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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Greatest Battles of the Samurai Throughout history, many battles in Japan occurred. Here, Samurai warriors and warlords clashed for power and control. The Samurai dominated warfare in the country despite beginning as provincial warriors. Soon, they emerged and became part of Japan’s military caste. Like other historical periods, the Japanese experienced important battles that molded […]
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 […]
Benefits of Katana Curvature Usually, one would ask if the curvature of the Katana adds performance benefits. Generally, the Katana, Tachi, and all their variants have a single signature component. It is something that is distinct among other kinds of swords. All these have a beautiful curve whether it is subtle or pronounced. As an […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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