The Samurai Encyclopedia

"Vaporis has accomplished what no scholar has before: a thorough, reliable encyclopedia of samurai culture and history useful for students, scholars, and casual readers alike. A classic that won't be surpassed anytime soon." -- Professor Michael Wert, Marquette University

"Vaporis has accomplished what no scholar has before: a thorough, reliable encyclopedia of samurai culture and history useful for students, scholars, and casual readers alike. A classic that won't be surpassed anytime soon." -- Professor Michael Wert, Marquette University

"The Samurai played a leading role in Japanese society for centuries, and this is the first encyclopedia to showcase the fascinating history and culture of these enigmatic warriors." -- University of Maryland newsletter

"Vaporis has assembled an enormous amount of information---much of it heretofore unavailable in English--and presented it in an engaging and accessible format… I recommend it enthusiastically."-- Karl Friday (Saitama University) review in Monumenta Nipponica

Constantine Nomikos Vaporis is a professor of history at the University of Maryland, Baltimore where he teaches Japanese and East Asian History. He has received prestigious research fellowships including a Fulbright Scholar's Award and an NEH grant. His books include Breaking Barriers: Travel and the State in Early Modern Japan and Tour of Duty: Samurai, Military Service in Edo and the Culture of Early Modern Japan. He recently collaborated with TedEd to produce an educational animated short film entitled "A Day in the Life of a Teenage Samurai."

Alexander Bennett is a professor of Japanese history and Budo theory at Kansai University. He co-founded and continues to publish Kendo World, the first English-language journal dedicated to Kendo. He holds black belts in several martial disciplines including Kendo Kyoshi 7-dan, Iaido 5-dan, and Naginata 5-dan. His published works include The Complete Musashi: The Book of Five Rings and Other Works and Hagakure: The Secret Wisdom of the Samurai.