Samurai Trivia

Samurai trivia explores the history, code, and cultural legacy of Japan’s warrior class, whose influence shaped politics, warfare, and storytelling for centuries. Expect a mix of easy, family-friendly, funny, and hard questions that separate Hollywood legend from historical fact.

Easy Samurai Trivia

13 questions

These easy Samurai trivia questions are great for beginners and kids around age 12 and under.

Question 1
What is the curved sword most closely associated with samurai?
Answer: katana
The katana is the curved sword most closely associated with samurai.
Question 2
Who wrote the martial text 'The Book of Five Rings'?
Answer: Miyamoto Musashi
Miyamoto Musashi is the writer associated with 'The Book of Five Rings.'.
Question 3
Which leader founded the Tokugawa shogunate in 1603?
Answer: Tokugawa Ieyasu
Tokugawa Ieyasu founded the Tokugawa shogunate in 1603.
Question 4
Oda Nobunaga is counted among Japan's three major what?
Answer: unifiers
Oda Nobunaga is counted among Japan's three major unifiers.
Question 5
After Oda Nobunaga's death, who completed much of Japan's unification?
Answer: Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Toyotomi Hideyoshi completed much of Japan's unification after Nobunaga's death.
Question 6
What is the ethical code popularly linked with samurai conduct?
Answer: Bushido
Bushido is the ethical code popularly linked with samurai conduct.
Question 7
What is a traditional samurai helmet called?
Answer: kabuto
A kabuto is a traditional samurai helmet.
Question 8
Which term refers to a ritual form of samurai suicide?
Answer: seppuku
Seppuku was a ritual form of samurai suicide.
Question 9
A samurai retainer would typically serve what kind of feudal lord?
Answer: daimyo
A daimyo was a feudal lord served by samurai retainers.
Question 10
What city was the seat of Japan's first shogunate?
Answer: Kamakura
Kamakura was the seat of Japan's first shogunate.
Question 11
Who is the famous female warrior from Japanese history and legend?
Answer: Tomoe Gozen
Tomoe Gozen is a famous female warrior from Japanese history and legend.
Question 12
Who directed the film 'Seven Samurai'?
Answer: Akira Kurosawa
'Seven Samurai' was directed by Akira Kurosawa.
Question 13
Which studio developed the 2020 game 'Ghost of Tsushima'?
Answer: Sucker Punch Productions
The 2020 game 'Ghost of Tsushima' was developed by Sucker Punch Productions.

Samurai Family Trivia

12 questions

These family Samurai trivia questions are built for mixed-age game nights, classrooms, and groups.

Question 1
What is the name of Japan's best-preserved feudal castle in Hyōgo Prefecture?
1. A.Himeji Castle
2. B.Kumamoto Castle
3. C.Engaku-ji
4. D.Nikkō Tōshō-gū
Answer: Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle, located in Hyōgo Prefecture, is known is Japan's best-preserved feudal castle.
Question 2
Which historic castle is celebrated as one of Japan's most famous?
1. A.Kumamoto Castle
2. B.Himeji Castle
3. C.Sekigahara
4. D.Engaku-ji
Answer: Kumamoto Castle
Kumamoto Castle is widely recognized is one of Japan's most famous historic castles.
Question 3
Nikkō Tōshō-gū enshrines which famous leader?
Answer: Tokugawa Ieyasu
Nikkō Tōshō-gū is the shrine that enshrines Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Question 4
Which loyal general served Tokugawa Ieyasu?
Answer: Honda Tadakatsu
Honda Tadakatsu is remembered is a loyal general of Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Question 5
In premodern Japanese armies, what was the name for a foot soldier?
Answer: ashigaru
An ashigaru was a foot soldier in premodern Japanese armies.
Question 6
In what year did the Satsuma Rebellion take place?
1. A.1871
2. B.1877
3. C.1853
4. D.1868
Answer: 1877
The Satsuma Rebellion took place in 1877.
Question 7
Which visitor arrived in Japan in 1853 and helped trigger major political change?
Answer: Commodore Perry
Commodore Perry arrived in Japan in 1853, helping set major political changes in motion.
Question 8
What major change began in 1868 and ended samurai rule?
Answer: The Meiji Restoration
The Meiji Restoration began in 1868 and brought samurai rule to an end.
Question 9
Japan formally abolished the feudal domains in what year?
1. A.1877
2. B.1600
3. C.1871
4. D.1868
Answer: 1871
The feudal domains were formally abolished in 1871.
Question 10
The Satsuma Domain was based in what present-day prefecture?
Answer: Kagoshima Prefecture
The Satsuma Domain was based in what is now Kagoshima Prefecture.
Question 11
Which prefecture sits at the southern end of Kyushu?
Answer: Kagoshima Prefecture
Kagoshima Prefecture occupies the southern end of Kyushu.
Question 12
Sekigahara, site of a pivotal 1600 battle, is in which prefecture?
Answer: Gifu Prefecture
Sekigahara is located in Gifu Prefecture.

Fun Samurai Trivia

13 questions

These fun Samurai trivia questions highlight surprising moments and playful facts for game-night groups.

Question 1
If you sit down for the original version of 'Seven Samurai,' about how many minutes of sword-swinging cinema are you signing up for?
1. A.207 minutes
2. B.154 minutes
3. C.180 minutes
4. D.240 minutes
Answer: 207 minutes
The original version of 'Seven Samurai' runs about 207 minutes.
Question 2
Which Akira Kurosawa samurai film shares its name with a famously cool and crafty hero?
Answer: Sanjuro
Akira Kurosawa also directed the samurai film 'Sanjuro.'.
Question 3
Who directed the 1962 samurai film 'Harakiri'?
Answer: Masaki Kobayashi
Masaki Kobayashi directed 'Harakiri.'.
Question 4
Masaki Kobayashi returned to samurai drama with which 1967 film?
Answer: Samurai Rebellion
Masaki Kobayashi also directed the 1967 samurai film 'Samurai Rebellion.'.
Question 5
Who directed the 2003 film 'The Last Samurai'?
Answer: Edward Zwick
Edward Zwick directed 'The Last Samurai.'.
Question 6
What anime first aired in 2004 and mixes samurai style with a modern vibe?
Answer: Samurai Champloo
'Samurai Champloo' first aired in 2004.
Question 7
Who created 'Samurai Champloo'?
Answer: Shinichirō Watanabe
The creator of 'Samurai Champloo' is Shinichirō Watanabe.
Question 8
Which creator unleashed the time-traveling warrior of 'Samurai Jack' on animation fans?
Answer: Genndy Tartakovsky
'Samurai Jack' was created by Genndy Tartakovsky.
Question 9
Netflix released which animated samurai series in 2023?
Answer: Blue Eye Samurai
Netflix released 'Blue Eye Samurai' in 2023.
Question 10
Who wrote the manga 'Lone Wolf and Cub'?
Answer: Kazuo Koike
Kazuo Koike wrote 'Lone Wolf and Cub.'.
Question 11
The striking art in 'Lone Wolf and Cub' was drawn by whom?
Answer: Goseki Kojima
The art for 'Lone Wolf and Cub' was drawn by Goseki Kojima.
Question 12
Who directed the 2010 samurai film '13 Assassins'?
Answer: Takashi Miike
Takashi Miike directed the 2010 film '13 Assassins.'.
Question 13
In 'Seven Samurai,' who played the wild-card warrior Kikuchiyo?
Answer: Toshiro Mifune
Toshiro Mifune played Kikuchiyo in 'Seven Samurai.'.

Funny Samurai Trivia

13 questions

These funny Samurai trivia questions highlight playful moments, odd facts, and inside jokes.

Question 1
If a samurai’s boss situation was officially “it’s complicated,” what was a samurai without a lord called?
Answer: A samurai without a lord was called a rōnin.
A rōnin was a samurai who no longer had a lord.
Question 2
What Japanese term could a warrior use if they wanted to say “samurai,” but with a slightly different word choice?
Answer: Bushi is another Japanese term for a warrior or samurai.
The term bushi is another Japanese word for a warrior or samurai.
Question 3
On some samurai helmets, what was the long cord called—the original “please don’t lose your headgear” accessory?
Answer: The long cord on some samurai helmets was called a kabuto-no-o.
Kabuto-no-o is the name for the long cord found on some samurai helmets.
Question 4
What was the name of the samurai topknot hairstyle that says, “battle ready, but also hair appointment secured”?
Answer: The samurai topknot hairstyle was called a chonmage.
Samurai often wore a topknot hairstyle known is a chonmage.
Question 5
What is the name for the famous samurai two-sword combo—the historical version of a matching set?
Answer: The pair of long and short swords worn by samurai is called daishō.
Daishō refers to the paired long and short swords worn by samurai.
Question 6
In the daishō pair, which sword is the shorter one—the sidekick, not the main character?
Answer: The shorter sword in a daishō pair is typically a wakizashi.
Within the daishō, the shorter sword is the wakizashi.
Question 7
Which traditional Japanese dagger might a samurai carry when a full-length sword felt like overpacking?
Answer: A tantō is a traditional Japanese dagger sometimes carried by samurai.
The tantō is a traditional Japanese dagger associated with samurai.
Question 8
What was the banner on a samurai’s back called—the battlefield equivalent of saying, “Yes, I’m with this team”?
Answer: The banner worn on a samurai's back in battle was called a sashimono.
A sashimono was the back banner worn by samurai in battle.
Question 9
If even the horse showed up dressed for combat, what was samurai horse armor called?
Answer: Samurai horse armor was known as uma yoroi.
Uma yoroi is the term for horse armor used in samurai warfare.
Question 10
What was the samurai face mask called—the piece that says “intimidating” before the swords even come out?
Answer: A samurai face mask was called a menpō.
Menpō is the term for a samurai face mask.
Question 11
Which item was the giant war fan used by commanders for signaling, proving not every fan is for keeping cool?
Answer: The giant war fan used for signaling was called a gunbai.
A gunbai was a large war fan used by commanders to signal.
Question 12
What is the name of the asymmetrical longbow used in Japanese archery—the bow that clearly refused to be ordinary?
Answer: The asymmetrical longbow used in Japanese archery is called a yumi.
Yumi is the term for the asymmetrical longbow of Japanese archery.
Question 13
Mounted samurai put their feet in what kind of stirrup, known specifically as an abumi?
Answer: The stirrup used by mounted samurai was called an abumi.
Abumi is the term for the stirrup used by mounted samurai.

Hard Samurai Trivia

14 questions

These hard Samurai trivia questions are for expert fans who want a real challenge.

Question 1
What is the literal meaning of the title "Sei-i Taishōgun"?
Answer: Great General for Subduing the Barbarians.
The title "Sei-i Taishōgun" is given here is meaning "Great General for Subduing the Barbarians.".
Question 2
Which clan controlled Kamakura as regents instead of formally holding the shogun title?
1. A.The Ii clan
2. B.Hōjō clan
3. C.The Ashikaga clan
4. D.The Imagawa clan
Answer: The Hōjō clan.
The Hōjō clan ruled Kamakura is regents rather than as shoguns.
Question 3
Which war began in 1467 and helped usher in the Sengoku period?
1. A.Onin War
2. B.The Boshin War
3. C.The Genpei War
4. D.The Satsuma Rebellion
Answer: The Onin War.
The Onin War began in 1467 and is identified here is helping lead to the Sengoku period.
Question 4
Who founded the city of Sendai in 1600?
Answer: Date Masamune.
Date Masamune founded Sendai in 1600.
Question 5
The fall of the Toyotomi house came with the end of the Battle of Osaka in what year?
Answer: 1615.
The Battle of Osaka is listed is ending in 1615 with the fall of the Toyotomi house.
Question 6
Which two-sword style is traditionally associated with Miyamoto Musashi?
Answer: Nitten Ichi-ryū.
Miyamoto Musashi is traditionally credited here with the two-sword style called Nitten Ichi-ryū.
Question 7
What phrase appeared on Takeda Shingen's battle standard?
1. A.Bakufu
2. B.Fūrinkazan
3. C.Nitten Ichi
4. D.Sei-i Taishōgun
Answer: Fūrinkazan.
Takeda Shingen's battle standard bore the phrase "Fūrinkazan.".
Question 8
In what year did the forty-seven rōnin carry out their revenge?
Answer: 1703.
The revenge of the forty-seven rōnin is dated here to 1703.
Question 9
Whose death set the forty-seven rōnin incident in motion?
Answer: Asano Naganori.
Asano Naganori is identified is the lord whose death triggered the incident.
Question 10
What conflict stretched across 1868 to 1869?
Answer: The Boshin War.
The Boshin War is the conflict listed is lasting from 1868 to 1869.
Question 11
Who was a leading figure in the Satsuma Rebellion?
Answer: Saigō Takamori.
Saigō Takamori is specifically identified is a leading figure in the Satsuma Rebellion.
Question 12
Which 1876 edict restricted the public wearing of swords?
Answer: The Haitōrei edict.
The Haitōrei edict of 1876 restricted the public wearing of swords.
Question 13
In the 1870s, what were former samurai stipends converted into?
Answer: Government bonds.
Former samurai stipends were commuted into government bonds in the 1870s.
Question 14
Which legal code was promulgated in 701?
Answer: The Taihō Code.
The Taihō Code is listed is having been promulgated in 701.

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Easy Samurai Trivia

What is the curved sword most closely associated with samurai?

Who wrote the martial text 'The Book of Five Rings'?

Which leader founded the Tokugawa shogunate in 1603?

Oda Nobunaga is counted among Japan's three major what?

After Oda Nobunaga's death, who completed much of Japan's unification?

What is the ethical code popularly linked with samurai conduct?

What is a traditional samurai helmet called?

Which term refers to a ritual form of samurai suicide?

A samurai retainer would typically serve what kind of feudal lord?

What city was the seat of Japan's first shogunate?

Who is the famous female warrior from Japanese history and legend?

Who directed the film 'Seven Samurai'?

Which studio developed the 2020 game 'Ghost of Tsushima'?

Samurai Family Trivia

What is the name of Japan's best-preserved feudal castle in Hyōgo Prefecture?

Which historic castle is celebrated as one of Japan's most famous?

Nikkō Tōshō-gū enshrines which famous leader?

Which loyal general served Tokugawa Ieyasu?

In premodern Japanese armies, what was the name for a foot soldier?

In what year did the Satsuma Rebellion take place?

Which visitor arrived in Japan in 1853 and helped trigger major political change?

What major change began in 1868 and ended samurai rule?

Japan formally abolished the feudal domains in what year?

The Satsuma Domain was based in what present-day prefecture?

Which prefecture sits at the southern end of Kyushu?

Sekigahara, site of a pivotal 1600 battle, is in which prefecture?

Fun Samurai Trivia

If you sit down for the original version of 'Seven Samurai,' about how many minutes of sword-swinging cinema are you signing up for?

Which Akira Kurosawa samurai film shares its name with a famously cool and crafty hero?

Who directed the 1962 samurai film 'Harakiri'?

Masaki Kobayashi returned to samurai drama with which 1967 film?

Who directed the 2003 film 'The Last Samurai'?

What anime first aired in 2004 and mixes samurai style with a modern vibe?

Who created 'Samurai Champloo'?

Which creator unleashed the time-traveling warrior of 'Samurai Jack' on animation fans?

Netflix released which animated samurai series in 2023?

Who wrote the manga 'Lone Wolf and Cub'?

The striking art in 'Lone Wolf and Cub' was drawn by whom?

Who directed the 2010 samurai film '13 Assassins'?

In 'Seven Samurai,' who played the wild-card warrior Kikuchiyo?

Funny Samurai Trivia

If a samurai’s boss situation was officially “it’s complicated,” what was a samurai without a lord called?

What Japanese term could a warrior use if they wanted to say “samurai,” but with a slightly different word choice?

On some samurai helmets, what was the long cord called—the original “please don’t lose your headgear” accessory?

What was the name of the samurai topknot hairstyle that says, “battle ready, but also hair appointment secured”?

What is the name for the famous samurai two-sword combo—the historical version of a matching set?

In the daishō pair, which sword is the shorter one—the sidekick, not the main character?

Which traditional Japanese dagger might a samurai carry when a full-length sword felt like overpacking?

What was the banner on a samurai’s back called—the battlefield equivalent of saying, “Yes, I’m with this team”?

If even the horse showed up dressed for combat, what was samurai horse armor called?

What was the samurai face mask called—the piece that says “intimidating” before the swords even come out?

Which item was the giant war fan used by commanders for signaling, proving not every fan is for keeping cool?

What is the name of the asymmetrical longbow used in Japanese archery—the bow that clearly refused to be ordinary?

Mounted samurai put their feet in what kind of stirrup, known specifically as an abumi?

Hard Samurai Trivia

What is the literal meaning of the title "Sei-i Taishōgun"?

Which clan controlled Kamakura as regents instead of formally holding the shogun title?

Which war began in 1467 and helped usher in the Sengoku period?

Who founded the city of Sendai in 1600?

The fall of the Toyotomi house came with the end of the Battle of Osaka in what year?

Which two-sword style is traditionally associated with Miyamoto Musashi?

What phrase appeared on Takeda Shingen's battle standard?

In what year did the forty-seven rōnin carry out their revenge?

Whose death set the forty-seven rōnin incident in motion?

What conflict stretched across 1868 to 1869?

Who was a leading figure in the Satsuma Rebellion?

Which 1876 edict restricted the public wearing of swords?

In the 1870s, what were former samurai stipends converted into?

Which legal code was promulgated in 701?

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