An excellent book containing the history of the IJN, focusing on the development of warships from the very beginning of the IJN to its dissolution in 1945. A number of rare photos are included, along with the history of the IJN. Most noteworthy are the 32 photos taken between the era of the Sino-Japanese War and Russo-Japanese War. Some photos show interior detail of the ships, which will capture the interest of the "Pre-Dreadnoughts" enthusiasts! Photos of the BB Mutsu's main gun turret are particularly eye-catching. The ship was salvaged from the offshore area of "Hashirajima" in 1970, and pictures were taken while it was displayed to the public; unfortunately this salvaged turret was scrapped later, so these photos are especially precious. It's amazing to see just how enormous the gun turret was! All text is in Japanese, but a lot of drawings and photos make this book a great reference for those who love IJN ships. Highly recommended! 181 pages, soft cover.