Archive for August, 2025
Words of the Samurai – Episode 11
A striking story of how Yamamoto Kansuke won Takeda Shingen’s trust—not with details, but by viewing all of Japan as one battlefield.Read More
Words of the Samurai – Episode 10
During the desperate siege of Chōkōji Castle in 1570, Shibata Katsuie made a bold decision that would cement his legacy. With water supplies cut off and no chance of surrender, he shattered the last jars of water and declared that, like the water returning to the earth, he and his men would face death with honor. This act of resolve earned him the name “Kamewari Shibata” — Shibata the Jar-Breaker — and became a symbol of ultimate warrior spirit in the Sengoku era.Read More
Words of the Samurai – Episode 9
In this episode, we explore the jisei – a final poem before death – attributed to Ishikawa Goemon, a legendary bandit from Japan’s Sengoku period. A rogue ninja or a criminal mastermind, Goemon’s execution followed a failed assassination plot against Toyotomi Hideyoshi. His last words echo with bitter pride: thieves will never vanish from this world.Read More
Words of the Samurai – Episode 8
Mōri Motonari’s tale of the three arrows reminds us that true strength lies in unity. A father’s lesson from the age of war, still echoing in our time.Read More
