Arawasi International

Magazine 

Issue No.7

Reviewed by Mick Evans

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This publication is in soft cover and is a full colour glossy publication in standard A4 format.  The name Arawasi (Wild Eagles) was originally the nickname given by the Japanese press to pilots of any nationality who demonstrated bravery in combat or exceptional skill.  By the start of WWII the moniker had come to be reserved for Japanese pilots only. 

Arawasi international is a quarterly magazine containing data and stories about Japanese aircraft and the history of Japanese aviation.  From viewing the Arawasi website Volume 7 is the second magazine professionally published.  Volumes 1 to 5 were published in what the Arawasi team term as homemade editions.  But viewing the few pages visible from volumes 1 to 5 on the web site these appear to be of a high quality, but the issue 7 is printed on very high quality glossy paper.

Volume 7 contains some very interesting stories and certainly is a wealth of reference material for any person interested in or building Japanese aircraft.  This volume contains 50 pages with many photographs.  The quality of the photographs sometimes is a bit grainy depending on the era that the photographs were taken, and from my experience this is typical of many early photographs of Japanese aircraft, good quality WWII and pre WWII Japanese aircraft photographs are hard to find.  There is also a sprinkling of advertisements throughout the magazine and these are mainly focussed on Japanese Aviation products.

The magazine ends with a photo shoot of harden WWII aircraft shelters on the small Japanese home island of Shikoko.  These shelters are not unlike some of those used by NATO during the cold war. 

The magazines contents include;

1.         Photo Album – Mitsubishi F1M “Pete”

Good detail from the Pete production line.

2.         Vintage Art

Painting of a flight of Mitsubishi G3M “Nell” bombers

3.         Young Japan – Forgotten Symbol of Pioneer era Pt1

A story that charts the course of two intrepid Japanese aviators one of whom had just gained his licence and undertook a flight from Tokyo to Rome in 1931.

4.         Trophy Avenger

            Photographs of a captured Grumman Avenger on display.

5.         Tried and Tested Pt1

            A history of the Yokosuka Naval Air Arsenal (1932-1939).

6.         Hansa – Teutonic Trendsetter

            A story of the Hansa Brandenburg W.29 in Japanese service.

7.         From American Acorn to Japanese Oak

            The story of the Kyushu K10W1 Oak wich was based on the North American BT-9.

8.         Hurricane Sam Pt4

            Technical story of the development of the Mitsubishi A7M Reppu (Hurricane) “Sam”.

9.         The Notable Nozawa X-1

Mike Goodwin traces the the history of a unique Japanese light aircraft.  A spirited performer that was destined to be overtaken by political events.

10.       From Japan to Manchuria – By Air

11.       Contrails

12.       For your Bookshelf

13.       On Location

Photo shoot of harden WWII aircraft shelters on the small Japanese home island of Shikoko

This is an excellent publication on Japanese Aviation and one that I will certainly be backordering the earlier volumes!

Highly Recommended

Thanks to Arawasi Magazine for the review sample

Review Copyright © 2007 by Mick Evans
This Page Created on 30 October, 2007
Last updated 24 December, 2007

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