I was editor of the Feudal Japan SIG of Mensa for 12 years, from 1987 through about 1999, when I decided to move it onto the web. Here is a list of the newsletters I put out in that time. I do have some back copies of some of these, and I have the electronic copy on my hard drive of all of them. I'll be putting the articles on line as I get time.

I,1: INTRO: Periods - history, chronology, bushido, ninja, shogun, samurai, women

II,1: Samurai Weapons: Bushido, hara-kiri, weapons, shogun (the game)
II,2: Art & Architecture: Bushido, bonsai, Dave's helmet, castles, Kodansha books.
II,3: Ninja: History of ninja, ninja, areas of study, tools of the trade, ninja tales, weapons
II,4: Religion: Jesus in Japan, Shintoism, Zen Buddhism, Rejection of Christianity, 7 Lucky Gods, books
II,5: Ceremonies: Funeral, tea ceremony, marriage, walking on fire, hara-kiri
II,6: Castes: Ron Charles review, caste, yakuza, origins of caste

III,1: Legends and Lore: Tojimbo cliffs, endless story, Kitsune myth, Fable of 3 cats, Urashima the Fisherman
III,2: Horticulture: Horticulture, plants, Basho
III,3: Recreation: Games, Garden of sounds and music, court music, theater
III,4: Samurai Armour: Ninja, cutting curves in swords, '3 leaders', kabuki, armour
III,5: Literature: Tea ceremony, Book of 5 Rings, Tale of Genji
III,6: Armour 2: Armour, books and publishers, order of arming

IV,1: Poems: Poems, koans, list of bookstores; NOTE: Regular sections on food and origami begin here
IV,2: Family Life: Konokunya locations, origami member form, family life, Akihito; NOTE: Roads of Honor series begins here
IV,3: Bushido: Japanese publications, ninja codes, Shogun, types of Hachi, Spirit of the Samurai, glossary. NOTE: Film listing A-I begins here
IV,4: Eta: Eta history, the Eta, Bonsai meetings, poetry and ceremonies, 'Dreams' review, books on Go
IV,5: Languages: Two language articles, 'The Ink Dark Moon' review
IV,6: Zen Buddhism: Zen Buddhism, Facing the Ninja, festivals, issue list, book review, Joha

V,1: 16th Century: The Three Leaders, culture, social arts, book review: 16th Century Arts
V,2: Castles: Castles, names of China, architecture in Japan, book review: tea ceremony
V,3: Bushi Weaponry: Bushi weaponry, book listing: martial arts, pictures from Bonsai festival
V,4: Clothing: Kimono, Kimono-a primer, Museums: George Walter Vincent Smith museum
V,5: Romance: Haiku in romance, famous love haiku, romance through history, issue list, Kagemusha review
V,6: Gempei War: Battle of Kamakura, membership listing

VI,1: Winter: A Warrior in Changing Times (Tokugawa), arts and crafts, book review: Japanese Home-Style recipes
VI,2: Priests: Priests, The Year of the ..., book review: Japanese Fairy Tales, Japanese Tales
VI,3: Ashikaga: Ashikaga, book review: Japanese Homes and Their Surroundings
VI,4: Geisha: (and other standard features)
VI,5: Social Events: (and other standard features)
VI,6: Bow Weapons: (and other standard features)

VII,1: Heian Era: (and other standard features)
VII,2: Ink Paintings: movie short listing, issue listing
VII,3: Costume: Costume, member listing, sake
VII,4: St. Louis Japanese Festival: Various festival notes, origami books
VII,5: Ninja: Ninja, techniques, studies, weapons/tools, story, feudal justice
VII,6: Movie Listing: List of over 170 Japanese movies, topics, actors, etc.

VIII,1: Merchants: Merchants, dolls, crime, mail-order food listing
VIII,2: Shingen: Takeda Shingen, '95 festival, Koh-do, crime, netsuke
VIII,3: Samurai tactics: Samurai tactics, issue list, restaurant review, MFA exhibit
VIII,4: Origami Special: All sorts of origami tips and models
VIII,5: Movie Listing: Master movie list

IX, 1: A New Start: foods, bonsai in Boston
...
IX, 5: Edo/Tokyo: Edo, Kabuki, 47 Ronin, much more!

Lisa's Japanese homepage

Lisa's Japanese homepage