Cowboys and Samurai: Myths and Realities

Myths exist in every society. They can be used for positive purposes, such as solidifying national identity, ensuring political stability and promoting national pride. On the other hand, they can be used for nefarious purposes, such as justifying expansionism at the expense of other nations. When we examine the myths surrounding the cowboys and the samurai, we learn how the myths originated and how they evolved over the years. Comparing the myths with realities, we learn about the conditions and the circumstances involved and we gain an understanding of what the real cowboy and samurai were really like. When you hear the names John Wayne and Roy Rogers, what image of the cowboy do you have? What image of the samurai do you take away when you read the book Shogun or see the movie or the TV series of the same title? These questions are poised and discussed in this book. The book ends with a discussion of the roles played by the cowboy and samurai myths in contemporary America and Japan.