WHAT'S NEW?

I have just had published a book for children about samurai. It is called Real Samurai.

It is full of specially commissioned colour plates by James Field. We rather enjoyed doing it, and have included some rather good scenes, including some spectacular banners worn by the messengers in samurai armies.

Last October was a celebration, because it saw the publication of my fiftieth book: The Samurai and the Sacred.. A week later I was off to Japan again to research future projects. The main one is about Japanese Castles prior to the Sengoku Period. These include the northern stockades and the Korean-style fortresses of Kyushu. It will be published by Osprey later this year.

My forty-ninth book was in the Campaigns Series and is on the Siege of Osaka 1614-15. Richard Hook has done the plates, and I have chosen three scenes: the attack on the Sanada maru, as viewed from down in the ditch; the night battle across the Honmachi bridge, and the dramatic scene when Toyotomi Hideyori prepared to ride out in a last desperate attempt to save the castle!

You will see some old stuff in Warriors of Medieval Japan, because this is my three Warriors books (Ninja, Ashigaru and Monks) bound together, BUT I have added a completely new section on samurai and have considerably revised the other three. There are also lots of new pictures, so it REALLY is worth buying!

SAMURAI: THE STORY OF JAPAN'S NOBLE WARRIORS

This book is lavishly illustrated and provides a very good introduction to the samurai, particularly who someone who isn't a military buff.

It would make an ideal present for anyone you are trying to convert!

It has the unique feature of 'dress your own samurai'. A series of transparent overlays allow you to arm three samurai from different ages and an ashigaru!

The illustrations have been printed perfectly. Here is a sample.

THE SAMURAI SOURCEBOOK

The Samurai Sourcebook has been reprinted in a paperback version, and is a bargain at £14.99. I have taken the opportunity to go through the text and make several corrections, so it is worthwhile buying even if you already have the hardback version.

This book has proved very popular with wargamers and modellers, who have welcomed the large numbers of flags and mon displayed.

SAMURAI: WORLD OF THE WARRIOR

I was delighted when I was chosen to be the first author to relaunch an Osprey hardback series.

Samurai: World of the Warrior has a thematic approach. There are chapters on samurai pirates, samurai artillery and many other topics including the heroic story of the White Tigers of Aizu.

KAWANAKAJIMA 1553-1564

This is another volume by me in Osprey's acclaimed Campaigns series.

I spent a very cold week wandering the battlefield of Kawanakajima - (all five of them!) - last winter,including climbing a motorway embankment to get a shot of the entire battlefield at Hachimanbara!

My mate Wayne Reynolds has produced the superb colour plates.

KEY PAPERS ON THE SAMURAI TRADITION

Over the years I have made good use of hundreds of academic papers on samurai topics, some of which were written over a century ago. Most of these are almost impossible to get hold of unless you have access to specialised libraries.

Japan Library, who publish The Samurai: A Military History, have published my two-volume set of such articles, entitled Key Papers on the Samurai Tradition. I have chosen a fascinating collection of important and little-known works.

I must warn you, however, that it is very expensive indeed, because it is a limited printing aimed at the library market in Japan. It is actually £250.00... If you email me I will send you a contents list.