Abstract

Bushido, the heart of Japan, taught by an author who has explored the spirit of the samurai through kenbu (traditional Japanese sword dance) for 43 years.

How do “bushi” and “samurai” differ?
Who were the samurai?
Why did samurai commit seppuku (ritual suicide)?
Why do samurai dance?

Could you answer these questions if a visitor to Japan asked you?
Written by a seven-time national champion of the All Japan Kenshibu Competition, hosted by the Nippon Ginkenshibu Foundation, and a four-time recipient of the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award, this book explains bushido clearly and passionately.

Author’s Information

Seishow Ando
Seven-time national champion of the All Japan Kenshibu Competition; four-time recipient of the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award; kenbu artist; bushido evangelist; senior master of the 〔天辰神容流〕 school of ginkenshibu (the art of poetry recitation with sword and fan dance); MBA, NUCB Business School (Nagoya University of Commerce & Business); certified business model designer (ShareBrain Business School).

Ando has practiced kenbu for 43 years since early childhood. Kenbu is a traditional performing art rooted in the martial arts that embodies the spirit of bushido. Ando currently holds the rank of senior master, the highest rank among instructors.

Ando founded the Japan Traditional Culture Transmission Platform, a general incorporated association, and serves as its representative director. Ryusuke Koyama, a former Shochiku producer, associate professor at NUCB Business School, and business author with over 500,000 copies sold, joined as a fellow director. Guided by the philosophy that “Only those who learn from tradition will hold the future. Culture creates the present; transmission creates the future,” the association offers experiences of traditional Japanese culture. Ando also founded Densho University, an online school for learning and practicing wakon yosai (Japanese spirit combined with Western learning), where Ando teaches bushido and other traditional teachings.