Time and Tide

Always seeking the ideal master, samurai Todo Takatora was a skilled castle builder, a man of flexibility and rationality who saw the changes to come.

400-year-old Matsue Castle retains its original keep, a National Treasure. Black and imposing, it stands like a battleship. Why did the lord build such an enormous keep on such a small site?

Wakayama Castle was a crucial castle for Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu who both guided Japan to peace. Its location south of the economic center of Osaka near the Pacific Ocean was strategic.

Worn by samurai on formal occasions, in-ro were palm-sized containers crafted with masterful skill. In each piece, we uncover the refined spirit of samurai dandyism.

Kumamoto Castle is one of Japan's most famous fortresses for its keep complex and elegant palace. In the 2016 earthquakes, it suffered serious damage, and multitudes are involved in its restoration.

In one generation, Mori Motonari rose from a minor lord to ruler of most of western Japan despite bitter betrayal. His wisdom still echoes today.

Japan boasts a thousand color names, unmatched worldwide. Uncover the color revolution sparked by women in the 11th century as seen through the elegant kimono known as the "juni-hitoe."