by His Most Excellent Highness Lord Tokugawa Hidetada, Shogun of Japan

So, young man, you want to be a samurai? Does that question surprise you? Am I suggesting that you were born a farmer or a merchant? Of course not! Be reassured by Our Own Most Excellent Person that you are already a samurai, having been born into that most glorious social class. To be a samurai is your birthright, and none can deprive you of it.

No, the purpose of this book, which we have seen fit to commission from the brush of our grand chamberlain, is to assist a young samurai to transform himself from being merely the fortunate occupant of an exalted social position into a true samurai warrior: fearless on the battlefield; accomplished in the arts of war and peace; wise in administration; an example to the lower orders; and one who will bring honour to his ancestors.

So why have we commissioned this work at this particular time in our country’s illustrious history? Are we not presently living in the Age of Maitreya (The Buddha Who Is To Come), where peace and plenty have been showered upon us owing to the virtues and wisdom of My Most Illustrious Father? Indeed we are. In this First Year of the Year Period of Genna – being the Fifth Year of the Reign of The Imperial Son of Heaven His Divine Majesty Emperor Gomizuno-o and the two thousand, two hundred and seventy-fifth year since the accession of Jimmu, the first emperor of Japan, which, using the Chinese calendar, is the Year of the Hare and Junior Brother of the Wood – we are blessed indeed.

Take note, however, that it is our sincere wish that henceforth in this book all dates should be rendered after the manner of the barbarians who arrived from the south. Why, I hear you ask, should we have chosen to do something so unspeakably vulgar? We reply that it is our wish that this book should be read not only by young samurai such as yourself, but also circulated abroad among the barbarian nations, so that they may know the martial virtues and military glories of our land, and tremble thereat.

By such vulgar barbarian reckoning it is now the year 1615, and my heart swells with pride when I contemplate the fact that my own beloved son and heir, Tokugawa Iemitsu, has lived within the radiant glory of the Tokugawa family for 15 years. Indeed it was on an auspicious day in the year 1600 that My Most Illustrious Father vanquished upon the bloody field of Sekigahara those who were so misguided as to deny his all-encompassing virtue. My Most Illustrious Father consequently re-established the post of shogun that – because of the actions of sinful men – had fallen so grievously into abeyance, thus bringing peace to our realm, leading our armies to victory and spreading his wisdom and virtue to the far seas. I have continued his task as best I can, and when the time comes for me to depart this life and join My Most Excellent Father as a Guest in the White Jade Pavilion, my beloved son Iemitsu will succeed to the position of shogun, and continue our illustrious work.

So study this book, young man, and devote yourself to it, for much remains to be done. A cruel winter has just passed, during which our benevolent rule was most unwisely challenged by a rabble of enemies confined within the mighty walls of Osaka Castle. Owing to the martial glory of My Most Illustrious Father, peace has been restored, yet even as I write there are rumours that those same rebels have seen fit to re-excavate the moats of Osaka, which we, in our infinite mercy, caused to be filled in using the walls of the very same castle. So once again the martial hosts of the Tokugawa family, assisted most loyally by the samurai of the great lords of Japan whose love and filial piety towards us knows no end, must assemble for a final chastisement.

Read this book, young man, and you may take your place on the battlefield of Osaka as a true samurai!

May the gods and Buddhas take heed, and may they blast all transgressors!