The Samurai have always fascinated me. I remember seeing samurai depicted in movies for as long as I've been watching television. As I got older and learned about the samurai through history classes and TV shows, I became more intrigued. Learning about the impact they have had and continue to have on Japanese culture amazes me. Part of their story is good and part is bad. They were a very honorable group of warriors, but at the same time they were also violent and ruthless. Religion has had a major influence on the development of world civilization. The Samurai were no exception to this rule. They were very dedicated to their beliefs and little influenced by outside cultures, which still exerts an influence on Japan today. There is a special name when mentioned with that of the samurai and Japanese history has played an important role in Japanese culture. This name is Toyotomi Hideyoshi. His life and achievements helped shape Japan into what it became. The origin of the samurai dates back to the beginning of Japanese rule in the 11th and 12th centuries. This period was called the Kamakura period. This period was preceded by other periods influenced by China and Buddhism. After several failures of imperial rule, Japan was able to separate from China and develop its own writing system. During the Kamakura period, there was an established administrative body headed by a person called a Shogun. During this period there was a need for protection for landowners as well as others. This protection was necessary from government officials sent to collect taxes on the land. This led to the development of small warrior armies called Samurai. The word Samurai translates to "...... middle of paper ......d and bad for Japan. He made sure that he was not influenced by outside influences. But at the same time, it caused internal struggles in Japan that had to be resolved. Both the Samurai and Hideyoshi helped keep Japan united in its difficult times. Today you can still see the influences left in Japan by the samurai. Although as a group they were mostly disbanded after the World Wars, you can still see remnants of them in the arts and martial arts in Japan. Hideyoshi's legacy is more visible today. Its impact on Japan made it a more united country, with laws and regulations that make it such a strong power today. Not all of Hideyoshi's victories were battles fought, but rather accomplishments by starting from nothing and working up. It gives Japanese people a sense of pride and hope. This makes Japan what it is today. Strong in body and strong in mind.