H. Paul Varley (1931–2015)

This book took me a while to finish for a sheer amount of data in it.
Author clearly gives an overview of the Japanese military culture, heroes, warrior virtues and values as presented in the Japanese war tales - art-form that began as actual historical recording but after a while became a tradition folk tale in which majority of historical facts got clouded and lost.

And this is where book is excellent - in each chapter author gives actual historical facts and then tells the story from the point of view of the war-tales. This contrast is excellently presented and truly gives an insight into martial culture that gave birth to Japanese warrior caste as it is known today (I especially liked move from "noble" conflicts in the beginning (older war-tales) to almost absolute warfare of last additions to war-tales).

Highly recommended to all fans of military history and Japanese military history in particular.… (more)

from cover

This lively and informative series tells the story of little-known but important historical groups of men and movements: religioius sects, political parties and causes, military and professional elites, casts, cults and institutions of all sorts. The books are profusely illustrated with pictures that illuminate and enhance the text.

The samurai warrior caste, which for centuries held sway as the ruling aristocracy of Japan, was a prime contributor to the country's feudal, militaristic tradition. Even with Japan's entry into the modern age in the late nineteenth century and the formal dissolution of the samurai, their spirit remained alive amoung the Japanese people. Their intense code of honor, family pride, and fearlessness in the face of death influenced the code of the Japanese military well into the twentieth century.

Contents

1 Genesis of government by asassination
2 Rise of the Samurai
3 Repeling the Mongols
4 The age of provincial wars
5 Trade, guns, and Christianitiy
Epliogue
Notes on further reading
Map of Japan
Chronology
Index… (more)