When the samurai warlord and respected castle architect Todo Takatora died in 1630, the funeral attendants responsible for preparing his body were shocked to note that there was not a single part of his body not scarred or disfigured by sword, spear, glaive or matchlock gun wound. Todo Takatora lived a life that unfolds like a drama. Born to a small landholding samurai family, the maverick youth worked his way to the top, becoming one of the most successful of daimyo warlords. He had served on the front lines of some of the most violent of battles, turning points that forged the nation. In a land and time in which loyalty was held dear, he changed his allegiances a record seven times, serving a record ten lords, more than any other samurai in history. Because of this, he has long been held in contempt by the Japanese. Standing 6 feet tall in a time when the average Japanese man stood between 5 and 5 1/2 feet, Todo Takatora was a giant among men. He died aged 74, when the normal life span was around 50. He was also the finest, most innovative of castle architects, responsible for the design and construction of over 30 of the strongest, most innovative Japanese castles and structures, and influencing samurai castle construction across Japan. In explaining his life, his reasons for having served so many lords, his achievements in battle and in castle design, his political and personal ideals and how these attributes were shaped during the course of his adventurous life, this book will reveal the man, and show why Takatora deserves the epithet of National Hero. In this fascinating biography, the first ever published in the English language, Chris Glenn explores Todo Takatora’s remarkable, and influential, life, the battles he fought in, the political intrigues he was part of, as well as detailing the magnificent castles he built.

The castles of Japan are a product of the country's long history of civil warnd samurai rule from the Middle Ages to mid-19th century. They functionedoth as military fortresses as well as symbols of authority. Theyncorporated powerful mechanisms for warding off attackers, yet as symbolshey were possessed of immense beauty and grace.;This study is divided intoour parts: the first examines who built these castles and why, with anncisive look at Japanese history and the internecine fighting betweenamurai clans; the second part discusses the castle as a fortress - themportance of its location, its layout, stone walls and moats, towers, gates,hooting holes, and stone drops; the third part covers the beauty of theastle as a symbol, covering the intricate craftsmanship seen in structuraletail and the aesthetics of the samurai class itself; and the fourth partontains practical information on visiting castles and gleaning the most from first-hand view.

Intriguing encounters between Zen practitioners and samurai warriors are recaptured in this breviloquent collection of short stories drawn from the literature of feudal Japan. These encounters deal with the nature of immediacy and its role in understanding the essence of human existence. For the martial artist faced with a conflict, the Zen state of mind, without distractions and illusions, can determine the difference between life and death. The warrior experience, as revealed in these traditional stories, is retold in a style that is relevant and graspable to the contemporary American martial artist. No particular religious background is required to appreciate these stories, but rather a curiosity about what allows people to achieve extraordinary performance when faced with life and death circumstances. Zen ink paintings by John Hrabushi offer a meditative and intellectual cross training throughout the collection. Foreword by noted Aikido Shihan Lorraine DiAnne.

Samurai Castles features hundreds of stunning color photographs and little-known details about the most important and well-preserved Samurai castles in Japan, including their history, design and military features. Japan's ancient castles provide profound insights into the country's compelling military history. Discover the secrets of Japan's feudal past by exploring the most famous castles of the Samurai era. The enormous stone walls, multi-level towers, and sophisticated defense systems are not merely impressive fortresses, but spectacular works of Japanese architecture, constructed without the use of steel or modern equipment. These monumental structures fulfilled a need for protection without sacrificing aesthetic values. Understanding the cultural contexts of these Samurai castles helps create a better understanding of Japanese culture today. In this fascinating Japanese castle book, you will discover the rich history and creators of famous castles such as Himeji, Osaka, and Nijo that you would otherwise need to travel to Japan to experience in person. Chronicling the story of each building conveys a greater understanding of how and why they were built, and identifies their unique features for historians, architecture aficionados, world travelers, and Japanophiles alike. With over two hundred color images, numerous diagrams, maps, and detailed descriptions, Samurai Castles is the most comprehensive Japanese history book on this intriguing topic.

A highly illustrated account of the siege by the Tokugawa ruling dynasty against the samurai, defenders of the shogunate. In 1614-15 Osaka Castle was Japan's greatest fortification, measuring approximately 2 miles in length with walls 100 feet high. It was guarded by 100,000 samurai, determined to defend the last of the once-powerful Toyotomi clan. The castle was seemingly impenetrable; however, Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the ruling dynasty, was determined to destroy this remaining threat. This book explores the bitter struggle of the Summer and Winter campaigns, which eventually saw the last great clash of the samurai and defined the balance of power in Japan for years to come.

This in-depth study of the greatest samurai battle in history explores its momentous significance as well as the epic combat itself. Finally unified under Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Japan quickly fractured once again after his death in 1598. The warlord Tokugawa Ieyasu mounted a fearsome opposition to Hideyoshi’s loyal followers. As the country divided into two great armies, East and West, each side scrambled to take control of strategically vital highways and castles. These sieges culminated in the decisive Battle of Sekigahara. Fought on October 21st, 1600, the battle lasted just six hours, but saw the deaths of an estimated 30,000 samurai, the destruction of a numerous noble families, and the creation of the Tokugawa Shogunate that would rule Japan for the next 260 years. The loyalist forces, despite their superior numbers and excellent battle formations, were defeated. In his exploration of the battle, Chris Glenn reveals the developments that led up to the outbreak of war and the characters involved. He details how the battle itself unfolded, and the aftermath. The weapons and armor of the time are also fully explained, along with little known customs of the samurai and their warfare.

Japanese castles cast a spell on all those who set their eyes on them. They are the product of a people whose history might be steeped in blood and drama, yet whose hands produced works of breathtaking refinement. This groundbreaking encyclopedia is the first work in the English language to offer a comprehensive overview of the history, architecture, and all the attending aspects of Japanese castles. It references a total of 370 castles, giving unprecedented in-depth information on all of Japan's remaining original castles, 101 of its reconstructions, and 68 of its major ruins. Comprised of five parts, it covers all aspects of Japan's rich castle culture. It covers their long and fascinating history: from the earliest fortifications during the late sixth century, the rise of mountain strongholds during the Kamakura period, the veritable explosion of castles during the Warring States period, the vast Tokugawa citadels of the early Edo period, the incredibly destructive years of the early Meiji period, the dramatic years of World War II, and the post-war decades of revival and reconstruction. It covers their various functional aspects: the epic construction projects involving thousands of laborers and specialists, the emerging castle towns, the laws that regulated a castle's garrison, and its town's populace. It deals with the various methods of siege warfare and the many other dangers facing a medieval castle. And it revisits what it was like to enter a magnificent stronghold such as Edo Castle at the height of its glory. It covers the countless design features: the selection of their location, the layouts of their walls and moats. It describes in detail the types of keeps, turrets, gates, bridges, and many other castle structures. And it goes into the complicated terminology of their architectural details. Its most impressive feature, however, is the 400-page long, one-by-one in-depth biography of each castle and ruin of note: their origin, their often dramatic history, the layout of their grounds, the architectural features of their buildings, their sad demise, and, in many cases, their remarkable recovery. Further context and background information is given in an appendix with detailed maps, comprehensive lists of Japan's castles at various time periods, those abolished during the Meiji period, and those in the top 100-all rounded off with an extensive 350-term glossary and an 1800-entry index. For anyone with a serious interest in Japanese castles, this 600-page, full-color tome with over 700 images and maps is the ultimate go-to reference.

When the powerful Lord Takeda's soldiers sweep across the countryside, killing and plundering, they spare the boy Taro's life and take him along with them. Taro becomes a servant in the household of the noble Lord Akiyama, where he meets Togan, a cook, who teaches Taro and makes his new life bearable. But when Togan is murdered, Taro's life takes a new direction: He will become a samurai, and redeem the family legacy that has been stolen from him.

Der Japanische Biographische Index verzeichnet in drei Bänden die 86.800 im Japanischen Biographischen Archiv enthaltenen Persönlichkeiten und erschließt 127.000 biographische Einträge aus 77 Quellenwerken in 178 Bänden, erschienen zwischen 1646 und 1998.