Lacking Natural Simplicity

Zatoichi tekka tabi, also known as The Blind Swordsman's Cane Sword, 1967; directed by Kimiyoshi Yasuda; writing by Ryozo Kasahara and Kan Shimozawa.

Zatoichi chikemuri kaido, also known as Zatoichi Challenged, 1967; directed by Kenji Misumi; writing by Ryozo Kasahara and Kan Shimozawa.

Zatôichi hatashi-jô, also known as Blindswordsman and the Fugitives, 1968; directed by Kimiyoshi Yasuda; writing by Kinga Naoi and Kan Shimozawa.

Crystal Soldier, by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller; Meisha Merlin Publishing, February 2005. Another delightful Liaden Universe story, this time time the story of the progenitors of Korval. Aptly dedicated to one of my favorite people.

King Dragon, by Andrew J. Offutt; illustrations by Esteban Maroto; ACE, October 1980. An odd book; the jacket copy and some internal references compare it to the Lost World novels of Doyle, Haggard, Burroughs, and Howard, but it doesn't have the same flavour at all.

Tomoe Gozen, by Jessica Amanda Salmonson, copyright 1981; illustrations by Wendy Adrian Shultz, copyright 1981; Ace Fantasy Books/The Berkley Publishing Group, 1st edition June 1981, 3rd edition March 1984. The first Tomoe Gozen book.

The Golden Najinata, by Jessica Amanda Salmonson, copyright 1982; illustrations by Wendy Adrian Shultz, copyright 1982; Ace, February 1982. The second Tomoe Gozen book.

Thousand Shrine Warrior, by Jessica Amanda Salmonson, copyright 1984; illustrations by Wendy Adrian Shultz, copyright 1984; Ace, March 1984. The third (and last) Tomoe Gozen book. The Tomoe Gozen books were recommended in the Sorcerer & Sword RPG supplement's reading list and are definitely worth reading for those interested in fantasy inspired by Japan or Sword & Sorcery fiction in general.