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Can a Christian follow the way of the sword? In this concise and powerful exploration, Rev. Takemi Sasamori-a Japanese Methodist minister and master of traditional kenjutsu-bridges the worlds of Bushido, the samurai code, and the teachings of Jesus Christ. Drawing from over 70 years of martial arts training and 40 years of ministry, Rev. Sasamori reveals how the warrior virtues of honor, discipline, and self-sacrifice resonate deeply with Christian values. Through thoughtful reflections on the samurai way and biblical teachings, he addresses the spiritual questions many Christian martial artists face today: Are martial arts compatible with Christianity? What can the samurai teach us about following Christ? How can faith and martial discipline coexist? Part spiritual reflection, part cultural history, this unique book invites believers to discover a Christ-centered path within the warrior's journey. It's ideal for Christian martial artists, students of Japanese culture, or anyone seeking deeper spiritual meaning through the martial path. The Rev. Sasamori served for over forty years as a pastor and spent over seventy years training in traditional Japanese martial arts. He was regularly featured in Japanese media and was a sought-after speaker on the connection between Bushido and Christianity worldwide.

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Born in Hirosaki City, Japan, as the third and youngest son of martial arts legend Sasamori Junzō, the Reverend Sasamori Takemi (1933-2017) was raised in a household where the ethics of the samurai, martial arts, and Christianity were part of daily life. After graduating from Waseda and Aoyama Gakuin Universities with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Sociology and Theology, he continued his studies in the United States where he attended the Duke University School of Divinity and the Hartford Seminary Foundation, earning Masters of Arts Degrees in Christian and Religious Education. He also served as both Assistant and Associate Minister at the United Church of Christ in New York City for nine years. Upon returning to Japan in 1969, he became the founding minister of the Komaba Eden Church, Setagaya Ward, Tokyo, where, assisted by his wife Ariko, he ministered to over one hundred fifty parishioners. In 1975, he was officially recognized as the 17th Sōke of Ono-ha Ittō-ryū, as well as the Sōke of the Shin Musō Hayashizaki-ryū school of iaido and the Chokugen-ryū school of naginata. He had over five hundred martial arts students world-wide and instructed annually in Japan, Asia, Europe and the United States. Regularly featured in the Japanese media, he published or was featured in nine publications and four videos on both Christianity and the martial arts. He served on the Board of Trustees of the Japanese Traditional Martial Arts Association for over 35 years and was awarded a Doctor of Divinity from the California Graduate School of Theology in 1989. Mark Hague's martial arts career has spanned over 42 years, 19 of which in Japan, and he holds dan rankings in several styles of karate and aiki-jujitsu. He started training in Ono-ha Ittō-ryū in the Reigakudō under Sasamori Takemi in 2002 and was awarded the Kana license in 2009. He continues to practice Ono-ha Ittō-ryū under the current sōke, Yabuki Yūji. His translations include the Amazon bestselling series, ""Secrets of Ittō-ryū"" by Sasamori Junzō and ""Ono-ha Ittō-ryū Patriarch's Collection: Sword and Document Compendium,"" by Yabuki Yūji.

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