Samurai

Describes the Japanese way of life during the samurai eras through information about the politics, military, culture, and the belief system; also indicates the legacy of the period..

This book introduces the world of traditional Japanese martial arts and will provide readers with a deeper understanding of Bushido and Japan. Also known as Kobudo, these traditional martial arts can be seen as a continuation of samurai culture and comprise a number of styles formulated in the samurai era that are still being taught today. Aiming to develop Bujutsu (martial arts) and Heiho (strategy) to the highest possible degree, the samurai devised a code consisting of over eighteen arts. A samurai should have impeccable manners and be an expert in martial arts, but he should never be a killer. His swords contained his soul, which he cultivated by learning poetry and art, and by practicing Zen meditation. The author is the world-famous Kobudo grandmaster. He knows all the Kobudo styles, and his teaching of arts such as Iaijutsu and Jujitsu fascinates many students around the world. This is his first book in English, and it offers readers the opportunity to learn the lesser known arts of Kobudo, particularly the way of Nito Ryu-the two-swords method created by the famous samurai Miyamoto Musashi, and to understand the spirit behind it. Lavishly illustrated with around 700 photographs, Samurai Fighting Arts reveals many secret skills of Kobudo. It is divided into five chapters: Kobudo and its history; Kumiuchi Hyoho; Nito Ryu - the two-sword method; Iai and Kenpo; and Classical Kenjutsu and its application..

Explores the world of the samurai, weaving together history, culture, geography and politics..

In the author's words, "A friendly invasion is an invasion nonetheless." This is a humorous, outrageous perspective of how the new wave of Asian immigrants pouring into the San Gabriel Valley has transformed life there. As seen through the eyes of the Artist/Author (who has lived in the area for 45 years) this book paints a picturesque exposi of the changing demographics of the Valley that is as serious as it it is funny. This is a wild ride of essays and cartoons that touch upon such flash-points of interest as Samurai Image and Wealth, Politics, Samurai Restaurants and Dining Experiences, Music and Entertainment, Feng Shui, the Dating Disparity Issue, the Asian Intellectual Superiority Myth, Karaoke Clubs, Suburban Samurai Supermarket Adventures, and much more! This perspective is essential reading for anyone interested in Asian American studies!.

This volume examines the development of the 'way of the samurai' (bushidō), which is popularly viewed as a defining element of the Japanese national character and even the 'soul of Japan' - to provide an overview of modern Japanese social, cultural, and political history..

The word Samurai itself is a synonym for Japan, as they are the great ferocious aristocratic warriors in the history of the country. They are the best known for their dignity and elegance during peace and fierce atrocities in war. These highly honoured ardent champions were much ready to sacrifice their own life than bearing any dishonours. The Samurais practice a number of weapons including spears, bows and arrows, nevertheless the main weaponry and symbol of strength is their sword which was called as Katana. Their ethic code of conduct, Bushido was later adapted as the traditional code of conduct of entire Japan. Though after Meiji restoration, the importance of martial arts and hence the Samurai powers diminished, they are still revered as the most ferocious warriors for their contributions in uniting the country. In this book, we present you some of the greatest samurai heroes and their valuable words. Here are the impeccable words of acclaimed samurais like Miyamoto Musashi, Tokugawa Ieyasu, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Oda Nobunaga and many more….

Osamu Tanaka is a young Japanese Salary man who traveling to Mexico City to a business meeting, but before making the trip has a little accident that causes him to remember his past life in 1613 when he was a samurai who was part of the General Hasekura men who traveled on the ship San Juan Bautista to New Spain landed in the present port of Acapulco. In his journey he meets his Senpai, Yokho Katsura, who visit various tourist destinations of Mexico like Acapulco, Malinalco, Chalma, Teotihuacan, etc. But in his dreams Osamu will realize that this same route traveled 400 years ago, so his trip will be both past and present of Mexico, and remember to have met a beautiful Azteca woman who had to escape along with her village of the Spanish conquerors who sought even Moctezuma's treasure at all costs. So discover an adventure full of action and romance in a tourist and historical journey that will captivate..

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This collection examines the exchange of Asian identities taking place at the levels of both film production and film reception amongst pan-Pacific cinemas. The authors consider, on the one hand, texts that exhibit what Mette Hjort refers to as, "marked transnationality," and on the other, the polysemic nature of transnational film texts by examining the release and reception of these films. The topics explored in this collection include the innovation of Hollywood generic formulas into 1950's and 1960's Hong Kong and Japanese films; the examination of Thai and Japanese raced and gendered identity in Asian and American films; the reception of Hollywood films in pre-1949 China and millennial Japan; the production and performance of Asian adoptee identity and subjectivity; the political implications and interpretations of migrating Chinese female stars; and the production and reception of pan-Pacific co-productions. ..

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How does culture shape history, and history shape culture? This book answers this question by bringing readers on a fascinating journey through the evolution of Chinese culture, political and legal institutions, and "national character" of historical and contemporary China. It illustrates how "national character" evolves endogenously along with an institutional environment through the use of economic theories. Recognizing the unique role of "personality" in violence and social order – important variables that contribute to successful economies, the book provides a meaningful take on "personality" from the "average personality" of a country’s people. It analyses the relationship between culture, institution and "national character", providing gainful, interesting insights into the monumental transformation of China..

"This book documents the changes in Japanese employment structures, behavior patterns, and attitudes that indicate that lifetime employment was not 'an indestructible bastion of Japanese cultural heritage.' ... Readable and refreshingly free of jargon." --Asiaweek.

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This is the first textbook that comprehensively covers the three centuries of British business history from 1720 to the present day. Wilson argues that company culture has been the most important component in the evolution of business organisations and management practices. The influence of business culture on firms' structure, sources of finance, and the background and training of senior managers is investigated to show its pivotal importance in determining business performance..

Military Thought of Asia challenges the assertion that the generation of rational secular ideas about the conduct of warfare is the preserve of the West, by analysing the history of ideas of warfare in Asia from the ancient period to the present. The volume takes a transcontinental and comparative approach to provide a broad overview of the evolution of military thought in Asia. The military traditions and theories which have emerged in different parts of Eurasia throughout history are products of geopolitics and unique to the different regions. The book considers the systematic and tight representation of ideas by famous figures including Kautlya and Sun Tzu. At the same time, it also highlights publications on military affairs by small men like mid-ranking officers and scattered ideas regarding the origin, nature and societal impact of organised violence present in miscellaneous sources like coins, inscriptions, paintings and fictional literature. In so doing, the book fills a historiographical gap in scholarship on military thought, which marginalises Asia to the part of cameo, and historicises the evolution of theory and the praxis of warfare. The volume shows that the ‘East’ has a long unbroken tradition of conceptualising war and its place in society from the Classical Era to the Information Age. It is essential reading for those interested in the evolution of military thought throughout history, particularly in Asia..

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Specialist manufacturers have existed in Japan from even before the start of industrialization in the late nineteenth century. Proliferating since but remaining steadfastly lean, many of them can be categorized as leading medium-sized enterprises. This book looks at how they are globalizing and assuming a role as East Asian specialists..