It was here in 1600 that over 30,000 samurai warriors died in seven hours of gory combat. Those walking around the cities and towns of Japan today still encounter the samurai. His face and weapons appear on posters and billboards, on museum banners and comic book covers, and in shop windows celebrating Children’s Day, a time for families to celebrate the health, vitality and inner warrior of their offspring.

‘The samurai spirit still resides in the minds and bodies of many Japanese people,’ says Takatsugu. ‘We saw this in the stoic behaviour of the people during the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011.’

During the Edo period (1603-1867) the principles of bushido, the samurai code of conduct, developed as a more general way of behaviour for the Japanese people, emphasising military skills and fearlessness, as well as frugality, compassion, honesty and care for one’s family. Today many aspects of bushido remain deeply rooted in Japan’s national character and social values. Japanese schoolchildren practise the classic warrior skills of sword fighting (kendo), archery (kyudo) and hand-to-hand, unarmed combat (jujitsu).

Conformity, rather than individuality, reinforces loyalty to one’s family and society. ‘As warriors, the samurai belong in the past,’ says Kurahashi. ‘But their soul is still alive. The history of Japan is neither a fairy story nor a Hollywood movie. I believe the dedication, loyalty and cultured ways of the samurai are still relevant. They can still guide us to lead better lives.’

Hero image credit: Irwin Wong