Bushido: The Soul of Japan (AmazonClassics Edition)

Inazo Nitobé’s Bushido: The Soul of Japan is a poetic inquiry into the ethos of his homeland.

Through a study of the way of the samurai, Nitobe identifies the seven virtues most widely recognized by the Japanese: rectitude, courage, benevolence, politeness, veracity, honor, and loyalty. In sharing these moral guidelines, handed down over generations, Nitobe gives the world unique insight into a previously unexplored code of honor.

Written in English and only translated years later into Japanese, Bushido was an inspiration to many Western leaders, including two US presidents—Theodore Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy. After centuries, the samurai principles are now applied around the world and recognized as universal ideals.

Revised edition: Previously published as Bushido: The Soul of Japan, this edition of Bushido: The Soul of Japan (AmazonClassics Edition) includes editorial revisions.