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HistoryFamous Samurai Names and the Stories Behind Them
Seven famous samurai names, from Minamoto no Yoshitsune to Saigo Takamori, and the surprising stories of how each warrior came to be known by them.
The guides
Samurai Name Guides: Page 2
Researched articles on samurai names, kanji meanings, clans, crests, titles and naming tips for stories, games and pets.
Names
Ronin Names: Masterless Warriors and How to Name One
What the word ronin really means, how the 47 ronin of Ako were named, and a practical method for building a believable ronin name with a matching epithet.
Culture
Samurai Sword Names: Japan's Legendary Blades and How to Name a Katana
Japan's most famous named swords, from the Five Swords Under Heaven to Tonbogiri, and the naming patterns you can use to give your own katana a fitting name.
History
Samurai Titles and Ranks: From Shogun to Ashigaru
A clear guide to samurai titles and ranks, from the shogun and daimyo down to hatamoto, karo and ashigaru, and what court titles like "no Kami" really meant.
Culture
Samurai Name Kanji: How to Read the Characters in Warrior Names
Why 信 reads Nobu in a samurai name, how lords granted characters to vassals, and how families passed one kanji down the generations, with real examples.
Culture
Samurai Honorifics: Dono, Sama, Gozen, Hime and the "no" in Names
What dono, sama, gozen and hime really meant in samurai Japan, why it is Minamoto no Yoritomo but never Tokugawa no Ieyasu, and how to use honorifics well.
Names
Samurai Nicknames and Epithets: From the Tiger of Kai to Oni Shibata
The stories behind famous samurai nicknames like the Tiger of Kai and the One-Eyed Dragon, the patterns they follow, and how to write an epithet of your own.
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