~ 1899 ~
Bushido: The Soul of Japan is a book written by Inazō Nitobe which explores the way of the samurai. The book was published in 1899 and quickly became a best-seller. It was translated into Japanese in 1908 by Sakurai Hikoichirō, and Yanaihara Tadao's translation became the standard text in Japanese, published by Iwanami Shoten. Nitobe originally wrote the book in English, from Monterey, California. He found in Bushido the sources of the seven virtues most admired by his people, and also delved into the other indigenous traditions of Japan. Nitobe sought similarities and contrasts by citing the shapers of European and American thought and civilization going back to the Romans, the Greeks, and Biblical times. Critics accuse the book of portraying the samurai in terms of Western chivalry and valuing morals over valor. However, the book is still widely read and respected.