Bushido Code Blanket: Samurai Virtues Throw

Bushido Code Blanket shows a samurai in armor beside a list of the seven virtues of the warrior code, all printed on aged parchment. Each line carries a Japanese character and an English label, and the lower lines turn toward health and focus, so the chart reads like a page from an old scroll. It was made for people who want the discipline of the samurai close at hand.

Note: the pillow shown in the photo are for styling only and not included.

Behind the design

The top of the print shows a large red sun with a fierce oni-style mask at its center, framed by the seven characters of the code. Honor, respect, honesty and sincerity, compassion, heroic courage, duty and loyalty, and integrity each sit beside a short English label, so you can read the virtues at a glance. The lettering is bold and brushlike, and the parchment texture gives the whole panel the feel of an old manuscript. Lower down, a samurai in layered armor faces the viewer against a second red sun, with a sword drawn at his side. Together the two suns and the armored figure tie the chart to the warrior tradition it describes. The bottom lines, reading Spirit Body Mind, bring the design back to the balance the code asks for.

Who gets the joke

People who train in martial arts will recognize the states of mind at once, especially zanshin and mushin, and they tend to notice the virtues first. Students of Japanese history see the red sun and armor and know which period the print draws from. You will also find this blanket appeals to someone who likes thinking about discipline in everyday life, not only in the dojo. A reader who wants a practical reminder of focus and calm will find the health list as useful as the warrior imagery.

Gift and choice

This blanket suits a martial arts student receiving a belt promotion, a history lover on a birthday, or a friend starting a new training routine. It also makes a thoughtful housewarming present for someone who keeps a Japanese-inspired home. Choose the fleece, sherpa or blanket style that fits how you plan to use it, then settle in on the sofa with it while you read about the virtues it lists.