Bushido and Christianity
Published on 15. July 2025
Book
Hardback
170 pages
979-8-9872421-5-5 (ISBN)
Description
Can a Christian follow the way of the sword?
In this concise and powerful exploration, Rev. Takemi Sasamori-a Japanese Methodist minister and master of traditional kenjutsu-bridges the worlds of Bushido, the samurai code, and the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Drawing from over 70 years of martial arts training and 40 years of ministry, Rev. Sasamori reveals how the warrior virtues of honor, discipline, and self-sacrifice resonate deeply with Christian values. Through thoughtful reflections on the samurai way and biblical teachings, he addresses the spiritual questions many Christian martial artists face today:
Are martial arts compatible with Christianity?
What can the samurai teach us about following Christ?
How can faith and martial discipline coexist?
Part spiritual reflection, part cultural history, this unique book invites believers to discover a Christ-centered path within the warrior's journey. It's ideal for Christian martial artists, students of Japanese culture, or anyone seeking deeper spiritual meaning through the martial path.
The Rev. Sasamori served for over forty years as a pastor and spent over seventy years training in traditional Japanese martial arts. He was regularly featured in Japanese media and was a sought-after speaker on the connection between Bushido and Christianity worldwide.
More details
Language
English
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 157 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
406 gr
ISBN-13
979-8-9872421-5-5 (9798987242155)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Born in Hirosaki City, Japan, as the third and youngest son of martial arts legend Sasamori Junz¿, the Reverend Sasamori Takemi (1933-2017) was raised in a household where the ethics of the samurai, martial arts, and Christianity were part of daily life. After graduating from Waseda and Aoyama Gakuin Universities with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Sociology and Theology, he continued his studies in the United States where he attended the Duke University School of Divinity and the Hartford Seminary Foundation, earning Masters of Arts Degrees in Christian and Religious Education. He also served as both Assistant and Associate Minister at the United Church of Christ in New York City for nine years. Upon returning to Japan in 1969, he became the founding minister of the Komaba Eden Church, Setagaya Ward, Tokyo, where, assisted by his wife Ariko, he ministered to over one hundred fifty parishioners. In 1975, he was officially recognized as the 17th S¿ke of Ono-ha Itt¿-ry¿, as well as the S¿ke of the Shin Mus¿ Hayashizaki-ry¿ school of iaido and the Chokugen-ry¿ school of naginata. He had over five hundred martial arts students world-wide and instructed annually in Japan, Asia, Europe and the United States. Regularly featured in the Japanese media, he published or was featured in nine publications and four videos on both Christianity and the martial arts. He served on the Board of Trustees of the Japanese Traditional Martial Arts Association for over 35 years and was awarded a Doctor of Divinity from the California Graduate School of Theology in 1989.