award for Book Design — 2020 Graphis Design Annual
Heaven features Hatsumi Sensei’s Dojo Giga collection of paintings. Each painting is like a koan — meditating on these paintings helps us see from Sensei’s perspective.
These artworks communicate the origins and traditions of the Bujinkan Dojo. The book includes essays by Hatsumi Sensei (head instructor of the Bujinkan Dojo) Yūko Ōkuma (professional calligrapher) and Steve Olsen (Bujinkan practitioner / publisher). The commentary section offers translations of the calligraphy and cultural hints which help the reader dig deeper into the riddles of these paintings. The book is in Japanese with English translations.
What goes into an award-winning book?
Folding Case
Our hardcover edition comes in this folding case. The front cover and spine are stamped with gold foil and the title on the spine is in Sensei’s handwriting.
UNESCO Recognized Washi
Heaven has a shikishi mounted inside the front cover (for artist signature). Washi for our shikishi was recognized by UNESCO for the traditional Japanese paper making methods.
Smyth Sewn with Swiss Binding
We printed all 224 pages in full color plus metallic gold. We chose swiss binding and a smyth sewn book block so spreads open fully — clearly showing Sensei’s paintings and the action photos.
Delivery to USA & Canada
One Book
2020 has been a year of surprises but fortunately, we sent a boat load of Heaven to our warehouse near Seattle so delivery to addresses in the USA and Canada is easy!
$145 +$30 postage = $175
Free Postage
Our books are individually boxed and packed 3 to a carton. Order a carton and we’ll give you free postage — that’s a $90 savings! Who needs 3 books? You and your friends!
$145 x 3 (with free postage) = $435
Signed by Hatsumi Sensei
COVID-19 made it impossible for Hatsumi Sensei to sign Heaven at the dojo but before the virus hit, I sent some signed books to our warehouse in the USA. These signed books are available if you have an address in the USA or Canada.
Just 12 Signed Books Remain
International Availability
Japan
Heaven is at an art supplies store called Ishido Gazai in Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. Their price is 20,000 yen and they accept credit cards. Ishido can take your order by phone and deliver to addresses in Japan. Their 2020 store hours are reduced but they remain open. Ishido’s website and map are here: https://ishidogazai.net/access/
One Book
Many Bujinkan members planned to get Heaven in 2020 when they came to the dojo in Japan… I understand the travel bans are frustrating but the postal situation from Japan is improving. We can now post Heaven to Australia, NZ, and most of Europe, from Japan for about $70 dollars via Japan’s Express Mail Service (EMS).
$145 +$70 postage = $215
Free Postage
Our books are packed three per carton. Order three books to get free postage — that’s a $210 savings! Your three books will arrive individually boxed and packed in a carton for extra protection. Available for delivery to Australia, NZ, and Europe via Japan’s Express Mail Service (EMS). This postage discount is like getting one book free… Order with your friends!
$145 x 3 (with free postage) = $435
For years Sensei wanted a Dojo Giga art book…
We celebrated the publication of Heaven on October 4th, 2018 at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan in Tokyo. At the celebration we showed this video.
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About 30 years ago Hatsumi Sensei began creating a series of colorful paintings to record and transmit the traditions of his dojo. He calls these paintings his Dojo Giga collection.
Recently Sensei decided the timing was right to share these paintings with the world so we published Masaaki Hatsumi: Dojo Giga | Heaven. The theme of Heaven is martial virtue (military force used properly to create civilization and maintain peace). Painting subjects include Shinto and Buddhist deities, myths, and legendary martial heroes which point at the history of the Bujinkan Dojo.
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Our book combines award-winning design, professional photography, and detailed craftsmanship to give Sensei’s Dojo Giga paintings the spotlight they deserve.
Heaven includes an essay and comments by the artist that put the paintings in context, action photos shot at the dojo illustrate the connection between the paintings and the physical training, and the book’s appendix provides supporting commentary. Our book is in Japanese with English translations. We hope Heaven gives you new insights into Hatsumi Sensei’s arts and inspires your understanding of budo.