Review: In Beat Takeshi’s Kubi, Samurai are Queer Yakuza
Internationally famed director Kitano Takeshi is back with his new samurai epic, Kubi. The violent, darkly funny film has some surprises in store for viewers.
Internationally famed director Kitano Takeshi is back with his new samurai epic, Kubi. The violent, darkly funny film has some surprises in store for viewers.
In the mood for the eerie world of Japanese horror this haunting season? Look no further than these five classic films.
When the U.S. Civil War broke out in 1861, samurai still ruled Japan. How did the samurai – recently forced into trade with the US and on the cusp of their own war – react?
What happened on the fateful night of June 21st, 1582, that caused one of Oda Nobunaga’s faithful retainers to turn on him?
Saying “rōnin” in English conjures up images of cool, lone-wolf samurai. But in modern Japan, being a rōnin kinda sucks.
A massive earthquake struck northern Japan, damaging the famed statue of Date Masamune in Sendai. But Date – and Sendai – are nothing if not resilient.
In 1873, the newly-minted Meiji government banned the age-old practice of kataki-uchi: blood revenge. Seven years later, the son of a murdered samurai would take his vengeance nonetheless.
A viral tweet claims that the Japanese ambassador to Ukraine stayed in Kyiv in his ancestral armor. Much as we love gusoku, it’s not true.
Amidst the backdrop of World War II’s start, one last survivor of the old Edo period order died. Who was Hayashi Tadataka, the last daimyo?
Subscribe to our free newsletter for a weekly digest of our best work across platforms (Web, Twitter, YouTube). Your support helps us spread the word about the Japan you don’t learn about in anime.
Want a preview? Read our archives
You’ll get one to two emails from us weekly. For more details, see our privacy policy