Customer Reviews

Samurai Warriors

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A very disappointing book. My first clue was the caption on the second page for "Chishungura". The correct name is "Chushingura". Similar errors riddle the book ("Ikaurga", "Shikiby"). There are numerous illustrations, but many are poorly focused or obviously digitized at a low resolution. This one is not worth spending your money on.

Upon opening up a copy of Samurai Warriors, I was surprised to see a photograph of Sakamoto Ryoma, a famous samurai. I thought that perhaps Ryoma was now beginning to receive the wider recognition which was his due. When I began to read the caption, however, I was stunned. "Nameless samurai photographed in 1865." I assumed I was reading the wrong caption. Unfortunately, I wasn't. In disgust, I closed the book. That the photo was taken in 1866 might be overlooked, but "nameless samurai" cannot. I wondered how such a blatant mistake could be printed, until recalling how historically misrepresented have been Japanese history and culture by nonJapanese writers. This brings to mind a passage in the Preface to my RYOMA - Life of a Renaissance Samurai (Ridgeback Press), the only biographical novel of Sakamoto Ryoma in English: "It is a cultural loss that an historical figure of such magnificent stature has failed to gain the full attention of the Western world for nearly a century and a half. It is a tragedy that the general public¹s sources of information about...the samurai have... been travesties of Japanese history and culture... ." Let us hope that other writers take my lead.

This is a serious, broad, but detailed exploration of the samurai tradition. Lots of information is presented in a readable, handsome format, suitable for casual browsing or more concentrated study. This book is lavishly illustrated and contains detailed history of the samurai. The illustrations include maps, lots of reproductions of Japanese paintings, plus razor-sharp, close-up photos of Samurai armor and weapons. The book is fully indexed, has a glossary of terms, and includes an appendix listing Japanese emperors, empresses, and shoguns in chronological order, with biographical information. The author explains the lives and attitudes of the samurai, their etiquette, armor, weapons, tactics, rituals. History of the samurai wars is also included. This is definitely a worthwhile, quality book, that, while it may not provide revelations for PhD scholars on the subject, it will certainly serve the interests and tastes of the vast majority of people who are drawn to this subject and would like a book that provides a fine overview of the subject, peppered with fascinating facts and details, in a handsome volume worthy of the coffee table or den.

Fully illustrated with fascinating color prints and engravings on most every page. Period photographs. A wealth of historical information. I leave this book on my coffee table and everyone opens it up and can't put it down. Grossly underpriced on the Amazon[.com] Marketplace.