MovieChat Forums > The Last Samurai (2003) Discussion > Books about Samurai and the history of J...

Books about Samurai and the history of Japan?

posted 12 years ago by DelphinusMinor
11 replies | jump to latest

Anyone know of any non-fiction books about this subject matter they would like to recommend? Even fiction as long as the content stays somewhat true to the genre.

+++ Jason

[–] ronfirv 12 years ago

Do a search on the subject matter in Amazon? Quite easy to find something you would be interested in and take that interest further.
No joy there, am sure your local library would be pleased to advise.
Failing which, approach the nearest School of African & Oriental Studies.
If you are in UK, there are at least 2 schools - London & Edinburgh but most major Unis. have such a Department.

[–] DelphinusMinor 12 years ago

Well, my standard approach would be to search the web but I find asking for personal recommendations will usually turn up some lesser known gems. =-}

Thanks for the reply.

+++ Jason

[–] its_lc 11 years ago

I'm currently reading one by Jonathan Clements called 'A brief history of The Samurai', it's a good book.

'Shogun' by James Clavell, whom also wrote 'Noble House', 'Tai-Pan' and 'Gai-Jin'.

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Wrath621 11 years ago

One of my favorite books is The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi. Another would be Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai by Yamamoto Tsunetomo

Death comes to us all; Press me again and you will find yours.

[–] the_bamboo_spear 11 years ago

Two words: Stephen Turnbull.

"My father worked in profanity the way other artists might work in oils or clay"

[–] LionessDeWinter 9 years ago

The Samurai Banner of Furin Kazan by Yasushi Inoue is excellent. There is an English language version by Yoko Riley. Also, you may want to look up the miniseries on YouTube. There are 50 episodes, and the acting is superb.

You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star.
~Friedrich Nietzsche

[–] bushd0 9 years ago

Tale of the heike
Bushido by Izao Nitobe
The way of the living sword by Yagyu Munenori
Shinsengumi : the shogun's last samurai corps by Romulus Hillsborough
The book of five rings by Miyamoto Musashi
The Hagakure

There's probably a ton more but I enjoyed reading those.

[–] rjbld 9 years ago

Musashi - Eiji Yoshikawa

[–] VIsraWratS 9 years ago

A.B. Mitford's "Tales of Old Japan" contains the famous story of the 47 Ronin which is a classic. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/13015/13015-h/13015-h.htm

Not largely about samurai, but the works of Lafacadio Hearn are a must read. Most of them deal with the country's folklore. Interspersed are wonderful descriptions of his living experiences in late 1800's Japan. His writing is quite beautiful and he deserves much more recognition in this day. He's all but forgotten now which is a real shame. Either "Kwaidan" or "Kotto" would be good Hearn books to start with. His books are public domain. You can find them free online.

Maybe some other users here could back my Hearn recommendation.

[–] paengmanila 9 years ago

Not books but some helpful essays here, especially in relation to the film:

http://www.willamette.edu/~rloftus/LastSamurai.htm

http://www.stfrancis.edu/content/historyinthemovies/lastsamurai.htm