A leading cultural historian of premodern Japan draws a rich portrait of the emerging samurai culture as it is portrayed in gunki-mono, or war tales, examining eight major works spanning the mid-tenth to late fourteenth centuries. Although many of the major war tales have been translated into English, Warriors of Japan is the first book-length study of the tales and their place in Japanese history. The war tales are one of the most important sources of knowledge about Japan's premodern warriors, revealing much about the medieval psyche and the evolving perceptions of warriors, warfare, and warrior customs.

This biography of the first foreign-born samurai and his journey from Africa to Japan is “a readable, compassionate account of an extraordinary life” (The Washington Post). When Yasuke arrived in Japan in the late 1500s, he had already traveled much of the known world. Kidnapped as a child, he had ended up a servant and bodyguard to the head of the Jesuits in Asia, with whom he traversed India and China learning multiple languages as he went. His arrival in Kyoto, however, literally caused a riot. Most Japanese people had never seen an African man before, and many of them saw him as the embodiment of the black-skinned Buddha. Among those who were drawn to his presence was Lord Nobunaga, head of the most powerful clan in Japan, who made Yasuke a samurai in his court. Soon, he was learning the traditions of Japan’s martial arts and ascending the upper echelons of Japanese society. In the four hundred years since, Yasuke has been known in Japan largely as a legendary, perhaps mythical figure. Now African Samurai presents the never-before-told biography of this unique figure of the sixteenth century, one whose travels between countries and cultures offers a new perspective on race in world history and a vivid portrait of life in medieval Japan. “Fast-paced, action-packed writing. . . . A new and important biography and an incredibly moving study of medieval Japan and solid perspective on its unification. Highly recommended.” —Library Journal (starred review) “Eminently readable. . . . a worthwhile and entertaining work.” —Publishers Weekly “A unique story of a unique man, and yet someone with whom we can all identify.” —Jack Weatherford, New York Times–bestselling author of Genghis Khan

Warriors of Old Japan, and Other Stories by Yei Theodora Ozaki: First published in 1909, this book is a collection of traditional Japanese folktales and legends, translated and retold by Yei Theodora Ozaki. The book offers insights into Japanese culture and mythology, and showcases the rich storytelling tradition of this fascinating country. Key Aspects of the book "Warriors of Old Japan, and Other Stories": Collection of Japanese Folktales: The book is a collection of traditional Japanese folktales and legends, offering insights into Japanese culture and mythology. Translation and Retelling: The book is translated and retold by Yei Theodora Ozaki, offering readers an accessible and engaging rendition of these stories. Celebration of Storytelling: The book celebrates the power of storytelling, and showcases the rich and enduring tradition of Japanese oral literature. Yei Theodora Ozaki was a Japanese-English writer who is known for her translations and retellings of traditional Japanese folktales and legends. Warriors of Old Japan, and Other Stories is one of her most famous works, and is an important contribution to the field of Japanese literature and cultural studies.

“In a government, military matters are the essential thing,” said Japan’s “Heavenly Warrior,” the Emperor Temmu, in 684. Heavenly Warriors traces in detail the evolutionary development of weaponry, horsemanship, military organization, and tactics from Japan’s early conflicts with Korea up to the full-blown system of the samurai. Enhanced by illustrations and maps, and with a new preface by the author, this book will be indispensable for students of military history and Japanese political history.

Warriors of Old Japan is a book on Japanese culture and history that is so picturesque and detailed one feels as though they are actually in Japan. Contents: "I. Hachiro Tametomo, the Archer, II. Gen Sanmi Yorimasa, the Knight, III. The Story of Yoshitsune, IV. The Story of Benkei, V. The Goblin of Oyeyama, VI. Kidomaru the Robber, Raiko the Brave, and the Goblin Spider, VII. The Story of the Pots of Plum, Cherry, and Pine, VIII. Shiragiku, or White Chrysanthemum, IX. The Princess of the Bowl, X. The Story of Lazy Taro..."

This pioneering collection of 15 essays argues that Japan's medieval age began in the 14th century rather than the 12th, and marks the beginning of a fundamentally new debate about how Japan's lengthy classical period finally ended.