Samurai

1,000 YEARS OF JAPANESE HISTORY

The Samurai has been a source of fascination for over 150 years, and is now firmly entrenched in the Western image of Japan. But who were they, really? What do we actually know about these warriors? When did they first appear in Japanese history? What role did they play in Japanese society? In Japan, from art to the business world, what role do these Medieval warriors still have, while their code and attitudes still pervade Western film and imagination?

Bringing together over 450 priceless objects, some of which will be on display for the first time, this exhibition goes beyond the simple historical presentation of a warrior class, and paints a broad portrait of Japan’s past and present.