Hagakure: The Secret Wisdom of the Samurai

[Alex Bennett] is the very best writer on martial arts alive today and [his] work needs to be showcased to the general public.--Don Warrener, President, Budo International" Read more Review "[A] strong point is a scholarly and succinct introduction that grounds the work in historical and social context, equipping the reader with a cultural map of Yamamoto'\u2019s world.

Footnotes provide valuable background and add resonance throughout, keeping names and familial relations straight, highlighting pertinent cross-references and generally rendering the work accessible to contemporary readers." --The Japan Times"Alex Bennett has produced the first truly authoritative translation and analysis of Hagakure--perhaps the most famous text ever written about samurai honor--to appear in any Western language.

Simultaneously erudite and accessible, this volume belongs on the bookshelves of anyone--scholar or hobbyist alike--interested in samurai culture, or modern perceptions thereof." --Dr.

Karl F.

Friday, author of Samurai, Warfare and the State in Early Medieval Japan and Japan Emerging: Premodern History to 1850"Dr.

Bennett possesses a profound knowledge of, and deep insight into, the world of Japanese bushido.

This expertise has been enhanced by his extensive practical experience of the traditional martial arts of Japan, and his proficiency in this domain is highly acclaimed." --Tetsuo Yamaori, former Director of the International Research Center for Japanese Studies"…the most impressive part of the book for us was Bennett'\u2019s introductory chapter…It puts the Haga