'Blue Eye Samurai' Cuts Through the Myths

There are few periods in history that are as unique as Feudal Japan (also known as the Edo period) from the early 17th century to the Meiji Revolution in the late 19th century. Unlike other non-western countries that were colonized by European powers and converted to Christianity, the Japanese Shogunate managed to resist this influence and preserve its feudal system for almost an additional three centuries. Thus, for historians evaluating merits and drawbacks of Western colonization, the Edo period offers an ideal case study—as well as a fascinating setting for storytellers desiring a cultural alternative to the modern West.