The Japanese Dragon Japanese Dragon have appeared in the mythology since immemorial times. They are fascinating creatures with a much larger background than Western books and films often show. Asian dragons are closer to the figure of the gods. They are not simply beasts, but their powers and dimensions elevate some of them to […]
Top 10 Samurai Books You Should Read Before You Die
Top 10 Samurai Books Although what we receive most on social networks about katanas are queries about our swords, from time to time a very specific request pops up: “Do you have recommendations for samurai books?” It’s always a compliment to be asked this question, so we can have a good time giving recommendations of […]
The Battle Suit of the Samurai
Samurai Armor Here we are going to talk about the Samurai battle suit or armor. What was it like? Is it heavy? Why do some helmets have horns? Or did it mean something else? When we think about Samurai history, the Katana sword always comes to mind. Before you’ve seen a movie or two, could […]
The Japanese Martial Art That Uses Bamboo Swords
Kendo Most martial arts originated in Japan, but many of them did not rely on weapons. Meanwhile, there were those that are designed to be done with swords. These ascended from Kenjutsu. Hence, it essentially covered all Japanese sword martial arts. One of these subsets was Kendo. It was different from all the others. Particularly, […]
Is there a difference between Kabukimono and Ronin?
Kabukimono and Ronin What is Kabukimono? What is Ronin? Japanese people are ethnic groups that are native to Japan. They are one of the largest ethnic groups – approximately 129 million people worldwide. Japanese people are divided into different kinds and groups of people. It is also with their various roles and different ways of […]
Who Was the God the Samurai Worshipped?
The God the Samurai Worshipped Also known as Yahata no kami, the name Hachiman can be traced back to a prehistoric place in Kyushu. It means “God of Eight Banners”. These heavenly banners signaled the birth of the 15th emperor of Japan, Emperor Ōjin. Moreover, Hachiman is the syncretic divinity of war and archery. For […]
The Conquest of Toyotomi: The Dual Battles of Imjin
The Dual Battles of Imjin The Imjin invasion started in the year 1592 when the Japanese army arrived at the Busan port city. This peninsula is in the southernmost spot of Korea. The Japanese military soon conquered the location. The Japanese became repulsed after years of brutal fighting, which even culminated a mediation by China. […]
The Nonmilitary Culture of the Samurai
Culture of the Samurai We know the Samurai as dedicated warriors. As such, their entire lives revolved around the study of and training for military service. It is easy to imagine them practicing swordsmanship and archery most of the time. Then, of course, as their primary duty, they would go to war as well. Outside […]
Complete Story of the 47 Ronin
The 47 Ronin You probably heard about the story of the 47 Ronin, One of the most beloved and known stories in Japan, Whether you are familiar with the details or not, the story of the 47 Ronin is filled with honor, duty and fulfillment… The sun was just beginning to rise. The streets were […]
From Family Dispute to Civil War
The Onin War Who can tell that a dispute between a father and his son-in-law would eventually become a 12-year civil war? This war was known as the Onin War. Ōnin refers to the Japanese era spanning from March 1467 through April 1469. It occurred after Bunsho and before Bunmei. Bunsho marked the history from […]