Do you know someone who is famous for haiku? In Japan, there are several people that are famous for their haiku. Among them, Matsuo Basho, who was active in the Edo period (1603-1867), is known worldwide for developing haikai, the original form of haiku.
In this article, we will introduce who Matsuo Basho was and what his masterpiece “Oku no Hosomichi” (The Narrow Road to the Interior) is all about.
View More JAPANESE SAMURAI / Matsuo Bashō
What would you do if you were asked to choose between attempting to shoot an arrow through a fan 70 meters (230 feet) away and being killed if you failed, or committing seppuku (Japanese: “self disembowelment”)? There was a man in the past who was faced with such an ultimate choice. This article will introduce a man named Nasu No Yoichi, who succeeded in making that choice.
View More JAPANESE SAMURAI / Nasu no Yoichi
Tomoe Gozen is known as a woman who distinguished herself in battles. Nevertheless, she appears only in military tales such as “The Tale of the Heike” and does not appear in historical records. Therefore, it is not certain whether she really existed. In this article, we will discuss Tomoe Gozen based on the information found in the tales.
View More JAPANESE SAMURAI / Tomoe Gozen
Sugita Genpaku is a prominent figure who made significant contributions to the medical field in Japan during the Edo period. His groundbreaking work in his time has had a profound impact on modern medicine. So, let’s dive into his incredible accomplishments and their lasting influence.
View More JAPANESE SAMURAI / Sugita Genpaku
Tokugawa Yoshimune was born in 1684 in Japan. He became the eighth shogun, or military leader, of the Tokugawa shogunate from 1716 to 1745, during the time in history when Japan was ruled by samurais.
View More JAPANESE SAMURAI / Tokugawa Yoshimune
Honda Tadakatsu was born in Mikawa (present-day Nishikurazen-cho, Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture) and served Tokugawa Ieyasu from his childhood, contributing to Ieyasu’s unification of Japan. He was a military commander who excelled in valor among his vassals, and as one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Tokugawa, he left his name on many battlefields.
View More JAPANESE SAMURAI / Honda Tadakatsu
Hattori Hanzo Masanari, also known as “Hattori Hanzo” or “Oni no Hanzo,” is a legendary figure in Japanese history. He was a samurai and a ninja.
View More JAPANESE SAMURAI / Hattori Hanzo Masanari
Oichi no Kata compared to a modern-day American is Ms.Michelle Obama:
A woman who combines intelligence, love for her family, and core strength.
Musashibo Benkei, who is said to have been Minamoto no Yoshitsune’s trusted subordinate, has been the subject of many Kabuki plays.
View More JAPANESE SAMURAI / Musashibo Benkei
Taira no Kiyomori is famous for defeating his rival Minamoto clan during the “Heiji Rebellion”, a great battle of spirit. He became a member of the upper class in recognition of his success in this battle. Let’s explore how he rose to power.
View More JAPANESE SAMURAI / Taira no Kiyomori
Author of the world’s oldest full-length novel. Murasaki Shikibu, a Woman of Many Mysteries.
View More JAPANESE SAMURAI / Murasaki Shikibu
“Why was Ii Naosuke Assassinated?”
we will introduce the personality of Ii Naosuke, who played a central role in the incident, and the cause and background of the incident.