Rating: 
Summary: Pretty Pictures - Not suitable for medieval research
Review: Following the Meiji Restoration in the nineteenth century, the Japanese people were granted a number of perogatives formerly reserved to the noble and military castes. Among these priveleges was the right to have household arms variously called kamon, monsho, or simply mon. As a result, Japanese around the nation went out and acquired kamon for themselves. The Matsuya Piece Goods Store catalog satisfied their demand for new clothes with nice spiffy kamon on them. While the Matsuya catalog does provide a cyclopedic view of late nineteenth century notions of what kamon should look like, it does not provide reliable information for those interested in premodern Japan. This is a problem shared with most books about kamon whether in English or Japanese. However, there are a few books available in East Asian libraries and some even currently in print in Japan which do link kamon to clans, families, regions, historical periods, and even specific individuals. If your interest in kamon is of a historical nature, I recommend that you seek these out. If, however, your interest is primarily artistic, this is a fine book with well rendered depictions of a vast aray of these designs.
Rating: 
Summary: Unratable due to lack of ratable content
Review: How does one rate a book with no words in it? The only way to do it is by description. Here's what the book contains: 4,260 black and white signets of various Japanese emblems and designs, arranged in orderly rows of 24 to a page. Great to flip through if one has no purpose in mind. Pretty to look at. Inspiring. This is all.
Rating:
Summary: Organization Issue
Review: I am unable to understand the reviewer who began with the sentence: "How does one rate a book with no words in it? The only way to do it is by description." The book clearly has words in it. It is organized alphabetically, albeit a Japanese alphabet. The crests are organized by motif and the table of contents and index clearly explain the structure of the book. Unless we were reading different books, I found that the book was a significant asset in examining the range and topics of Japanese crests. It is what it is -- an extensive presentation of crests. It provides insight into the objects chosen by Japanese culture to be placed in these highly visible and socially important family icons. Variations of the crests' themes are interesting - - how many ways can a stylized arrow be presented? The Japanese ties to the entire range of nature and human constructs emerge as one peruses the book. Admittedly, it doesn't have the plot of "War and Peace", but it is not intended to do so. I think that this book has value to designers, artists, students of Japanese art and culture, and hobbyists looking for Japanese motifs. I won't haul it around constantly for a good read, but I will consult it as need and interest dictate.
Rating:
Summary: Organization Issue
Review: I am unable to understand the reviewer who began with the sentence: "How does one rate a book with no words in it? The only way to do it is by description." The book clearly has words in it. It is organized alphabetically, albeit a Japanese alphabet. The crests are organized by motif and the table of contents and index clearly explain the structure of the book. Unless we were reading different books, I found that the book was a significant asset in examining the range and topics of Japanese crests. It is what it is -- an extensive presentation of crests. It provides insight into the objects chosen by Japanese culture to be placed in these highly visible and socially important family icons. Variations of the crests' themes are interesting - - how many ways can a stylized arrow be presented? The Japanese ties to the entire range of nature and human constructs emerge as one peruses the book. Admittedly, it doesn't have the plot of "War and Peace", but it is not intended to do so. I think that this book has value to designers, artists, students of Japanese art and culture, and hobbyists looking for Japanese motifs. I won't haul it around constantly for a good read, but I will consult it as need and interest dictate.
Rating: 
Summary: Well worth the price...
Review: I've lusted after this book ever since I saw it in the library years ago. Unfortunately, I couldn't remember the name (I should've stolen it then!). So what a delight to finally rediscover it. The images in this book have haunted me, and defied my attempts to recreate even a few of them from memory. There are more permutations on each motif than one can possibly think of. An endless wealth of source material for logos, symbols, backgrounds, graphics. This book is a must-have for any designer interested in or influenced by Japanese design!
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic for Graphic Design Inspiration
Review: Page, after page, after page of great designs. Not something you can use for research, but it you are looking for inspiration, this is a book for you. I started putting yellow post-its on the designs I wanted to use (quilting, cross-stitch, stained glass), but I soon gave up when I realized that I was marking almost every page. This is one of those rare design books that is well worth the money.
Rating:
Summary: Japanese Motifs
Review: So far the only Ra-Mon book that I have found with my family Crest. For me it is worth the money.
Rating:
Summary: Matsuya Crest Catalogue Outstanding Resource
Review: The Matsuya catalogue of crests is a resource of remarkable depth and breadth for serious students of Japanese design history. Although it lacks the interpretive text of John Dower's classic study on Japanese crests, the unusually large number and relatively complete range of crests pictured allow readers to draw solid conclusions about the relative popularity of certain motifs, like plum blossoms or oak leaves, in Japanese history and to examine how different motifs--such as the Big Dipper and crescent moon or rabbit and high waves--were combined. If one is able to read Japanese, the names of the specific crest designs convey additional valuable information. One of the many copyright-free books published by Dover, the Matsuya catalogue also provides a treasure trove of reproduction-quality design material.
Rating:
Summary: an great source for japanese heraldry
Review: This is a great resource for anyone interested in designed japanese personas in recreation groups, or for simply looking at the pretty pictures. one of my favorite books to scan thru.. good for ideas too.
Rating:
Summary: Nice clean cut stuff.
Review: This stuff is eye candy to anyone who does graphic design of any sort that uses 2D graphics. My mother gets ideas for quilting patterns and I've been inspired several times while looking through the book and gone and loaded up photoshop and started messin around. This stuff is surprisingly beuitful and fascinating when you notice how simple the designs are.
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