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When people invision Japan, they think of sushi, martial arts, earthquakes or tsunamis. However, Japan was known for their powerful samurai warriors. The samurai’s lived in japan during 1185-1868. The samurai followed a code called bushido which means “way of the warrior.” The samurai pasted down many activities and equipment, like their weapons and some styles of martial arts.

An equally important and fascinating part of Samurai culture, however, was its warfare. Warriors and weapons were important to the samurais because they needed to defend themselves from enemies. We can learn more about this culture aspect by looking at the samurai’s weapons, armour, and the samurai’s code.

Weapons were the most important thing to the samurai’s. The three weapons I am going to tell you are the katana, yum i, and the kanabo. The katana is the sword the samurai’s used. This sword is much stronger than the European longsword.The yumi is the bow the samurai’s used. This bow can penetrates two inch deeper than the longbow.The kanabo is a two handed weapon that varied in weight and size.The kanabo is a this club-like shaft was usually made with a very strong heavy wood, and som etimes with iron.

The armour was also very important to the samurai. They had helmets, shoulder pads, breast guard, arm of armor, thigh guard, shin guard. They were called the Kabuto,Sode,Do,Kote, Haidate, Sune-ate. All of the armour is called yoroi. This was made of small plates of iron bound together with cords of silk or leather. The armour was crucial in saving the lives of the samurai’s.

The samurai also had their own code. They believed in eight virtues of the samurai. They were Justice or Rectitude, Courage,Benevolence or Mercy, Politeness. They also believed in Honesty and Sincerity, Honor, L oyalty,Character and Self-Control. The samurai believed in this so they could win wars and fights.

The culture came to an end right after the Meiji Restoration, which was a political revolution that brought the fall of the Tokugawashogunate and returned control of the country. Many people still practice aikido and judo which was passed down from the samurai. As you can see the samurai were one of the best warriors in the medieval times so we can learn many lessons from them. Some of these lessons are “No matter how many times u get knocked down, get back up,” and “Don’t forget who you are” which means don’t forget what you believe in and never change into someone you aren't.

Glossary

Bushido : the code of honor and morals developed by the Japanese samurai.

Meiji Restoration: Political revolution that brought the fall of the samurai. Tokugawa shogunate:a feudal Japanese military government which existed between 1600 and 1868. virtues: behavior showing high moral standards.

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