Category Archives: Samurai Warriors

Enomoto Takeaki

Viscount Enomoto Takeaki was an admiral and Samurai. He was known for his credibility as navy of the Tokugawa Shogunate. He was faithful to his lord and fighting against the new Meiji government. He founded the Imperial Japanese Navy under [Read More...]

Saito Hajime

Once known simply as Yamaguchi Hajime, Saito Hajime was a Japanese samurai from the Edo period. He was known for being the captain of the third unit of the Shinsengumi. Saito’s group was labelled as a special police force referred [Read More...]

Takenaka Shigeharu (Hanbei)

Starting out his career as a retainer for Saito Yoshitatsu, Hanbei was a Japanese Samurai during the Sengoku period in the 16th century. He was better known as Takenaka Shigeharu. He was the son of Takenaka Shigemoto. He was best [Read More...]

Tomoe Gozen

A story is told about a formidable 12th century female samurai warrior name Tomoe Gozen. She is known for her feats of bravery and strength. In the past, it was generally men who was known for engaging into the literally [Read More...]

Mori Ranmaru

An unusually beautiful, skilled, and talented warrior. This was how others viewed Mori Ranmaru. He was also also known as Mori Naritoshi and was the son of Mori Yoshinari from the Mino Province. Mori Ranmaru belonged to the Mori Clan [Read More...]

Kusunoki Masashige

During the Genko War, there were numerous attempts to capture the Japanese rulership from the Kamakura Shogunate. The individual who was responsible for this was a Samurai named Kusunoki Masashige. He served Emperor Go-Daigo and was well-known for his complete [Read More...]

Keiji Maeda

Maeda Toshimasu was a samurai warrior from the Sengoku through the early Edo period. To some, he was known as Maeda Keiji and was born in Arako Village (today’s Nakagawa-ku, Nagoya). He was adopted by Maeda Toshihisa who was the [Read More...]

Sanada Yukimura

Yukimura Sanada was one of the well-known samurai warriors from the Sengoku Period. His real name was Nobushige Sanada. He was the leading general who protected the city during the Siege of Osaka. He was dubbed as a warrior who [Read More...]

Shimazu Toyohisa

Coming from the famous Shimazu clan was Shimazu Toyohisa. He was the son of Shimazu Iehisa. His uncle Shimazu Yoshihiro was Iehisa’s younger brother and was famous for being a highly skilled general during the Sengoku period. Shimazu Yoshihiro contributed [Read More...]

Yasuke

Like most warriors of their time, Samurai are said to be one of the most enduring symbols of Japan’s cultural heritage. Yet surprisingly, there are foreigners who managed to rise above the ranks to become a samurai. Yasuke is one [Read More...]

Kobayakawa Takakage

Some feudal lords were also samurai warriors just like Kobayakawa Takakage. He was a Daimyo and Samurai who lived from the Sengoku period until the Azuchi-Momoyama period. Being the third son of Mori Motonari, he was taken in as a [Read More...]

Uesugi Kenshin

This Japanese warlord was born on the 18th of February in the province of Echigo. He was the fourth son of Nagao Tamekage, and was named Nagao Kagetora. He was adopted into the Uesugi clan who then ruled Echigo Province; [Read More...]

Minamoto No Yoshitsune

Minamoto No Yoshitsune belonged to an elite lineage of the most popular warriors of his era. He held the distinction of being a military leader of the Minamoto clan, covering the late Heian Period until the early Kamakura era. As [Read More...]

Miyamoto Musashi

Miyamoto Musashi was not just a Japanese swordsman; he was a philosopher, a writer, and ronin. A ronin is a masterless samurai warrior who was part of the elite aristocrats of the Muromachi and Tokugawa era. At times, the ronin [Read More...]

Takeda Shingen

One of the most distinguished Daimyo in feudal Japan is Takeda Shingen. He was from the Kai Province and was best known for having extraordinary military prestige in the late stage of the Sengoku Period. When he celebrated his transition [Read More...]

Date Masamune

Heir to a long line of well-known powerful Daimyos in the Tohoku region, Date Masamune was the eldest among the sons of Date Terumune. His father was known as the lord ruling the Rikuzen area in Mutsu. During his childhood, [Read More...]

Toyotomi Hideyoshi

During the Sengoku period, there was a Daimyo that stands out from the rest of the warriors of his time. He was a samurai, general, and politician. He was considered to be the second head who was responsible for unifying [Read More...]

Tokugawa Ieyasu

One of the three individuals who unified Japan, Ieyasu Tokugawa was an enigma. He was born with a low social status. His father was a minor warlord. He became the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate. As ruler and founder of [Read More...]

Hattori Hanzo

Hattori Hanzo was a famous shinobi from the Sengoku era. He was the leader of the Iga Ninja clan and was known for saving Ieyasu Tokugawa’s life. He supported the latter in uniting Japan and becoming its ruler. Due to [Read More...]

Akechi Mitsuhide

If there is something that Akechi Mitsuhide is known for, it would be that he was once a retainer for Oda Nobunaga, and was also the cause of his lord’s death. Akechi is from the Jubei clan and was once [Read More...]

Ishida Mitsunari

One of the most short-lived warriors of feudal Japan was Ishida Mitsunari. He was born in the late 1500’s and was a samurai and military commander during the Sengoku period. One of the most unforgettable memories on the minds of [Read More...]

Minamoto No Yoritomo

The Kamakura Shogunate was founded by Minamoto no Yoritomo, the first shogun of the said government. He was born in Atsuta in Owari Province which is present day Atsuta-ku, Nagoya. He practiced Buddhism and was given the Buddhist name Ogosho [Read More...]

Oda Nobunaga

Oda Nobunaga One of the most powerful daimyo in feudal Japan has got to be Oda Nobunaga. It was Oda who tried to unify Japan during the Sengoku period. He was able to take control of Honshu. His greatest achievement [Read More...]