Japanese names and surnames. Japanese surnames Japanese male names with translation

I didn’t know a lot about names and surnames. I also heard that foreigners who have received Japanese citizenship also receive a new name, Japanese. If anyone knows anything about this, please enlighten me...

Modern Japanese names consist of two parts - the surname, which comes first, and the given name, which comes second. True, the Japanese often write their names in “European order” (first name - surname) if they write them in romaji. For convenience, the Japanese sometimes write their last name in CAPITAL letters so that it is not confused with their first name (due to the inconsistency described above).

The exception is the emperor and members of his family. They don't have a last name. Girls who marry princes also lose their surnames.

Ancient names and surnames

Before the Meiji Restoration, only aristocrats (kuge) and samurai (bushi) had surnames. The rest of the Japanese population was content with personal names and nicknames.

Women of aristocratic and samurai families also usually did not have surnames, since they did not have the right of inheritance. In those cases where women did have surnames, they did not change them upon marriage.

Surnames were divided into two groups - the surnames of aristocrats and the surnames of samurai.

Unlike the number of samurai surnames, the number of aristocratic surnames has practically not increased since ancient times. Many of them went back to the priestly past of the Japanese aristocracy.

The most revered and respected aristocratic clans were: Konoe, Takashi, Kujo, Ichijo and Gojo. All of them belonged to the Fujiwara clan and had a common name - "Gosetsuke". From among the men of this family, regents (sesse) and chancellors (kampaku) of Japan were appointed, and from among the women, wives for the emperors were chosen.

The next most important clans were the Hirohata, Daigo, Kuga, Oimikado, Saionji, Sanjo, Imaidegawa, Tokudaji and Kaoin clans. The highest state dignitaries were appointed from among them. Thus, representatives of the Saionji clan served as imperial grooms (mere no gogen). Next came all the other aristocratic clans.

The hierarchy of nobility of aristocratic families began to take shape in the 6th century and lasted until the end of the 11th century, when power in the country passed to the samurai. Among them, the clans Genji (Minamoto), Heike (Taira), Hojo, Ashikaga, Tokugawa, Matsudaira, Hosokawa, Shimazu, Oda enjoyed special respect. A number of their representatives at different times were shoguns (military rulers) of Japan.

The personal names of aristocrats and high-ranking samurai were formed from two kanji (hieroglyphs) with a “noble” meaning.

Personal names of samurai servants and peasants were often given according to the principle of "numbering". The first son is Ichiro, the second is Jiro, the third is Saburo, the fourth is Shiro, the fifth is Goro, etc. Also, in addition to “-ro”, the suffixes “-emon”, “-ji”, “-zo”, “-suke”, “-be” were used for this purpose.

Upon entering the period of adolescence, the samurai chose a different name for himself than the one given to him at birth. Sometimes samurai changed their names throughout adult life, for example, to emphasize the onset of a new period (promotion or moving to another duty station). The master had the right to rename his vassal. In cases of serious illness, the name was sometimes changed to that of Amida Buddha to appeal to his mercy.

According to the rules of samurai duels, before the fight, the samurai had to say his full name so that the enemy could decide whether he was worthy of such an opponent. Of course, in life this rule was observed much less often than in novels and chronicles.

The suffix “-hime” was added to the end of the names of girls from noble families. It is often translated as "princess", but in fact it was used in relation to all noble young ladies.

The suffix "-gozen" was used for the names of samurai wives. They were often called simply by their husband's surname and rank. Personal names of married women were practically used only by their close relatives.

For the names of monks and nuns from the noble classes, the suffix "-in" was used.

Modern names and surnames

During the Meiji Restoration, all Japanese people were given surnames. Naturally, most of them were associated with various signs of peasant life, especially with rice and its processing. These surnames, like the surnames of the upper class, were also usually made up of two kanji.

The most common Japanese surnames now are Suzuki, Tanaka, Yamamoto, Watanabe, Saito, Sato, Sasaki, Kudo, Takahashi, Kobayashi, Kato, Ito, Murakami, Oonishi, Yamaguchi, Nakamura, Kuroki, Higa.

Men's names have changed less. They also often depend on the “serial number” of the son in the family. The suffixes "-ichi" and "-kazu" meaning "first son" are often used, as are the suffixes "-ji" ("second son") and "-zō" ("third son").

Most Japanese girl names end in "-ko" ("child") or "-mi" ("beauty"). Girls, as a rule, are given names associated in meaning with everything beautiful, pleasant and feminine. Unlike male names, female names are usually written in hiragana rather than kanji.

Some modern girls do not like the ending “-ko” in their names and prefer to omit it. For example, a girl named "Yuriko" might call herself "Yuri".

According to a law passed during the time of Emperor Meiji, after marriage, husband and wife are legally required to adopt the same surname. In 98% of cases this is the husband's last name. For several years now, parliament has been discussing an amendment to the Civil Code allowing spouses to keep premarital surnames. However, so far she cannot get the required number of votes.

After death, a Japanese person receives a new, posthumous name (kaime), which is written on a special wooden tablet (ihai). This tablet is considered to be the embodiment of the spirit of the deceased and is used in funeral rites. Kaime and ihai are purchased from Buddhist monks - sometimes even before the person's death.

Who are samurai? They represent the feudal class of Japan, which was held in great esteem and respect among all other classes. Samurai were feared and respected for their cruelty in battles and nobility in peaceful life. The great names of the samurai of Japan are written in history, which will forever remember these legendary figures.

This is a kind of analogue of European knights, who swore an oath to serve faithfully to their master and played one of the most important roles in the Japanese community. Their activities and way of life were strictly bound by a code of honor, which was called “bushido”. The great samurai of Japan fought for the feudal lords or daimyo - the most powerful rulers of the country, who were subordinate to the powerful shogun.

The era of daimyo lasted from the 10th to the mid-19th century. During this time, the samurai managed to surround themselves with a kind of aura of nobility; they were feared and respected even outside the Land of the Rising Sun. Ordinary mortals admired them, admiring their cruelty, courage, cunning and resourcefulness. The samurai were credited with many feats, but the truth was actually much more prosaic - the famous samurai of Japan were ordinary killers, but what was the nature of their crimes!

Top most famous samurai of Japan

We can talk endlessly about great samurai. Their stories are shrouded in an aura of mystery and nobility; very often undeserved feats were attributed to them, but these individuals still remained the subject of worship and selfless respect.

Taira no Kiyomori (1118 - 1181)

He was a commander and warrior, thanks to whom the first samurai administrative system of control in the history of the Japanese state was created. Before his work began, all samurai were simply hired warriors for aristocrats. After this, he took the Taira clan under his protection and quickly achieved success in political activities. In 1156, Kiyomori, together with Minamoto no Yoshimoto (head of the Minamoto clan), managed to suppress the rebellion and began to rule the two highest warrior clans in Kyoto. As a result, their alliance turned into bitter rivals, and in 1159 Kiyomori defeated Yoshimoto. Thus, Kiyomori became the head of the most powerful warrior clan in Kyoto.

Kiyomori was able to seriously advance his career. In 1171, he gave his daughter in marriage to Emperor Takakura. A little later, their first child was born, who was often used as leverage on the emperor. However, the samurai’s plans could not be implemented; he died of fever in 1181.

Ii Naomasa (1561 – 1602)

He was a famous general or daimyo during the period when the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu was in power. He was one of the most loyal samurai that Japanese history has known. He rose significantly through the ranks and received great recognition after 3,000 soldiers under his leadership won the Battle of Nagakute (1584). He fought with such vigor that even his opponents admired his behavior on the battlefield. The Battle of Sekigahara brought him the greatest popularity. During the battle, he was hit by a stray bullet, after which he was never able to fully recover. His squad was called the “Red Devils” for the corresponding color of the armor that the warriors wore during battle to intimidate their opponents.

Date Masamune (1567 - 1636)

The list of “The Most Famous Samurai” continues with this legendary figure. The daimyo was ruthless and merciless, as almost everyone said about him. He was an outstanding warrior and an excellent strategist, and his personality was made even more memorable due to the loss of one eye, for which Masamune received the nickname "One-Eyed Dragon". He was supposed to take the leading place in the clan after his father, but the loss of his eye caused a split in the family and his younger brother Date came to power. Already being a general, the samurai was able to gain a good reputation and was rightfully considered a leader. It was after this that he launched a campaign in order to defeat the neighboring clans. This created considerable excitement. As a result, the neighboring clan turned to the father with a request to curb his eldest son. Terumune was kidnapped, but he managed to warn his son about a similar outcome of events and asked him to kill all members of neighboring clans. Date Masamune followed his father's instructions.

Although this contradicts some ideas about samurai, Date Masamune was a supporter of religion and culture. He even knew the Pope personally.

Honda Tadakatsu (1548 - 1610)

He was a general and one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Ieyasu along with Ii Naomasa, Sakakibara Yasumasa, and Sakai Tadatsugu. Of the four, Honda Tadakatsu had the reputation of being the most dangerous and merciless. He was a true warrior, even in the depths of his soul. So, for example, Oda Nobunaga, who, by the way, was not very happy with his followers, considered Tadakatsu a real samurai among all the other samurai. It was often said about him that Honda bypassed death itself, since he never received serious injuries, despite the fact that the number of his battles exceeded 100.

Hattori Hanzo (1542 - 1596)

He was the most famous samurai and ninja of the Sengoku era. Thanks to him, Emperor Tokugawa Ieyasu survived, and a little later became the ruler of a united Japan. Hattori Hanzo showed brilliant military tactics, for which he received the nickname Devil Hanzo. He won his first battle at a very young age - Hanzo was only 16 years old at the time. After this, he was able to free the Tokugawa daughters from hostages at Kaminogo Castle in 1562. The year 1582 was decisive for him in his career and in gaining a leading position - he helped the future Shogun escape from his pursuers to the province of Mikawa. Local ninjas helped him in this operation.

Hattori Hanzo was an excellent swordsman and in his last years, as historical sources say, he hid under the guise of a monk. Many often attributed supernatural abilities to this samurai. They said that he could instantly hide and appear in the most unexpected places.

Benkei (1155 - 1189)

He was a warrior monk who was in the service of Minamoto no Yoshitsune. Benkei is perhaps the most popular hero of Japanese folklore. Stories about his origins are varied: some claim that he was born to a raped woman, while others are inclined to believe that Benkei was a descendant of a god. Rumor has it that this samurai killed at least 200 people in each of his battles. An interesting fact is that at the age of 17 he was more than 2 meters tall. He learned the art of using a naginata (a long weapon that is a mixture of a spear and an axe) and left a Buddhist monastery to join a sect of mountain monks.

According to legend, he went to the Gojo Bridge in Kyoto and was able to disarm every passing swordsman. Thus, he was able to collect 999 swords. During the 1000th battle with Minamoto no Yoshitsune, Benkei was defeated and forced to become his vassal. Several years later, while under siege, Yoshitsune committed ritual suicide while Benkei fought for his master. Rumor has it that the remaining soldiers were afraid to oppose this giant. In that battle, the samurai killed about 300 soldiers, who saw with their own eyes how the giant, pierced by arrows, was still standing. So everyone was able to find out about Benkei’s “standing death.”

Uesugi Kenshin (1530 - 1578)

He was one of the most powerful commanders of the Sengoku era in Japan. He believed in the Buddhist god of war, and his followers were convinced that Uesugi Kenshin was an incarnation of Bishamonten. He was the youngest ruler of Echigo Province - at the age of 14 he took the place of his older brother.

He agreed to go against the greatest commander, Takeda Shingen. In 1561, the largest battle between Shingen and Kenshin took place. The results of the battle were mixed, as both sides lost about 3,000 people in this battle. They were rivals for more than 14 years, but even this fact did not stop them from exchanging gifts. And when Shingen died in 1573, Kenshin could not come to terms with the loss of such a worthy opponent.

Data on the death of Uesugi Kenshin are ambiguous. Some say that he died from the consequences of heavy drinking, others are inclined to believe that he was seriously ill.

Takeda Shingen (1521 – 1573)

This is perhaps the most famous samurai in Japanese history. He is known, by and large, for his unique military tactics. Often referred to as the "Tiger of Kai" for its distinctive characteristics on the battlefield. At the age of 20, he took the Takeda clan under his wing, then united with the Imagawa clan - as a result, the young warlord gained power over all nearby territories.

He was the only samurai who had enough strength and skill to defeat the powerful Oda Nobunaga, who was striving for power over all of Japan. Shingen died while preparing for the next battle. Some say that he was wounded by a soldier, while others are inclined to believe that the samurai died from a serious illness.

Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543 - 1616)

He is the first shogun and founder of the Tokugawa shogunate. His family practically ruled the Land of the Rising Sun from 1600 until the start of the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Ieyasu gained power in 1600, three years later he became shogun, and two years later he abdicated his position, but remained in power the rest of the time until his death. He was one of the most famous commanders in the entire history of Japan.

This samurai outlived many famous rulers in his lifetime: Oda Nobunaga laid the foundation for the shogunate, Toyotomi Hideyoshi seized power, Shingen and Kenshin, two of his strongest rivals, were dead. The Tokugawa Shogunate, thanks to Ieyasu's cunning mind and tactical thinking, would rule Japan for another 250 years.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536 - 1598)

He is also the most famous samurai of his kind. He was a general and a great politician of the Sengoku era, as well as the second unifier of Japan and the man who brought an end to the Warring States period. Hideyoshi made efforts to create some cultural heritage. For example, he introduced a restriction that meant that only members of the samurai class could carry weapons. In addition, he financed the construction and restoration of many temples, and also played a significant role in the history of Christianity in Japan.

Hideyoshi, despite his peasant origins, was able to become Nobunaga's great general. He failed to obtain the title of shogun, but made himself regent and built a palace. As his health began to fail, Hideyoshi began to conquer the Ming Dynasty with the help of Korea. The class reforms carried out by the samurai significantly changed the Japanese social system.

Oleg and Valentina Svetovid are mystics, specialists in esotericism and occultism, authors of 13 books.

Here you can get advice on your problem, find useful information and buy our books.

On our website you will receive high-quality information and professional help!

Japanese names

Japanese male names and their meanings

At the time of writing and publishing each of our articles, there is nothing like this freely available on the Internet. Any of our information products is our intellectual property and is protected by the Law of the Russian Federation.

Any copying of our materials and publication of them on the Internet or in other media without indicating our name is a violation of copyright and is punishable by the Law of the Russian Federation.

When reprinting any materials from the site, a link to the authors and site - Oleg and Valentina Svetovid – required.

Japanese names. Japanese male names and their meanings

What were the ancient Japanese called?

The laws that formed Japanese male names go back to ancient times. Approximately 300 years BC, the Jomon culture existed in Japan, which by that period had reached the pinnacle of its development. Over time, this culture changed and transformed into another, which modern scientists gave the name Yaen. The formation of the national Japanese language dates back to this time. The country's society was then divided as follows: the ruling elite (clans), artisans (necessary to serve the upper class) and slaves. The social category of a Japanese was necessarily indicated by a certain component in his name.

If a Japanese person's name contained the component "uji", this meant that he belonged to the upper class of society, and the component "be" indicated that its owner earned his living through hard work. Over the years, numerous clans with the particles “be” and “uji” were formed; over time, the social status of the clan underwent various changes. Now it is difficult to determine the social status of their carriers from these particles, but their presence indicates the genealogical roots of a person. The right to bear a surname extended only to high-ranking nobles close to the emperor. The chosen ones in Japanese society were considered to be “kuge” (aristocrats) and “bushi” (samurai). All other residents of the country could only bear names and nicknames, this continued until the 19th century.

How the samurai clan influenced the origin of male names

The clan of Japanese samurai was formed in Japan in the 7th century, formed by its first military usurper, samurai Minamoto Yoritomo. At this time, the situation in the country had all the conditions for the prosperity of the samurai, and various benefits were assigned to the military clan for many years to come. Samurai could choose their names, which usually related to the place of their service or the awards they received. In addition, the samurai had the right to name their servants; for this purpose, the servants were assigned serial numbers.

If we consider the construction of the male names Ichiro (first son), Shiro (third son), Goro (fifth son), then we can understand their origin - the designations of the particles “iti”, “si”, “go” are taken from the serial numbers first, third, fifth. This principle of construction has been preserved to this day, although it no longer means belonging to the poor class. Young samurai had the right to choose a new name for themselves; some of them were renamed several times during their lives to commemorate some big event. Often the samurai's servants were renamed, whether they wanted it or not - the owner was not interested in this.

If a samurai suffered a serious illness, he had a new reason for renaming. In illness, the samurai was called only “Buddha Amida”, firmly believing that turning to the mercy of God would help him heal. Traditional samurai fights had to begin with the proclamation of their full name, so that the enemy would have time to realize and feel what a powerful warrior would now fight him. Often this rule was not observed due to lack of time for such a ceremony, because fights arose suddenly.

Modern male names in Japanese

Now Japanese male names are numerous varieties, but each of them contains some element inherited from their ancestors. Names for Japanese men to this day depend on the serial number under which the boy was born in his family. If the son appeared first, his name will have the suffix “kazu” and “iti”, “ji” will indicate the appearance of the second son in the family, “zo” will indicate the third.

Every adult resident of modern Japan has the right to have a pseudonym. After their death, many Japanese receive new names (posthumous), they are called kaimyo and are inscribed on a special wooden tablet, which symbolizes the spirit of the deceased. The Japanese are little concerned about their personal names, since many of them believe in the reincarnation of souls.

Beautiful Japanese male names can be represented by the following list:

Before the Meiji Restoration, only aristocrats (kuge) and samurai (bushi) had surnames. The rest of the Japanese population was content with personal names and nicknames.

Surnames were divided into two groups - the surnames of aristocrats and the surnames of samurai.

Unlike the number of samurai surnames, the number of aristocratic surnames has practically not increased since ancient times. Many of them went back to the priestly past of the Japanese aristocracy.

The most respected and respected clans of aristocrats were: Konoe, Takashi, Kujo, Ichijo and Gojo. All of them belonged to the Fujiwara clan and had a common name - "Gosetsuke". From among the men of this family, regents (sessho) and chancellors (kampaku) of Japan were appointed, and from among the women, wives for the emperors were chosen.

The next most important clans were the Hirohata, Daigo, Kuga, Oimikado, Saionji, Sanjo, Imaidegawa, Tokudaji and Kaoin clans. The highest state dignitaries were appointed from among them. Thus, representatives of the Saionji clan served as imperial grooms (meryo no gogen). Next came all the other aristocratic clans.

The personal names of aristocrats and high-ranking samurai were formed from two kanji (hieroglyphs) with a “noble” meaning.

The suffix "-hime" was added to the end of the names of girls from noble families. It is often translated as "princess", but in fact it was used in relation to all noble young ladies.

For the names of monks and nuns from the noble classes, the suffix "-in" was used.

Created in ancient times. At the turn of the first millennium, some three hundred years BC, the advanced Japanese culture, called Jomon by specialists, reached its apogee. Fundamental modifications of this culture led to the revival of a new one, called Yaen by today's scientists. With the advent of Yaen, the national Japanese language began to take shape.

Modern male Japanese names and their meaning are determined by the division of society in the Yaen era into the ruling elite - clans, artisans - those who served these clans, and the lower class - slaves. A person’s belonging to one or another social category was indicated by a component of his name. For example, the “uji” component meant that a person had the privileges of a ruler, the “be” component meant that he belonged to the working class. This is how entire clans with names including “uji” and “be” were formed. Of course, over time, the social status of the clan has changed significantly, along with the meaning of the name. Now the presence of these components in a name does not at all determine their position in society, but at least indicates their genealogical roots.

Until the 19th century, only exceptional nobles close to the emperor had the right to surnames. The rest of the Japanese population was content with names and nicknames. The chosen ones were the aristocrats - "kuge", and the samurai - "bushi".

Samurai are a clan formed in the 7th century, when the first military usurper appeared in the history of Japan - the shogun - samurai Minamoto, but - Yerimoto. He laid the foundation for the formation of a privileged class called “samurai”. The fall of Shogun Totukawa and the concentration of power in the hands of Emperor Mutsuhito created fertile ground for the prosperity of the military clan and the consolidation of its preferential benefits for many years.
Samurai chose their names according to the circumstances. This could be a place of service or receiving any awards. Thanks to their special position, they gained the right to independently name their vassals and often gave serial numbers to the names of their servants. For example, Ichiro is the first son, Goro is the fifth, Shiro is the third. The particles “iti”, “go” and “si” in these names are serial numbers. Japanese male names have retained this numbering trend to this day, but now it no longer bears such clear indications of belonging to the category of commoners. Samurai, having reached a period of adolescence, received the right to choose a new name for themselves. Sometimes they changed their names several times throughout their lives in order to thus signify some significant dates in their biography. The unfortunate servants also changed their names regardless of their wishes. What can you do - master master!

It is curious that the samurai’s serious illness was also the reason for the name change. Only in this case, an exclusive method of naming was used - the patient was called “Buddha Amida”, thereby hoping to appeal to the mercy of the Buddha and defeat the disease. In fights traditional for samurai, each opponent announced his full name before the fight in order to allow the opponent to comprehend and analyze their fighting qualities. A good custom - fighting anonymously is somehow uncomfortable! In reality, this rule was rarely observed. Probably because fights are spontaneous events, and the opponents simply did not have time to get to know each other better.

Modern Japanese names represent many varieties, which certainly contain some of the elements inherited from their ancestors. Japanese male names and their meaning still depend on the serial number under which the boy appeared in the family. The suffixes “ichi” and “kazu” indicate that it was the first-born, “ji” the second male child, “zo” the third, etc. In particular, these are the names Kyuichi, Kenji, Ken-zo. But the Japanese treat the particle “sin” very carefully - in translation it means “death”. A person given a name with such a particle is either doomed to a difficult fate, or makes the fates of other people difficult. So, if you happen to meet a Japanese person who has “shin” in his name, you need to be careful. Without meaning to, he can bring misfortune.

Some Japanese male names and their meanings.

Akeno - Clear morning
Akio - Handsome
Akira - Smart, quick-witted
Akiyama - Autumn, mountain
Amida - Name of Buddha
Arata - Inexperienced

Benjiro - Enjoying the World
Botan - Peony

Dai - Great
Daichi - Great First Son
Daiki - Great Tree
Daisuke - Great Help

Fudo - God of fire and wisdom
Fujita - Field, meadow

Goro - Fifth Son

Haru - Born in Spring
Hachiro - Eighth Son
Hideaki - Brilliant, excellent
Hikaru - Light, shining
Hiroshi - Generous
Hotaka - Name of a mountain in Japan

Ichiro - First Son
Isami - Bravery

Jiro - Second Son
Joben - Loving cleanliness
Jomei - Bringer of Light
Juro - Tenth Son

Kado - Gate
Kanaye - Diligent
Kano - God of water
Katashi - Hardness
Katsu - Victory
Katsuo - Victorious Child
Katsuro - Victorious Son
Kazuki - Joyful World
Kazuo - Dear Son
Keitaro - Blessed One
Ken - Big Man
Ken`ichi - Strong first son
Kenji - Strong Second Son
Kenshin - Heart of the Sword
Kenta - Healthy and brave
Kichiro - Lucky Son
Kin - Golden
Kisho - Having a head on his shoulders
Kiyoshi - Quiet
Kohaku - Amber
Kuro - Ninth Son
Kyo - Consent (or redhead)

Mamoru - Earth
Masa - Straightforward (human)
Masakazu - Masa's first son
Mashiro - Wide
Michio - A man with the strength of three thousand
Miki - Stem
Mikio - Three woven trees
Minoru - Seed
Montaro - Big Guy
Morio - Forest Boy
Nibori - Famous
Nikki - Two trees
Nikko - Daylight

Osamu - Firmness of the Law

Rafu - Network
Raidon - God of Thunder
Renjiro - Honest
Renzo - Third Son
Rinji - Peaceful Forest
Roka - White wave crest
Rokuro - Sixth Son
Ronin - Samurai without a master
Ryo - Excellent
Ryoichi - Ryo's first son
RyoTa - Strong (fat)
Ryozo - Third son of Ryo
Ryuichi - First son of Ryu
Ryuu - Dragon

Saburo - Third Son
Sachio - Fortunately Born
Saniiro - Wonderful
Seiichi - Sei's first son
Sen - Tree Spirit
Shichiro - Seventh Son
Shima - Islander
Shinichi - Shin's first son
Sho - Prosperity
Susumi - Moving forward (successful)

Tadao - Helpful
Takashi - Famous
Takehiko - Bamboo Prince
Takeo - Bamboo-like
Takeshi - Bamboo tree or brave
Takumi - Craftsman
Tama - Gemstone
Taro - Firstborn
Teijo - Fair
Tomeo - Cautious person
Torio - Bird's tail
Toru - Sea
Toshiro - Talented
Toya - House door

Udo - Ginseng
Uyeda - From the rice field (child)

Yasuo - Peaceful
Yoshiro - Perfect Son
Yuki - Snow
Yukio - Cherished by God
Yuu - Noble Blood
Yuudai - Great Hero

Samurai embodied the image of an ideal warrior who revered culture and laws, and who took his chosen path in life seriously. When a samurai failed his master or himself, according to local customs he had to be subjected to the ritual of “seppuku” - ritual suicide, i.e. hara-kiri.

1. Hojo Ujitsuna (1487 - 1541)

Ujitsuna sparked a long-standing feud with the Uesugi clan - the owner of Edo Castle, which has now grown into the giant metropolis of Tokyo, but then it was an ordinary castle covering a fishing village. Having taken over Edo Castle, Ujitsuna managed to spread his family's influence throughout the Kanto region (the most populous island of Japan, where the capital of the state is located - Tokyo) and by the time of his death in 1541, the Hojo clan was one of the most powerful and dominant families in Japan

2. Hattori Hanzo (1542 - 1596)

This name may be familiar to fans of Quentin Tarantino, since it was based on the real life biography of Hattori Hanzo that Quentin created the image of the swordsman for the film Kill Bill. Starting at the age of 16, he fought for survival, participating in many battles. Hanzo was devoted to Tokugawa Ieyasu, saving the life of this man more than once, who later founded the shogunate, which ruled Japan for more than 250 years (1603 - 1868). Throughout Japan he is known as a great and devoted samurai who has become a legend. His name can be found carved at the entrance to the imperial palace.

3. Uesugi Kenshin (1530 - 1578)

Uesugi Kenshin was a strong military leader and also the leader of the Nagao clan. He was distinguished by his outstanding ability as a commander, resulting in his troops achieving many victories on the battlefield. His rivalry with Takeda Shingen, another warlord, was one of the most widely known in history during the Sengoku period. They feuded for 14 years, during which time they engaged in several one-on-one fights. Kenshin died in 1578, the circumstances of his death remain unclear. Modern historians believe it was something similar to stomach cancer.

4. Shimazu Yoshihisa (1533 - 1611)

This is another Japanese warlord who lived throughout the bloody Sengoku period. While still a young man, he established himself as a talented commander, a trait that later allowed him and his comrades to capture most of the Kyushu region. Yoshihisa became the first to unite the entire Kyushu region; it was subsequently defeated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi (a military and political figure, the unifier of Japan) and his 200,000-strong army.

5. Mori Motonari (1497 - 1571)

Mori Motonari grew up in relative obscurity, but this did not stop him from taking control of several of the largest clans in Japan and becoming one of the most feared and powerful warlords of the Sengoku period. His appearance on the general stage was sudden, and equally unexpected was the series of victories he won over strong and respected opponents. He eventually captured 10 of the 11 provinces in the Chugoku region. Many of his victories were against much larger and more experienced opponents, making his feats even more impressive.

6. Miyamoto Musashi (1584 - 1645)

Miyamoto Musashi was a samurai whose words and opinions still mark modern Japan. Today he is known as the author of The Book of Five Rings, which describes the strategy and philosophy of samurai in battle. He was the first to use a new fighting style in the sword technique of kenjutsu, calling it niten ichi, when the fight is fought with two swords. According to legend, he traveled through ancient Japan, and during his travels he managed to win many fights. His ideas, strategies, tactics and philosophy are the subject of study to this day.

7. Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536 - 1598)

Toyotomi Hideyoshi is considered one of Japan's Founding Fathers, one of three men whose actions helped unify Japan and end the long and bloody Sengoku era. Hideyoshi succeeded his former master Oda Nobunaga, and began to implement social and cultural reforms that determined the future direction of Japan for a period of 250 years. He banned sword ownership by non-samurai, and also began a nationwide search for all swords and other weapons that were henceforth to belong only to samurai. Although this concentrated all military power in the hands of the samurai, such a move was a huge breakthrough towards general peace since the reign of the Sengoku era.

8. Takeda Shingen (1521 - 1573)

Takeda Shingen was perhaps the most dangerous commander of the entire Sengoku era. When it turned out that his father was going to leave everything to his other son, Shingen allied himself with several other powerful samurai clans, which pushed him to expand beyond his home province of Kai. Shingen became one of the few who were able to defeat the army of Oda Nabunaga, who at that time was successfully capturing other territories of Japan. He died in 1573, suffering from illness, but by this point he was well on his way to consolidating power over all of Japan.

Known for his love of violence, Data Masamune was one of the most feared warriors of his era. Having gone blind in one eye as a child, the young man was forced to make every effort to gain recognition as a full-fledged fighter. Data Masamune gained a reputation as a brave and cunning military leader by defeating the clan of his opponents, after which he went into the service of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Uesugi Kenshin

Kenshin, also known as the dragon Echigo, was a fierce warrior and leader of the Nagao clan. He was known for his rivalry with Takeda Shingen and supported Oda Nobunaga's military campaign. Kenshin was considered not only a brave fighter, but also an unsurpassed commander.

Tokugawa Ieyasu

The great Tokugawa Ieyasu was originally an ally of Oda Nobunaga. After the death of Nobunaga's successor, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Ieyasu gathered his own army and started a long, bloody war. As a result, he established the Tokugawa shogunate in 1600, which lasted until 1868.

Hattori Hanzo

The leader of the Iga clan, Hattori Hanzo was one of those rare samurai who were trained as ninja warriors. He was a loyal servant of Tokugawa Ieyasu and saved his master from certain death several times. Having aged, Hanzo became a Buddhist monk and ended his days in a monastery.

Honda Tadakatsu

He was nicknamed "the warrior who conquered death." During his life, Tadakatsu took part in hundreds of battles and was not defeated in any of them. Honda's favorite blade was the legendary Dragonfly spear, which instilled fear in the enemy. It was Tadakatsu who led one of the troops in the decisive Battle of Sekigahara, which led to a new era in the history of Japan.

Miyamoto Musashi

Miyamoto Musashi was one of Japan's greatest swordsmen. Musashi fought his first fight at the age of 13: he fought on the side of the Toyotomi clan against the Tokugawa clan. Miyamoto spent almost his entire life traveling around the country, meeting great masters in mortal combat. At the end of his life, the great warrior wrote a treatise on the Five Rings, which describes in detail the technique of wielding a sword.