Tag: Samurai

1767 – 1848 曲亭馬琴 Bakin Kyokutei An Edo-Period Novelist Known for Timeless Tales Name: AKA Bakin TAKIZAWA 滝沢馬琴, Pen name Kyokutei Bakin 曲亭馬琴, later called himself Toku (解), Original name is Okikuni Takizawa 滝沢興邦 From Samurai to Storyteller: The Journey of Kyokutei Bakin Born in 1767, Bakin KYOKUTEI (real name Okikuni TAKIZAWA) came from a samurai family. His early years were marked by privilege, but his life took a dramatic turn when his father passed away at the age of nine. With his older brothers moving on—one to work for another family and the other adopted by relatives—Bakin inherited the…

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1839 – 1867 高杉晋作 Shinsaku Takasugi The Visionary Leader of Choshu-Han Who Defied Social Status to Protect Japan Birth of a Future Leader Shinsaku Takasugi was born in 1839 in Choshu (modern-day Yamaguchi Prefecture), into a family that had long served the local feudal lord. Demonstrating remarkable intelligence from an early age, Takasugi dedicated himself to martial arts, laying the foundation for his future as a military and political leader. Entering Shoka Sonjuku At the age of 19, Takasugi was invited by his childhood friend, Genzui Kusaka, to join Shoka Sonjuku, a private school founded by Shoin Yoshida, a prominent…

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574-622 厩戸皇子 Umayado no Oji (Prince Umayado)  AKA Shōtoku Taishi (Prince Shotoku) 聖徳太子 The Enigmatic Statesman Who Shaped Japan’s Future Mysterious Beginnings Prince Umayado, born in 574 as the son of Emperor Yōmei, entered the world under a cloud of mystery. He became known as Shōtoku Taishi (Prince Shōtoku) after his death. Even the origins of his birth have sparked intriguing stories. One legend suggests his mother nearly gave birth to him outside a stable, while another claims he was born in a stable, evoking comparisons to figures of spiritual significance. As a child, Prince Umayado would not only witness…

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1926 – 2023 内藤秀雄 Hideo Naito The Life of Hideo Naito: A Son’s Tribute to His Father’s Legacy in Southern California Real Estate Bio Hideo Naito 内藤秀雄Born on July 1, 1926, in Hyogo Prefecture.Chairman of SBD Group Inc. Shunichi Naito 内藤俊一Born on January 1, 1948, in Osaka Prefecture. President and CEO of SBD Group Inc. SBD Group Inc.Established in 1975, headquartered in California. Specializes in the ownership and management of office buildings, shopping “I See Him in My Dreams All the Time” – Shunichi Naito Remembers His Father, Hideo Naito In December 2023, Hideo Naito, a well-respected figure in the…

View More SAMURAI Legends: A Samurai Spirit Lives On / Hideo Naito

1763-1827 小林一茶 Issa Kobayashi A Haiku Poet with a Heart for the Everyday A Difficult Childhood Issa Kobayashi, born in 1763 in Shinano Province (now Nagano Prefecture), lived a life marked by hardship and resilience. His real name was Yataro, and he came from a farming family. Issa’s early years were challenging. His mother passed away when he was just three years old, and his father remarried when Issa was eight. Unfortunately, his relationship with his stepmother was strained. She favored her own children, leaving Issa to care for his younger half-siblings. When the baby cried, Issa would be scolded,…

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Muneshige Tachibana was a renowned samurai who lived and thrived during Japan’s Sengoku period. Known for his undefeated record in battle, he was called “The Invincible Warrior of the West” due to his numerous exploits in western Japan.

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“The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido” is an outstanding ukiyo-e artwork that is well-known globally and one of the most enduring masterpieces ever.

View More JAPANESE SAMURAI / Miura Anjin (William Adams)

“The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido” is an outstanding ukiyo-e artwork that is well-known globally and one of the most enduring masterpieces ever.

View More JAPANESE SAMURAI / Hiroshige Utagawa

Shibasaburō Kitasato on the New ¥1,000 Bill in 2024
Father of Modern Japanese Medicine: Developing Countermeasures Against Infectious Diseases

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Sugihara saved the lives of over 6,000 Jewish people from the Holocaust, which was a state-sponsored, systematic genocide and persecution of Jewish people committed by the Nazi regime and its collaborators between 1939 and 1945.

View More JAPANESE SAMURAI / Chiune (Sempo) Sugihara

Tsuda Umeko, selected for the new banknotes, founded the Women’s Institute for English Studies, “Joshi Eigaku Juku,” now known as Tsuda University. She dedicated her life to the education of Japanese women. Let’s take a closer look at her life and the environment in which Japanese women lived during that time.

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Katsushika Hokusai was a prominent Japanese ukiyo-e artist active in the late Edo period. He lived to the age of 90 during the Edo period (1600-1860), a time when the average life expectancy was less than 50 years, and created approximately 30,000 works before his passing. Many of his works, produced over about 70 years, continue to be highly acclaimed even 170 years after his death.

View More JAPANESE SAMURAI / Hokusai Katsushika