Explore the complex history of warfare and conflict in Japan. From the making of an island nation under the Yamato court to the great civil wars of the feudal era, from standing isolated against invaders to making its own play for domination in Asia, this look at Japan's warrior past takes you from the dawn of time to the brutal reality of the Second World War and Japan's pledge to never strike in anger again.
Welcome
GOD EMPERORS & Warrior Queens • THE EARLIEST HISTORY OF JAPAN IS SHROUDED IN MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF EMPERORS DESCENDED FROM GODS AND QUEENS WHO WAGED BLOODY WARS
THE TŌDAIJIYAMA SWORD • The Kofun tombs of Japan were the burial sites of important Japanese people – people who were often sent to the afterlife with rich grave goods like swords
THE GRASS-CUTTING SWORD • Each person who takes the Chrysanthemum Throne is presented with three legendary items
THE CONQUEST of Northern Honshu • NORTHERN HONSHU WAS NOT ALWAYS PART OF JAPAN; ITS COLONISATION AND CONQUEST, AND THE DYNAMIC RESPONSE BY THE EMISHI EVEN AFTER THEIR MILITARY DEFEAT, HAD A FAR-REACHING INFLUENCE ON JAPANESE POLITICAL AND MILITARY HISTORY
TIMELINE OF THE MONGOL Invasions of Japan • THE MONGOL RULER KUBLAI KHAN LEADS SEVERAL ATTACKS ON THE JAPANESE ISLANDS AND IS MET BY FEROCIOUS RESISTANCE
THE KHAN’S March to War • IN THE LATE 13TH CENTURY, THE RULER OF THE VAST MONGOL EMPIRE SET HIS SIGHTS EAST IN SEARCH OF NEW LANDS TO CONQUER
MONGOLIAN MIGHT Meets Samurai Steel • WAVES OF THE KHAN’S FORCES SWEPT ACROSS THE SHOGUNATE’S LANDS. THEY WERE MET BY JAPAN’S OUTMATCHED YET DETERMINED AND SKILFUL WARRIOR CLASS
The DIVINE WIND • WITH HIS INVASION FORCES SCATTERED BY STORMS, THE KHAN PLANNED YET ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO CONQUER JAPAN
TIMELINE OF JAPAN’S Sengoku Period • EARLY MODERN JAPAN IS CONSUMED BY INTERNAL WARFARE AS RIVAL CLANS FIGHT EACH OTHER IN A PROLONGED POWER STRUGGLE THAT GRADUALLY UNIFIES THE COUNTRY
ARMOUR, BLADES & Gunpowder • SOLDIERS OF THE SENGOKU PERIOD USED A VARIETY OF WEAPONS AND PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT THAT REFLECTED THE MILITARY AND CULTURAL CHANGES WITHIN JAPAN
GREAT BATTLES KAWANAKAJIMA • IN 1561, WARLORDS TAKEDA SHINGEN AND UESUGI KENSHIN HAD ONE RARE CHANCE TO PROVE THEIR METTLE AND CLAIM DOMINANCE OVER JAPAN’S LARGEST ISLAND
KAWANAKAJIMA
LAND OF THE Rising Gun • AFTER DECADES EXPERIMENTING WITH MUSKETS, ODA NOBUNAGA PERFECTED THEIR USE AT THE BATTLE OF NAGASHINO, REVOLUTIONISING NOT JUST SAMURAI WARFARE, BUT SOCIETY ITSELF
NOBUNAGA AND THE MONKS • Although Nobunaga behaved as a generous benefactor to the Christians, he waged war against Buddhists with unmitigated cruelty
THE THREE UNIFIERS • Nobunaga’s quest to unify Japan would be completed, first by his general Hideyoshi, and then by his equally remarkable ally Ieyasu
COMMODORE PERRY • When the Americans visited Japan with a fleet of steam ships, the gulf in technology prompted a radical drive to modernise the nation
SURVIVAL at all costs • AT THE END OF THE 16TH CENTURY THE KOREAN KINGDOM FOUGHT JAPAN IN A MONUMENTAL STRUGGLE THAT IS STILL REMEMBERED TODAY
SEKIGAHARA • IN 1600, AFTER 150 YEARS OF PERPETUAL VIOLENCE, JAPAN’S WARLORDS UNITED BEHIND TWO COALITIONS, FOR A SAMURAI BATTLE TO END THEM ALL
HONOUR ON THE BATTLEFIELD • For samurai, maintaining proper manners and etiquette was even more important on the battlefield
Evolution of the SAMURAI CUIRASS • A NEW ILLUSTRATED STUDY EXPLORES THE STRENGTH AND BEAUTY OF FEUDAL JAPAN’S ARMOUR
TIMELINE OF JAPAN vs KOREA • FOR ALMOST 2,000 YEARS THE KOREAN PENINSULA BATTLED ATTEMPTS BY FOREIGN INVADERS TO CONQUER ITS ENTIRE TERRITORY
CONQUEST and Colonisation • THREE...