Kirishima was one of four Kongo class battleships built by Japan in the years immediately preceding World War I. Originally laid down as fast, heavily armed battlecruisers, they were modernized several times, most notably in the mid-1930s, when they were reconstructed and transformed into fast battleships. They were the most active of Japan’s capital ships during World War II. All were eventually sunk during the war; Kirishima most notably after engaging two USN battleships during the Second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on November 14-15, 1942. This after a very active year participating in the attack on Pearl Harbor, the invasion of the Dutch East Indies, the Indian Ocean Raid, the Battle of Midway, and some of the initial battles off Guadalcanal. 

Co-authors Joseph Low and Sander Kingsepp have diverse professional backgrounds and are military/naval historians with a longstanding interest in the Imperial Japanese Navy. Mr. Low possesses one of the largest, known collections of reference material on the IJN and is highly proficient in creating digital illustrations and technical drawings. Mr. Kingsepp is an experienced translator who has contributed widely to many publications relating to the IJN and the Pacific War. Both are avid contributors to the Combined Fleet and related websites, and both have collaborated on various books and documentaries on IJN related material. 

This book was several years in the making and was their first collaboration together. Originally intended by the authors to be a physical book, the barriers to self-publishing proved too high at the time  and it was published and sold as an PDF document in 2016. Subsequent collaborations and learning curves on self-publication led to its printed release on Amazon.com in October, 2021.   (Disclaimer:  I am personally acquainted with both co-authors, but have no stake in this endeavor.)

The book is a large format paperback, 8.5 x 11 inches, and 94pages long. After the preface(s), the first 50 pages or so are devoted to the most highly detailed history of Kirishima available in English, from the start of her construction in 1911 to her sinking in late 1942. Interspersed within the history are highly detailed external profile drawings of the ship showing the significant modifications over her lifetime. Highly detailed tables relating to those modifications are also included. 

The next 25 pages consists of both color and black and white renderings of her bridge superstructure after her second 1937 modernizations, when she was reclassified as a battleship. The illustrations include both full color, 3D renderings of the entire bridge structure as well as a deck-by-deck breakdown of the bridge. The individual bridge levels are illustrated both by full color, 3D three-point perspective views as well as black and white plan views.

The book ends with several appendices, a truly extensive bibliography, and footnote listing. 

It’s meticulously researched and beautifully illustrated.  With a technical orientation, hints of Anatomy of the Ship, and an excellent narrative on both design and ship history, it’s the best single volume reference on Kirishima that I know of, particularly in English. My only wish is that some of the illustrations were a bit larger.

Highly recommended. 

Review sample courtesy of my wallet, via Amazon.com. Price is US$24.99.