[[quoteright:300:[[http://hdhcg.cgsociety.org/gallery/841071/ https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Samurai_by_artifart_2800.jpg]]]]

Tropes regarding/relating to the Samurai. Bushido was the closest analogue to European chivalry, the code of the European Knights, but the Japanese code emphasized [[MyMasterRightOrWrong loyalty to one's lord, even to the point of doing evil]], while the European one emphasized [[ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight loyalty to one's conscience, even to the point of treachery]].

Compare NinjaTropes, for tropes related to another class of Japanese warriors and SirIndexOfTropes, for tropes that apply to the knights, the European counterparts of the samurai.
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!!Tropes:
[[index]]
[floatboxright:
'''Main topic:'''
* {{Samurai}}
]
* BlindObedience: Authoritative figures are followed without complaint or question, because the idea ''alone'' of complaining about or questioning them is just blasphemy.
* CorporateSamurai: A samurai who works for a specific organization.
* DramaticRedSamuraiBackground: A dramatic killing stroke against a red background, as in a samurai duel.
* EveryJapaneseSwordIsAKatana: All Japanese swords are katanas, even if they're not, because katanas are cooler.
* EverythingsBetterWithSamurai: Even if it just doesn't make sense, there's a samurai in a work, because they're cool.
* HonorBeforeReason: Doing what's "right", even if it's otherwise foolish and has dire consequences.
* IaijutsuPractitioner: The (very cool) act of unsheathing your sword and attacking someone with it in the same movement.
* JapaneseSpirit: The belief that everyone (or rather, everyone "good") is or can become better by a certain virtue, whether it's a born-with trait, a faith that cannot be shaken, or undying willpower.
* KatanasAreJustBetter: A character wields a katana due to the underlying implication that katanas are simply cooler than any and all weapons.
* KendoTeamCaptain: If a Japanese school has a Kendo team, then it must have a club president. And if the club president is shown, they will be important, and probably very, very skilled.
* KidSamurai: Yeah, he's young and he hasn't really seen battle yet, but man if he doesn't have all the spirit of a real samurai.
* KnightInShiningArmor: Someone who fights the villains, protects the innocent, behaves honorably and fairly, and wields a sword or similar weapon, maybe on top of riding a horse and donning armor. Can be a literal knight or just similar enough to one.
* LadyOfWar: A woman who does not have to sacrifice her femininity or elegance to be a capable warrior.
* MartyrdomCulture: Bushido holds in high regard those who die a brave death, and encourages warriors to not fear death (though they're not encouraged to actively seek death if there are other options).
* NaginatasAreFeminine: In Japanese works, naginatas are always or almost always wielded by women (usually ''onna-musha'' or female samurai). A possible addition to this is that katanas will be wielded by only male characters.
* {{Ronin}}: A samurai that does not have a master.
* SamuraiCowboy: TheWildWest [[JustForFun/XMeetsY meets]] FeudalJapan and produces a capable fighter who wields both pistols and katanas.
* SamuraiInNinjaTown: If samurai are present in the story, expect {{ninja}}s to show up too.
* SamuraiPonytail: The standard samurai style is having long hair pulled up into a high ponytail. This either means they're noble, a samurai, or a [[BreadEggsBreadedEggs noble samurai.]]
* SamuraiShinobi: Mixing Samurai with {{Ninja}} for one single badass.
* {{Seppuku}}: The ancient Japanese rite of committing suicide via stabbing one's stomach, as a means of atonement.
* StreetSamurai: A samurai with a more modern spin, but generally down-on-their-luck, scrappy, yet tech-savvy.
* ThisIsUnforgivable: A character does something that is said in-universe to be unforgivable, and is treated as SeriousBusiness, whatever it is.
* WarriorPoet: A character who is proof that you can be both a capable warrior and a cultured artisan at the same time.
* WesternSamurai: Samurai that are only partially Japanese, or not at all.
* WoodenKatanasAreEvenBetter: Being able to use a steel katanas means you have to be skilled. Being able to use a ''wooden'' katana, and having it ''work''? That means you have to be '''skilled.'''
[[/index]]
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