The core motto and ethical code of the samurai is Bushido, which translates to "the way of the warrior". It is a philosophy emphasizing honor, loyalty, courage, and self-discipline, often summarized by the principle of sacrificing one’s life to uphold honor, or "death before dishonor".
According to Inazo Nitobe's book Bushido, the lives of the samurai warriors were ruled by 7 principles called Bushido. These 7 rules were Righteousness, Loyalty, Honor, Respect, Honesty, Courage and Consistency.
A Samurai's Creed
I have no life and death; I make the tides of breathing my life and death. I have no divine power; I make honesty my divine power. I have no means; I make understanding my means. I have no magic secrets; I make character my magic secret.
But a samurai swore no such oath, and there was no legal contract of any kind. The bond between samurai and lord resembled a bond of kinship rather than a legal agreement, and the obedience of a samurai to his lord was like that expected of a son by his father.
Still, studying a code of conduct can further cement within us the principles of right living. The 7-5-3 Code is broken into 3 sections: The 7 Virtues of a Warrior, The 5 Keys to Health, and The 3 States of Mind.
This term came from the Japanese battle cry tennōheika banzai (天皇陛下万歳; transl. "long live His Majesty the Emperor"), and was shortened to banzai, specifically referring to the bayonet charge tactic used by the Imperial Japanese Army during the Pacific War.
In the Middle Ages, Hachiman was widely worshiped among the samurai class. A division of the Hachiman divine spirit was requested because the Genji clan, which in the 12th century established the first samurai led government in Kamakura, venerated Hachiman as its ancestral god.
I found out from online resources that apparently certain combinations of numbers can mean words in japanese, like 555 being go go go.
Kiai (気合) Kiai is a Japanese term used to describe the quick and powerful shout used in martial arts when performing an attacking move.
"Tora! Tora! Tora!" (虎, 虎, 虎) is a famous Japanese code phrase meaning "Tiger, Tiger, Tiger," used to signal a successful surprise attack, specifically the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack. While "tora" means "tiger," the full phrase is often considered an abbreviation for Totsugeki Raigeki (突撃雷撃), meaning "Lightning Attack," indicating complete surprise had been achieved.
Emoji: 🔰 Name: Japanese symbol for beginner emoji. Meaning: The Japanese symbol for beginner emoji is to be used when someone is starting something new for the first time and would be considered a 'beginner'.
Samurai Maxim If you wait until you have an emergency to prepare, then you will never be prepared. You must be prepared ahead of time for whatever you may encounter.
Nanpa (ナンパ), also transliterated as nampa, in Japanese culture is a type of flirting and seduction popular among teenagers and people in their twenties and thirties. When Japanese women pursue men in a fashion similar to nanpa, it is called gyakunan (逆ナン).
Jiro (次郎) is a traditional Japanese masculine name meaning "second son," derived from the kanji for "second/next" (ji/次) and "son/man" (ro/郎). Historically, it was given to the second-born son in a family, following the pattern of Ichiro (first son) and Saburo (third son), symbolizing lineage and family continuity, though it's used more broadly today.
In Japan, harmony and maintaining social equilibrium are highly valued. Direct confrontation is generally avoided, and this extends to the act of refusal. Saying a blunt “no” can be seen as disruptive to this harmony.
Samurai were not allowed to own businesses. Samurais were not allowed to do farming. If the lord/master of a samurai dies, he loses his social status and rights as a samurai and he becomes a ronin “man of waves.” Samurai wives were a little unfortunate, they were forbidden to see their relatives and obey their sons.
Secrets of the Samurai is a definitive study of the martial arts of feudal Japan, illustrating in detail the weapons, techniques, strategies, and principles of combat that made the Japanese warrior a supremely effective foe.
Hesitating, grinning or showing the signs of weakness were perceived as cowardly and not honorable. Although it is reported that in some occasions the samurai lost themselves and collapsed before the ritual and were forcefully beheaded.
Emperor Hirohito never issued a direct, formal apology for World War II, though he expressed private regret and sorrow, with some attempts to apologize being blocked by his government to avoid implicating him in war responsibility; he made veiled comments about being "filled with sorrow" and offered to take sole responsibility to General MacArthur but was dissuaded by officials who prioritized Japan's future and his divine status.
In Japan, it's not so common to speak loudly, especially on public transportation. It's better to use a softer voice, and not shout across the train or the aisle.