Please check out the additional resources on Budo and Japanese culture below! Check back often as more content is added.
Podcasts
Smithsonian Libraries: Japanese Illustrated Books from the Edo and Meiji Periods
The National Museum of Asian Art Library houses a vast collection of illustrated Japanese rare books, many from the Edo and Meiji periods (1600-1912). These beautiful woodblock prints, often with color illustrations by famous artists like Hiroshige and Hokusai, were once owned by Charles Lang Freer and Robert O. Muller. The library's collection complements the Gerhard Pulverer Collection, which is now digitized and available online. Unlike Western books, Japanese rare books are scanned as two-page spreads to better showcase their unique construction and full-page images. |
Chris Glenn: Historian and author, DJ, TV Presenter, speaker, narrator, NHK World
Chris Glenn often appears on Japanese TV, in commercials and as a presenter for various programs. He is regularly called on as a presentation and motivational speaker, and as a consultant for international PR and marketing projects. From April 1994 he was apprenticed to Master Ogawa Nobuo, one of just ten remaining samurai armor craftsmen remaining in Japan, learning samurai armor history and crafting. Chris holds Shodan (blackbelt) in the sword discipline of Kendo, is ranked Nidan, (2nd blackbelt) in Chanbara sword-fighting, and is a student of the traditional Shinpukan Dojo, studying Enmei Ryu and Owari Yagyu Shinkage Ryu styles of swordsmanship. Chris is the author of English language book, “The Battle of Sekigahara“, the Greatest Samurai Battle in History(Booklocker, 2014). He also wrote the Japanese language book on samurai castles, “豪州人歴史愛好家、名城行く” (Published 2015, Takarajima-Sha, Tokyo ) and the Shogakukan Publishing produced semi-academic work, Samurai Castle Bilingual Guide, written in collaboration with castle expert, Professor Masayuki Miura of Hiroshima University. He writes a weekly column in Japanese for the worlds’ most circulated newspaper, the Yomiuri Newspaper, columns on samurai history and culture for Japanese history magazine, Rekishijin, and regular articles on samurai castles for the Chunichi Newspaper. |
YouTube Resources
NHK World Japan
NHK WORLD -JAPAN is the international broadcast service of NHK, Japan's sole and one of the biggest public broadcasters in the world. NHK WORLD-JAPAN provides latest information and a wide variety of programming on Japan, Asia and the rest of the world 24 hours a day. Here you will find trailers of our recommended programs. |
小笠原流 | Ogasawara-ryu
Ogasawara Nagakiyo founded Ogasawara-ryu over 830 years ago as a school of archery, mounted archery, and Reiho (etiquette). The Ogasawara family served as instructors to generations of Shoguns in these disciplines. Ogasawara-ryu etiquette was taught to warriors across Japan as appropriate behavior for samurai and became the foundation for martial arts etiquette. |
Nara Prefecture Intangible Cultural Heritage
Nara Prefecture has been actively creating video records of invaluable intangible cultural heritage, primarily focusing on festivals and performing arts. Additionally, the prefecture, in collaboration with administrative bodies, museums, universities, and other institutions, has been digitizing existing video, audio, and photographic materials of intangible cultural heritage. These materials, scattered across various locations, are being consolidated into a digital archive and made publicly accessible. |
Research Resources
SamuraiWiki
The SaumuraiWiki project is an attempt to create the most concise and detailed database of pre-20th century Japanese history on the internet. Although the SamuraiWiki is hosted on the Samurai Archives, this is a general resource intended for everyone interested in Japanese history.
The SaumuraiWiki project is an attempt to create the most concise and detailed database of pre-20th century Japanese history on the internet. Although the SamuraiWiki is hosted on the Samurai Archives, this is a general resource intended for everyone interested in Japanese history.
Samurai: Art of Armor
From the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, a paper on the art of samurai armor. These materials focus on the special exhibition Samurai: Japanese Armor from the Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Collection (on view through February 1, 2015). It features both the practical armor used from the Kamakura (1185– 1333) through the Momoyama (1573–1615) period as well as the largely ceremonial objects of the Edo period (1615–1868). Educators and students will learn about the samurai, one of the most iconic warrior figures of all time, as well as his role in the wider context of Japanese culture.
Sengoku Daimyo
This website offers a comprehensive exploration of Japan's Warring States period, a time of intense conflict and the rise of powerful regional lords. Discover detailed articles, informative essays, and expert guidance on authentic Sengoku-era armor and clothing. Join engaging discussions through their podcast and explore a vast network of historical resources. With a commitment to accuracy and a community-driven approach, Sengoku Daimyo provides an unparalleled gateway to the dynamic era of the Sengoku daimyo.
From the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, a paper on the art of samurai armor. These materials focus on the special exhibition Samurai: Japanese Armor from the Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Collection (on view through February 1, 2015). It features both the practical armor used from the Kamakura (1185– 1333) through the Momoyama (1573–1615) period as well as the largely ceremonial objects of the Edo period (1615–1868). Educators and students will learn about the samurai, one of the most iconic warrior figures of all time, as well as his role in the wider context of Japanese culture.
Sengoku Daimyo
This website offers a comprehensive exploration of Japan's Warring States period, a time of intense conflict and the rise of powerful regional lords. Discover detailed articles, informative essays, and expert guidance on authentic Sengoku-era armor and clothing. Join engaging discussions through their podcast and explore a vast network of historical resources. With a commitment to accuracy and a community-driven approach, Sengoku Daimyo provides an unparalleled gateway to the dynamic era of the Sengoku daimyo.