800px-tomita_nobutaka_and_his_wife.jpg

A Woman Samurai in the Era of Genji

There were a number of women warriors in the 12th century, most of which appear in the Yamabuki series.

20 June 2015 · Katherine M. Lawrence
samuraichamploographic.jpeg

Yamabuki’s Sword — historic blade from her era and her swordmaker

Few swords survive from the period in and around the Gempei War and Yamabuki’s era.

23 January 2015 · Katherine M. Lawrence

The World of Taira no Kiyomori

As a big fan of Japanese television, I have watched more than a historic drama or two. It is a rather Japanese style to introduce historic dramas by showing the films of historic places as they look today along with artifacts and scrolls. Think Ken Burns and The Civil War, if you are American. The other day I presented a map of the Isle of Unknown Fire, which today is called Kyushu and it the southern-most of Japan’s four main isles....

20 January 2015 · Katherine M. Lawrence
Usagi and woman kiss

Usagi Yojimbo -- Rabbit Bodyguard

Recommended.

18 January 2015 · Katherine M. Lawrence
img_8561.jpg

Mythical Great Bay Province -- Yamabuki’s Home

In historic fiction, places and time spans might not be strictly correct, but most people who write in that genre attempt to have some sense of geography. The home of the Taka clan is a mythical province called Great Bay. As seen today, the area in and around the mythical Taka compound. As a novel of fiction, but based on a historic person and historic setting, this device allows enough artistic license for the Sword of the Taka Samurai to hopefully not become too didactic....

16 January 2015 · Katherine M. Lawrence