The spirit of the samurai is perfectly exemplified by this bronze statue of Nasu Shingo (1829–63) at Yusuhara on Shikoku Island. He was one of the companions of Sakamoto Ryoma, a prominent loyalist in the wars of the Meiji Restoration through which Japan entered the modern world.

The death of Wani Chikazane at the siege of Tanaka Castle in 1587 is re-enacted as part of the annual Sengoku Higo Kunishu Matsuri (a festival that commemorates the disastrous rebellion of the minor lords of Higo province in 1587) in February 2011, Nagomi town, Kumamoto prefecture. Tanaka was one of the centres of the rebellion launched against the daimyo Sassa Narimasa.

The firing of an arquebus by a member of the Marugame Teppo-kai, the musketry re-enactment group of Marugama City, where this demonstration is taking place The arquebus, which revolutionized Japanese warfare, was similar to a simple matchlock musket.

Yabusame (mounted archery) is here performed at the Nikko Toshogu Shrine during the spring festival in 2008. The riders have to shoot three arrows against wooden targets set along the track. Yabusame essentially derives from hunting rather than battle (when arrows tended not to be launched at a gallop).

One of the more unusual martial arts was the technique of swimming – and perhaps even operating weapons – while wearing a suit of armour. In this photograph (taken in the Kumamoto prefecture on the island of Kyushu) we see a modern practitioner demonstrating the front crawl while wearing a suit of yoroi-style armour, complete with an iron helmet.

The keep of Matsumoto Castle dates back to 1597, making it Japan’s oldest surviving tower keep. With its massive stone base and soaring turrets, Matsumoto is one of the finest examples of the developed style of Japanese castle.

In this suit of armour the colour of the lacing on the breastplate presents the shape of a cross. On the helmet are two kuwagata (antlers).

A suit of armour finished with kebiki-odoshi (close-spaced) lacing of white cords and fur trim. On top of the helmet is a crest in the form of a yamabushi’s pillbox hat.

A modern reproduction of the ornate horned helmet worn by Yamamoto Kansuke, Takeda Shingen’s leading strategist, who committed suicide at the fourth battle of Kawanakajima in 1561 when he saw that his bold plans had brought about an apparent defeat.