samurai history – Japanese history and culture

Japanese Matchlock Myths – Debunked.

Most of you guys know I am more of a specialist in ancient Japanese history. Although, I do occasionally write

This article was originally going to be included in the ‘History of Aki (Hiroshima) Prefecture’ but as this article has

An amateur historian has unearthed compelling evidence that the first Australian maritime foray into Japanese waters was by convict pirates

In Japanese folklore the female demon (oni) Hannya figures prominently. Often depicted in traditional Noh and Bunraku plays using a

The Battle of Shiroyama, the battle that inspired the final scenes in the movie The Last Samurai, took place on

On the hill overlooking the historical Bikan area is the ancient Achi Shrine. According to the Nihonshoki (Chronicles of Japan)

(Tenshu-kaku from the south) (Tenshu-kaku from the north. You can see the irregular shape of the base floor from this

Shukkeien gardens date back to 1620, a year after feudal lord Asano Nagaakira was made lord of Hiroshima. Asano’s principal

I finally got an afternoon off, so I did a bit of exploring around Mihara. I visited the castle ruins

I visited the two Nagashino battlegrounds and museum in January 2016. It was a great experience to visit this place

Hall of the golden hue (konjikido) This print was the last print ever to be designed by Kawase Hasui. Sadly,

Everybody knows about Japan and their samurai. But did you know men were not the only ones being trained to

Title: Snow at Nihonbashi on New Year’s Morning. The Nihonbashi (Japan Bridge), was at the heart of Edo and the

HIKONE, Shiga Prefecture–Fascinating tidbits from the daily lives of samurai warriors have been gleaned from a diary found four years

An acclaimed chronicler of samurai history and folklore once wrote, Under Tokugawa law, it was an inalienable right of the