The Fujiwara Clan The Heian Shi or Heian Period in the history of Japan goes from the years 794 to 1185 CE. It flourished and saw great improvement from literature, arts, and more. When it comes to the administration and government, the Heian Shi was under the rule of the Fujiwara clan. They dominated the […]
Sword-Wielding Training Dual wielding means using two weapons one in each hand while engaging in combat. This combat style is not something that is common. Although there are historical records about dual wielding, these were still very much limited. Not only that, but many weapon-based martial arts make use of a pair of swords. The […]
The Samurai Bow and its History The Yumi was a vital weapon of the Samurai during Japan’s feudal period. It was able to accurately and efficiently shoot Japanese arrows called Ya. The term means bow in Japanese but in English, it refers to the classic Japanese asymmetrical bow. This includes the much longer Daikyu and […]
Tameshigiri History and Techniques Tameshigiri means test cutting, for the benefit of improving the swordsmen’s sense of Maai in Kendo, as well as their sword cutting skills. However, it does not develop progressive realistic targets and does not exist to show off strength. For the longest time, Tameshigiri has been practiced in Japan. This test […]
Katana in the Era of Peace The Katana in the era of peace is a valuable symbol for a Samurai’s identity. It is the ‘Soul of the Samurai.’ The Samurai in the military class obtains his value through the Katana. Prior to the era of peace, The Katana sword was mainly used for battles, together […]
The Siege of Odawara In 1590, the third Siege of Odawara took place. Meanwhile, the Hojo clan is the last strong resistance against the flourishing leadership of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He is known to be Oda Nobunaga’s successor in ruling over Japan. The Odawara Castle, the biggest castle in the world then was the homeland of […]
The Imperial Conquest The Chihaya is one of the battles during the Genko War. This occurred in the year 1333, which is the final year of the Kamakura period. This is the time when the Hojo clan Shogunate reigns. They are sent into exile by Emperor Go-Daigo after learning his plans. The Emperor’s scheme is […]
First Samurai Warriors The first Samurai warriors began to rise at 646 A.D. after the Taika reform, which included land reallocation. In this period, authorities implementing expensive taxes and obliging small farmers to sell their own land are usual. As a result, farmers have to work as tenants in their land. Over time, the large […]
Overview of the Japanese Samurai The Japanese Samurai, members of the country’s most powerful and prominent military caste, were originally provincial warriors. This was before they rose to power during the 12th century. It was also the beginning of the country’s first military dictatorship, the Shogunate. As servants under the Daimyo, these warriors backed up […]
Samurai & Ashigaru During the ancient periods, the Samurai and the Ashigaru had a variety of processes on the battlefield. This took many hours to plan, strategize and perfect. Approaching the Enemy’s Camp As soon as the Samurai army was nearing the enemy’s territory, may it be a castle, field or their camp, the officers […]
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