Bushido: The Soul of the Samurai

A graphic novel version of the classic book that first introduced Westerners to the samurai ethos.

This graphic novel version of the cult classic Bushido brings the timeless secrets of the samurai to life. Originally published in 1905, Bushido was the first book to introduce Westerners to the samurai ethos. Written by Inazo Nitobe, one of the foremost Japanese authors and educators of the time, it describes the characteristics and virtues that are associated with bushido--honor, courage, justice, loyalty, self-control--and explains the philosophy behind how samurai were educated and trained; the connection between the sword and the samurai; seppuku; and the position of women in samurai culture; among other themes. To this day, Bushido is considered a must-read for anyone who wants to understanding the soul of Japan and navigate their world with integrity and honor.

SEAN MICHAEL WILSON is a comic book writer from Scotland, living in Japan. He has had many books published with a variety of US, UK, and Japanese publishers, such as The Book of Five Rings, and edited the critically acclaimed AX: alternative manga (Publishers Weekly’s ＂Best Books of 2010＂ in comics). In 2016, his book Lafcadio Hearn’s ＂The Faceless Ghost＂ and Other Macabre Tales from Japan was nominated for the prestigious Eisner Award. And in 2017, his book Secrets of the Ninja won an International Manga Award from the Japanese Government.

AKIKO SHIMOJIMA is a comic artist from Tokyo, Japan, who started her career as a university student in the US. Her comics have been published by a number of Japanese and US companies. In 2011, she drew two strips for charitable book projects from the US and the UK to benefit the victims of the earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan.