Samurai

Did you know that the samurai believed gender and sexuality were fluid, and that they practically invented the concept of being non-binary? Because I certainly didn’t. This progressive view was one of many riveting – and surprising – things I learned at the blockbuster Samurai exhibition at the British Museum. 

You don’t have to be a history buff to find Samurai intriguing – I’m not a medieval period obsessive, but like a lot of Zillenials I am a big fan of all things Japanese. This exhibition of treasures from Nihon, therefore, understandably appealed to me, and I suspect this will be the case for anyone who has spent hours trawling the internet for the perfect santoku knife or vintage Comme des Garçons jacket.

There’s a lot crammed into the exhibition, which outlines the past 1,000 years through 280 objects and pieces of digital media, following the rise of the samurai from fierce mercenaries in the 1100s, through to their reign as an aristocratic social class from the 1600s to the 1800s. Examining the enduring legacy of the Japanese warriors in the present day, Samurai illustrates how the image of the noble fighter has been mythologised, altered and co-opted over the years, sometimes for nefarious means (as seen in a chilling Nazi pamphlet promoting the relations between Japan and Germany). 

an incredible selection of ornate helmets resemble sculptures more than headgear

Many of the artefacts on display are stunning – from intricately decorated partition screens, to fans, kimonos, swords, vases and unbelievably elaborate suits of armour that make you marvel at just how fit they would have to have been to fight under all that metal. Highlights include an incredible selection of ornate helmets that resemble sculptures more than headgear; each one is decorated differently, from a fist to a dragon, to one cartoonishly imitating the tip of an aubergine. 

There are other gems to be found in the dense display, including erotic books and prints illustrating the exploits of the wakashū (those were the androgynous young men) and the widely accepted homosexual relationships that took place between the samurai. There are also fantastic 19th century woodblock prints that appear like proto-comic books. These tell some of the earliest samurai myths, including stories about a fighter trained by goblins and one celebrated female soldier known for ripping the heads off her rivals.    

Samurai is well curated and lays out its narrative chronologically in a simple yet effective manner. The British Museum has done a good job of creating an atmospheric and immersive space – from floor-to-ceiling videos of silhouetted soldiers in battle, to a massive recreation of a shoji room divider. There’s also plenty to entertain kids, who can marvel at the detailed suits of armour, gory illustrations, and will surely be into the large display of samurai video games at the end.   

The final section on pop-culture could be bigger, and it would have been fun to actually be able to play the video games. But there is a decent pick of manga, film clips and modern artworks on show. The centrepiece for the pop-culture heads is a towering Darth Vader suit borrowed from the Lucas Museum of Narrative in LA. Crafted from leather and fibreglass, its helmet evokes a samurai leader.

Having an overzealous interest in the Land of the Rising Sun has become a bit of a meme in 2026 and the British Museum has decided to cash in on this. While Samurai will undeniably appeal to the weebs of the world, there are enough brilliant facts, bloody details and fascinating items on display for any non-Japanophile to get a satisfying payout from the £25 ticket.