About Japan | Gifu | Samurai
Gifu Castle
Gifu Castle was mostly destroyed in one of the many inflammatory lead up battles culminating in the Battle of Sekigahara…
Shogun, Tokugawa Ienobu
The 6th Tokugawa Shogun, Ienobu Was Born On June 11, 1662. In 1709 Tokugawa Tsunayoshi died heirless. This left the…
The Viper of Mino, Saito Dosan
Saito Dosan (born 1494) was known as the Viper of Mino due to his ruthlessness both on the battlefield and…
Japan’s Three Sacred Treasures, Symbols of Imperial Rule
According to the Kojiki, (the Record of Ancient matters, a collection of myths concerning the origins of Japan) the Three…
Japanese Floor Mats, Tatami
The image of a traditional Japanese room includes the shoji, paper-covered wooden frame windows called shoji, fusuma, being sliding doors…
Sassa Narimasa
Sassa Narimasa was born in Hira Castle (Currently the site of Kotsuji Temple, Nishi-Ku, Nagoya) in 1536. He became a…
Date Masamune
One of the easiest to recognize of all the samurai thanks to his distinctive armour, and most distinctive maedate, is…
The Dog Shogun, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi
The fifth Tokugawa Shogun, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, was brought up as a scholar instead of a warrior, as it was feared…
Traditional Japanese roof tiles, Kawara
Traditional Japanese roof tiles, Kawara are a highly visible and elaborate component of Japanese architecture. They display a technical and…
Tokugawa Ieyasu
Tokugawa Ieyasu was the first of the Tokugawa Shogun. Born January 31 1543 at Okazaki Castle in Aichi Prefecture, the…
Nagoya Castle
For over 350 years, Nagoya Castle stood as the biggest, the best designed, the most gorgeous, and well preserved of…
Japanese Swords, Tachi
Tachi are an early type of Japanese sword, worn by the nobility and warrior classes of feudal Japan. From the…
The Martial Art Of Aikido
Aikido is a mentally and physically demanding modern martial art that teaches methods of unarmed defense while preventing the attacker…
The Battle of Okehazama
On the outskirts of Nagoya City, 2,500 samurai trounced an army of 35,000 in what became known as the Battle of…