Sword masters, valiant bushi, warrior women, daimyō, shōgun and emperors alternate on the scene in this unmissable volume, a fantastic journey through images that traces the extraordinary story of the legendary samurai, symbol of faithfulness, loyalty and sense of honour, for find out everything about them and the influence they have had over time. After having dominated the country for centuries, contributing to its unification, today they embody chivalric virtues and martial skills in their highest expression in the collective imagination. Thanks to carefully studied iconography, which has its fulcrum in the colorful ukiyoe prints, this book reveals curious secrets, denies widespread myths and guides you to discover the samurai also through their representations in films, television series, anime, manga, video games and other media, investigating their very rich legacy and influence on contemporary pop culture, in Japan and around the world.

Reasons of interest

• The epic of the samurai told by a profound expert of this world, martial arts practitioner and scholar of Japanese history

• Legendary bushi, sword masters, daimyō, shōgun, samurai women and emperors alternate on the scene of this unmissable volume

• The battles that made history, the decisive victories and the most famous episodes that testify to their exceptional courage and loyalty

• The emblematic weapons of these warriors: the "way of the bow", helmets and armor, katana and naginata, the revolution of firearms

• A journey from the origins of this class to its rich legacy and influence on today's pop culture

• A book that finally clarifies and disavows myths and erroneous beliefs