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The Land of the Rising Sun
The islands of Japan lie hundreds of kilometers off the coast of China. Mountainous, and with only a few small areas of farming land, it was at one time a poor country. The people struggled to servive frequent earthquakes and eruptions of it's volcanoes. Rice and fish being their chief supply of food the japanese were small, because of this limited diet.

Ruled and Governed by a imperial court they worshipped the Gods of nature and called there religion "Shinto" ( the way of the Gods ) it was one of these Gods that the emperor clamed decadence from. Then Buddhism arrived, and eventually the Shinto and Buddhist temples became direct rivals for supramasey in japan, forming bands of "warrior monks" to rage war appon each other courseing genrail discord and chaos in the country, the imperial court was called to take action to counter this consist warfare. It was at this time, in 10th century Japan, that the rise of the Samurai began.

Who were the Samurai ?

The Samurai were a fearless, brutal and powerful force of fighting warriors, who came to rule Japan for over 600 years, from the middle of the 12th century. they are revered in Japanese history, their code of honor and their swordmanship have become world-famous, and their exploits created many of the greatest stories and legends in japan.
The word Samurai comes from the Japanese verb "to serve". It was first used to describe the personal servants of the rich and powerful landowners of 8th century Japan. Some of these landowners were aristocrats, noblemen who had left the royal court in Kyoto, the capital, to seek there fortunes. Many small farmers depended on the landowners for their living, and loyal bonds developed between master and servant. Gradually a network of clans or "families" grew, each with its landowner and followers. The government of the country was no longer in control, and law and order was kept by the clans. The clans armed themselves to protect their own land and people, and so the warrior class of Samurai grew. This elite fighting class was to later effectively rule and govern the country until the late 19th century.
Eventually due to heavy western interfearions and internal politics the Samurai class was dissolved and the Emperor restored to full power in 1868, ending a legacy that had lasted for over seven hundred years.
However the Samurai legacy still lives on in the minds and sprits of many and it is for that reason that I have decided to make this web site, dedicated to all those who have gone before me who believed in the Samurai way.