Samurai Battles

by Michael Sharpe

Beginning in the early days of Japanese history, this book traces the rise and fall of the warrior class over the space of a millennium, from the days of the birth of the Japanese nation through centuries of feudalism to the establishment of the western model of democracy in the late nineteenth century. Focusing on major battles fought by these warriors over a thousand years of Japanese history, the book covers the major engagements of the Heian period; the battles of the Kamakura bakufu and the Mongol invasions of Japan; the medieval period of divided Japan; the Warring State's period; Toyotomi Hideyoshi's two invasions of Korea; and the Meiji restoration and the Boshin War. Brilliantly illustrated with maps and period illustrations of the battles and people concerned, this book will inform and elucidate the complexities of Japanese history.

Genres: History, Japan

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[L.J. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Seems the text is taken from Kure-san's writings as there are a few odd passages that do not read clearly in English. So far a good historic account of the rise of the warrior class in Japan, illustrations are great and the classic map of provinces is very useful. The text itself reads more like a school history book but as a beautiful book on Samurai history it does a good job.

[Rin · Rating 1 out of 5]

So let's get this straight: this book is sold like a normal book and yet they claim it's not an official publishing. Okay.... I guess, whatever that means. Surely it doesn't change the fact that the book is factual considering the bibliography and references in it, right? Well yes, but actually no. You see, the moment I noticed some dicrepancies between this book and Turnbull's works - which are regarded as good, precise and factual - I started fliping the pages and I was shocked, shocked, well not that shocked. But it is interesting to note that Uesugi Kenshin somehow becomes Uesuji Kenshin during the battle of Kawanakajima, or that it is not Miura Yoshizumi who betrays the Taira at the battle of Dan-no-Ura but some other dude OR - and I can't stress this hard enough - the fact that this book (whether author was aware of this or not) states, boldly, that Sekigahara happened on September 16th which is almost a full month BEFORE the battle acutally happened (the correct date is October 21st).

Alongside all of this (which I noticed skimming through the book, who knows how many mistakes there is), the book doesn't provide much of a "new content" nor is it necessarily interesting in layout nor are those pictures that much in tandem with the text. I was hoping for a more in depth account of the battles and some maps of the tactics and weaponry used in them. After all, the title of the book is about battles. Yet very few of it is in the book. It's mostly regurgitated stuff from Friday, Turnbull, Farris and other respectable historians and published as "not official". But, someone still got paid for this book and I bought it so I expected something.

The only redeeming quality this book has is its references and bibilography section. Nothing special, but okay when compared to the rest.

In all honesty, maybe I read a book or two too many for this particular one to be of any use to me. Maybe it's just my copy that has soooo much mistakes and lapsus calami. Maybe, just maybe, this is author's first published work and is more of a fan-work or what not.
Whatever the reason, I do not recommend this book to no one.