Groundbreaking Exhibition Aims to Redefine Samurai Legacy
The British Museum is preparing to challenge everything visitors think they know about Japan's legendary warrior class with a groundbreaking samurai exhibition opening in February 2026. Titled simply 'Samurai', this blockbuster show promises to reveal a complex reality far beyond the armour-clad warriors and epic duels popularised by classic films and video games.
Beyond the Sword: The Untold Stories
Lead curator Rosina Buckland told The Guardian that this exhibition represents the first major attempt to directly confront the myths surrounding samurai culture. "Most previous exhibitions have been about the 'boys' toys', as I call them sometimes," Buckland noted, referring to the traditional focus on weaponry. "Swords are important, but they are by no means the whole story."
The exhibition will showcase that much of the samurai myth – including the widespread use of the word "samurai" itself – was actually invented long after their heyday, becoming a modern phenomenon linked to mass media and pop culture.
One of the most significant revelations concerns the role of women in samurai society. Contrary to the hyper-masculine image dominating films and gaming, samurai women were educated, governed territories, and even fought in battles. The exhibition will feature artifacts like a woman's firefighting jacket and hood worn while serving within Edo Castle, highlighting their active roles in society.
Artistic Patrons and Peaceful Centuries
The samurai emerged as early as the 900s as mercenaries for the imperial court, evolving into fearsome warriors during the middle ages. After gaining political dominance from the 1100s, they experienced a long era of peace from 1615, during which they transformed into government officials, scholars, and patrons of the arts.
"Because the samurai were elite, the best quality objects were made for them," Buckland explained. The exhibition will feature more than 280 objects, including:
- Paintings and woodblock prints
- Books and ceramics
- Clothing that differentiated samurai from other classes
- A spectacular suit of armour recently acquired by the museum
Interestingly, the exhibition reveals that samurai armour was often recycled over centuries, with robust sections inherited from previous generations while more delicate elements like silk sleeves were remade. One exhibit combines elements dating from 1519 with others made in the early 19th century.
The word "samurai" itself presents a linguistic revelation. Buckland notes that the term literally means "subordinate" and carries a pejorative sense, which is why Japanese historically used words like "musha" for warrior or "bushi" for the military class. The modern preference for "samurai" largely stems from foreign usage that has been re-imported to Japan, partly for tourism purposes.
Samurai runs at the British Museum from 3 February to 4 May 2026, with tickets going on sale on Monday 10 November. The exhibition draws both from international collections and the museum's own extensive holdings – one of the largest samurai collections outside Japan.
