The burakumin are a large group of people who were historically discriminated against in Japan. They are not an ethnic minority; the discrimination against them is based on caste and descent. Considered “outcaste” and “untouchable,” the burakumin occupied the lowest rung in the traditional Japanese social structure. During the early Edo period, those who worked …
Burakumin: The Untouchable Caste of Feudal Japan Read More »
Few images are more distinctive than the iconic silhouette of the komuso monk. These mendicant monks traveled across Japan in the Edo period, begging for alms and observing the land. Their uniform consisted of a kimono, a woven basket worn over the head, and a traditional bamboo flute called a shakuhachi. During this period, they …
Kabuki is one of Japan’s most iconic forms of traditional performance art. It combines music, dance, and theater with elaborate costumes and sets. Today, kabuki is internationally acclaimed, but it originated as the art of the people during the 1600s. Between the late Warring States period and the early Edo Period, the kabukimono movement arose …
Kabuki and Kabukimono: The Violent Birth of an Art Form Read More »
Tale of Ronin is a narrative-driven RPG, but the visuals also play a key role in establishing the world and atmosphere of the game. This is especially true for the real-life locations players can visit. Edo period Japan is well-documented, so keeping the environments and villages realistic is important to our team. One location available …
The Making of a Smuggler’s Shop: Tale of Ronin’s Artistic Process Read More »
Miyamoto Musashi is perhaps the most famous swordsman in Japanese history. He is still revered as a master of martial arts. Musashi wrote “The Book of Five Rings,” a classic text on kenjutsu, martial arts, strategy, and philosophy, which is still in print over 400 years later. Born in 1584, Musashi showed a talent for …
A miko, also known as a shrine maiden, is a woman who serves the Shinto kami. Their origins date back to the prehistoric Jomon period (approximately 10,500 BCE-300 BCE) in Japan. The responsibilities and requirements to become a miko have gone through many changes over the years. However, their traditional red hakama, white kosode, and …
Itako are blind women who serve as spirit mediums. In ancient Japan, blindness was once considered a sign of spiritual powers, so only young girls who were born blind could become itako. Traditionally, an itako’s training began around the ages of 11 to 13 years old. The girls would endure strict ascetic training and ritualized …
Samurai women played a variety of roles throughout the Edo period. They were carefully educated, expected to uphold the honor of the warrior class, and many were trained in weaponry. However, even in the Warring States period, they were usually expected to defend their homes rather than venture out onto the battlefield. And as in …
When thinking of warfare in medieval Japan, the image of the samurai quickly comes to mind. However, the role of the common foot soldier, known as the ashigaru, should not be understated. Ashigaru began as conscripted farmers and rose through the ranks to become the backbone of daimyo lords’ armies in the Warring States period. …
They work hard everyday, farming and surviving, making enough to be able to feed themselves and pay the taxes to the Daimyo. Always following their customs and very suspicious about outsiders. Bandit raids leave these peasants helpless and wish for support from the warriors that might be able to help them, the warriors that are …