Anyone who has ever watched an old-school ninja movie is familiar with shuriken (ninja stars); in fact, shuriken are so well-known that even some people who haven’t watched ninja movies know what...
Category: Samurai
Swords were an integral part of samurai culture, but there wasn’t a single samurai sword. Swords in feudal Japan were adapted to the wielders and their targets. As warfare evolved and new enemies...
Although movies, paintings, and stories often depict samurai wielding long-bladed katanas, the truth is that samurai used a wide range of weapons. They were proficient with longbows, spears, and...
During their 700 year dominance of Japan, the Samurai were expected to maintain their physical appearance according to strict protocols. These protocols regulated their dress, wearing ceremonial...
Throughout human history and across every inhabited continent, most cultures used handheld shields for defense during combat. But what about the Samurai of feudal and early modern Japan? Did they use...
Although there are no samurai in modern-day Japan, the samurai, or bushi, are still an invaluable part of Japanese history. Today, many people get samurai or samurai-inspired tattoos to showcase...