Heaven won three major design awards

  • Most Outstanding Design — 2019 IPPY Awards
  • Gold Prize for Book Design — 2019 Indigo Design Awards
  • Silver Award for Book Design — 2020 Graphis Design Annual

Masaaki Hatsumi: Dojo Giga | Heaven is an art book featuring paintings by the Bujinkan Dojo's Head Instructor, Masaaki Hatsumi. Each of these artworks is like a koan — meditating on them helps us see from Sensei's perspective.

Hatsumi Sōke

Hatsumi Sensei is Sōke (Head Instructor) of the Bujinkan Dojo and 9 schools of Japanese martial arts:
戸隠流 第三十四代宗家 | Togakure Ryū 34th Sōke 
神伝不動流 第二十六代宗家 | Shindenfudō Ryū 26th Sōke 
虎倒流 第十八代宗家 | Kotō Ryū 18th Sōke 
高木揚心流 第十七代宗家 | Takagiyōshin Ryū 17th Sōke 
九鬼神伝流 第二十八代宗家 | Kukishinden Ryū 28th Sōke 
玉虎流 第二十八代宗家 | Gyokko Ryū 28th Sōke 
義鑑流 第十五代宗家 | Gikan Ryū 15th Sōke 
玉心流 第二十一代宗家 | Gyokushin Ryū 21st Sōke 
雲隠流 第十四代宗家 | Kumogakure Ryū 14th Sōke

Dojo Giga 道場戲画

In February of 2017, Hatsumi Sensei exhibited a selection of his paintings at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan in Tokyo. Until the time of the exhibition, he had displayed some of them at his dojo, but this was an unprecedented opportunity for the public. He named the exhibition Dojo Giga. Giga means “caricatures” and refers to the famous 12th-century picture scroll, Chōjū-jinbutsu-giga, which humorously anthropomorphizes various animals and is often credited with being the first manga.

Masaaki Hatsumi: Dojo Giga | Heaven

The paintings we selected for Heaven represent a golden age of martial virtue. The subjects include Shintō and Buddhist deities, myths, and legendary heroes. Art that commemorates historical events and works that give insights into the lessons Hatsumi Sensei shares with his students are also included.

Densho 伝承

In the Genpei War (1180–1185), the Minamoto clan defeated the Taira, resulting in the establishment of the Kamakura shogunate under Minamoto no Yoritomo at the end of the 12th century. Within the battles of this war, Minamoto no Yoshinaka was served by Nishina Daisuke, who later became the founder and first Sōke of Togakure Ryū ninjutsu. Training in the dōjō with the 34th Sōke of Togakure Ryū is an opportunity to connect with the martial tradition that began with Nishina Daisuke nearly a thousand years ago. Viewing Hatsumi Sōke’s Dojo Giga paintings is a similar opportunity. For this reason, Sensei calls these paintings his art densho 伝承, meaning they communicate the history and traditions of his dojo.

Body, Mind & Spirit

Heaven offers insights into Sensei's perspective through artworks, commentary, and action photography (shot at his dojo in Chiba Prefecture, Japan). Heaven includes essays by Hatsumi Sensei plus Yuko Okuma (professional Japanese calligrapher), and Steve Olsen (Bujinkan practitioner / photographer). The book's commentary section offers translations of Sensei's calligraphy plus cultural hints which help the reader dig deeper into the riddles of these paintings.

What goes into an award-winning book?

  • Heaven comes in this folding case. The cover is stamped with gold foil, and the title on the spine is in Sensei’s handwriting.
  • It's written in Japanese with English translations.
  • 223 pages printed 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
We deliver to addresses in the USA and Canada from our warehouse near Seattle.

$145 +$30 postage = $175

Three Books + Free Postage
Order a carton and we'll give you free postage. That's a $90 savings (and a great gift idea)! Your carton will contain three, individually boxed Heaven books.

$145 x 3 (with free postage) = $435

Worldwide Availability

Covid-19 affected the international postal system but the situation is improving. We can now post Heaven to Australia, NZ, and most of Europe, (either from Japan or from the USA). Order below and we’ll reply by email to confirm the details and give you a parcel tracking number. If delivering to your destination looks difficult, we’ll reply by email and refund fully.

Japan
Heaven is available at Ishido Gazai in Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. Due to COVID, their store hours are reduced but they remain open. Ishido’s website and map are here: https://ishidogazai.net/access/

For delivery to addresses in Japan, order here:

One Book Worldwide
Each of our books is foam wrapped and packed in a corrugated cardboard box. After you order, we'll reply to confirm delivery details and provide a tracking number.

$145 +$50 postage = $195

Three Books + Free Postage Worldwide
Order three books to get free postage. Your three books will be individually boxed and arrive packed in a single carton for extra protection. This $150 postage discount is like getting one book free... Order with your friends!

$145 x 3 (with free postage) = $435

A chat about Heaven

For more about Kasumian, please visit: https://kasumian.com/