Books & Magazines >> Samurai

The Samurai - Recreated in Colour Photographs

Author: Mitsuo Kure & Ghislaine Kruit - 96 pages - Paperback

Author: Oscar Ratti & Adele Westbrook - 483 Pages - Paperback

This book is a definitive study of the martial arts of feudal Japan, illustrating in detail the weapons, techniques, strategies, and principles of combat that made the Japanese warrior a formidable foe.
This book is just such a great reference work that it would be in the best interest of all students of Bujutsu to own their own copy.

The Spirit and the Practice.

Author: Fumon Tanaka - 208 Pages - Hardcover

A Modern Translation of the Bushido Shoshinshu of Taira Shigesuke.

Author: Thomas Cleary - 98 pages - Hardcover

The Code of the Samurai is a four-hundred-year-old explication of the rules and expectations embodied in Bushido, the Japanese way of the warrior.
Bushido has played a major role in shaping the behavior of modern Japanese society, as well as in shaping the modern martial arts within Japan and internationally. The Japanese original of this book has been one of the primary sources on the tenets of Bushido, a way of thought that remains fascinating to the modern world, East and West.

Author: Thomas Cleary - 160 pages - Hardcover

Thomas Cleary's translation of Code of the Samurai introduced the social, political, and organizational principles of samurai culture, including loyalty to family, a sense of service and duty, and the rules for dealing with allies and enemies.
Cleary delves into the key influence of Zen on the samurai's combat style, from its emphasis on detachment-meaning a willingness to sacrifice life (including one's own) to the attempt to clear the mind and "be in the moment," which freed the swordsman's mind from distractions and allowed him to act in an instant.

Author: Mark Ravina - 288 pages - Hardcover

The dramatic arc of Saigo Takamori's life, from his humble origins as a lowly samurai, to national leadership, to his death as a rebel leader, has captivated generations of Japanese readers and now the world as well - his life is the inspiration for a major Hollywood film, The Last Samurai, starring Tom Cruise and Ken Watanabe. In this vibrant new biography, Mark Ravina, explores the facts behind Hollywood storytelling and Japanese legends, and explains the passion and poignancy of Saigo's life.

What Life Was Like Among Samurai and Shoguns: Japan, Ad 1000-1700

Publisher: Time-Life Books - 144 pages - Hardcover

Author: Mitsuo Kure - 192 pages - Hardcover

The medieval world of the samurai is rich in drama and stands today as the basis for both Japanese national legends and the world’s fascination with the concept. This book, with over 250 color photographs and illustrations, brings the age, the individual warriors, and the key battles to life.
Samurai delves into the origins of the samurai culture and describes the weapons, battles and strategies that shaped the history of the age. All chapters are illustrated by photographs of actual battles colorfully and meticulously portrayed by authentic Japanese reenactment groups. An essential work for anyone already versed in the culture of the samurai, as well as those seeking to learn more about it, this book captures an age of action with a powerful sense of immediacy and passion.

Author: Jennifer Mitchelhil, Photographs by David Green - 112 pages - Hardcover

The castles of Japan are both technical and aesthetic marvels. They are technical marvels in that they are perfectly suited to their roles of defensive fortresses and administrative centers in time of war. They are aesthetic marvels in that every curve and line reflects an extraordinary sense of beauty. How these castles came about, how they were built, and what their ultimate fate was is fully explained.
The book is divided into four parts. The first deals with who built these castles and why, taking an incisive look at Japanese history and the internecine fighting between samurai clans. The second part takes up the castle as a fortress -- the importance of its location, its layout, stone walls and moats, towers, gates, shooting holes, and stone drops. The third part considers the beauty of the castle as a symbol, explaining not only the intricate craftsmanship seen in structural detail but also the aesthetics of the samurai class itself.
The book also contains information for tourists who plan to visit the sites of the surviving castles.