Gando, Samurai Searchlight The Gando (龕灯) was a portable samurai period searchlight invented during the Edo period. Gando consisted of a wooden, copper or steel coned cylinder closed at one end and featuring a wood or steel handle. The inside was highly polished to a near mirror-like [...]
Toppai Kabuto, Chinquapin Shaped Coned Samurai Helmet Toppai Kabuto, also known as or coned helmets are a type of Suji kabuto. Toppai kabuto were made of 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 or more suji, being the triangular splints, beaten to form a concave shape, then riveted together to make the cone shape of the [...]
Yari-busuma, Spear Formation Yari-busuma was a battle formation formed to counter a charge of advancing horse mounted samurai. The spear wielding ashigaru would line up and crouch down with their faces downwards to suppress any fear. Spears would be held out facing forwards, with the tips resting on the ground, and [...]
Yamanami Keisuke (1833?-March 20, 1865) Yamanami Keisuke was second in charge of the Shinsengumi, the late Edo period special police force, when he suddenly committed seppuku on March 20, 1865, aged 32. Yamanami was born in Sendai in 1833, the son of a sword instructor. He attained the rank of Sensei of the Hokushin [...]
Sasayama Castle (Hyogo Prefecture) Tamba Sasayama Castle, also known as Sasayama or Kirigajo (Mist Castle) is a Hira-jiro (flatland castle) built on a small rise in the Tamba region of Hyogo Prefecture. It was constructed as a stepping-stone in Tokugawa Ieyasu’s plan to attack Osaka and bring about the end of the Toyotomi clan. [...]
The Battle of Ishibashiyama（September 14, 1180） The night Battle of Ishibashiyama was fought between to the two great rival clans of the Heian Period, the Minamoto and the Taira clans, and took place at Ishibashiyama within the mountains of Hakone, near Odawara in Kanagawa Prefecture. The Minamoto, fronted by Minamoto no Yoritomo, consisted [...]
Uwajima Castle (Ehime Prefecture) Uwajima Castle in Uwajima City, Ehime Prefecture, Shikoku is one of just 12 castles across Japan with the keep remaining in original condition. It is recognized as having one of the smallest keeps too. Uwajima Castle is a relatively difficult to reach, and therefore rarely visited castle. [...]
Oda Nobunaga’s Crests The warlord and unifier Oda Nobunaga is said to have used seven crests during his lifetime. The main four crests included the standard Oda family crest, the Oda Mokko, said to represent the Japanese quince. Oda Mokko Another crest used by [...]
Kirisute-gomen Kirisute-gomen was a right allowing samurai to strike down commoners, or those below their rank, who had insulted them, their honor or their position in any way, and to leave the body where it lay, without fear of indemnity or punishment. Samurai had the right to cut down [...]
Tameshigiri Tameshigiri was a popular practice in the 17th century Edo period for testing the quality and keenness of a Japanese blade on items such as wara (bundled rice straw) Goza (rolls of woven rush matting), bamboo of various thickness, steel rods and sheets, occasionally cadavers and even convicted criminals. [...]