Sekigahara 1600 (Trade Editions) [Paperback]

Anthony Bryant (Author)

Book Description

Series: Trade Editions | Publication Date: November 25, 2000

Sekigahara was the most decisive battle in Japanese history. Fought against the ritualized and colorful backdrop of Samurai life, it was the culmination of a long-standing power struggle between Tokugawa Ieyasu and Hashiba Hideyoshi, two of the most powerful men in Japan. Armies of the two sides met on the plain of Sekigahara on October 21, 1600, in thick fog and deep mud. By the end of the day 40,000 heads had been taken and Ieyasu was master of Japan.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

The Bringing History to Life collection is made up of Osprey's all-time favourite titles, re-released with striking new covers - selected titles also include visitor information sections.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing (November 25, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841761168
• ISBN-13: 978-1841761169
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,173,680 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent short introduction to a fascinating period, July 24, 2003

By 

Richard Peterson (San Diego, CA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sekigahara 1600 (Trade Editions) (Paperback)

When I read this book, I knew nothing about the period except what I had learned reading "Shogun". This book led me to go out and read further on the topic. Anthony Bryant does an excellent job of not only describing one of the most decisive battles in Japanese history, but also giving the background to understand it. He takes an very complex situation and makes it understandable. He even points out which people were the inspiration for which characters in Shogun!

The description of the battle itself is the core of this book and the author does a first rate job on this. Following the standard Osprey Campaign book format, he describes the opposing commanders (a fascinating topic in itself!), the opposing armies (this was a transition period with gun-armed troops fighting side by side with sword-wielding samurai) and the opposing plans before describing the battle. Unlike many books, however, he follows up with what happened after. The action is greatly aided by a series of maps which go a long way to making the complex events understandable.

Although the book is only 96 pages long, it provides a very satisfying introduction to the period that saw the end of internecine warfare and the reestablishment of the Shogunate. Please note that at present at least (July 2003), there are two identical editions of this book available on Amazon.Com at two different prices. So check around!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Typical Osprey, November 8, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Sekigahara 1600 (Trade Editions) (Paperback)

This book is almost the only treatment of this battle available in English unless you want to buy an out of print war game on ebay or a set miniature rules. Like most Osprey books you will find a formula presentation with workman like but not inspired writing. Osprey battle studies are utilitarian at best and his one fits the mold. Illustrations as always are excellent.

3.0 out of 5 stars Good amount of information but doesn't go into enough depth., March 12, 2005

By 

Russell Ward - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sekigahara 1600 (Trade Editions) (Paperback)

The author covers every aspect of the battle but only glances over most information with a page or 2 when I would have really liked a lot more. There are only about 30 pages on the actual battle (many pictures take up a lot of space) I wish he had written twice that amount of information. The information given is excellent, but like I said I just wish there was more. It does read a bit like a high school text book which can take away the emotion from the reader.