The British Museum has opened a major exhibition titled "Samurai" that challenges popular perceptions of the warrior class. It reveals that after 1615, half of all samurai were women, though they did not engage in combat, and explores the evolution of samurai from medieval fighters to Edo-period bureaucrats and cultural figures. The show features over 280 objects, from armor and weapons to everyday items like a woman's dressing set, and examines the contrast between historical reality and modern pop culture portrayals.
The exhibition matters because it reframes a globally recognized cultural icon, highlighting the significant but often overlooked role of women within the samurai class and presenting a more nuanced, complex history. By incorporating contemporary manga, film, and video games alongside historical artifacts and newly commissioned art, it bridges past and present, making historical scholarship accessible and engaging for a broad audience while correcting longstanding myths.