During Japan’s feudal era (12th to 19th centuries), the samurai class was not only a military aristocracy but also a ruling social stratum comprising roughly one-tenth of the population. These warriors served as bureaucrats, landowners, and enforcers of the shogun’s rule. Samurai bloodlines proliferated through strategic marriages and adoption, blending with commoner families over centuries. After the Meiji Restoration abolished the samurai class in 1876, many descendants integrated into society

“The sharpest swords in the world.” How did generations of Japan's foremost artisans perfect the unique weapons of the samurai? “It is the samurai, and their sense of honour, that holds Japan together.” 📺 Civilisations: Rise and Fall - watch all episodes now on #iPlayer. | BBC Arts