A spectacular epic of swords and shoulder pads

Samurai is one of those words that vibrates with mystique, excitement and the suggestion of oceans of blood.

- Martin Robinson

But it's a long peacetime period that is at the heart of this exhibition. From the 1330s to around 1868 a samurai class headed up by a shogun ruled Japan. During this relatively stable era they turned their attention from slaughter to art, intellectual life and displays of wealth which centred around legends of the original samurai. This set the tone for a poring over of samurai culture that still exists today.

In fact, it's bigger than ever, particularly among the young. Anime and manga are global phenomena, with last year's Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle one of the highest grossing films at the worldwide box office. Demon Slayer is supernatural but firmly rooted in samurai style and values and katana-wielding action. Meanwhile, Shogun on Disney+ was an award-winning epic set in 17th-century Japan.

From thunderbolts to peace

This exhibition delivers on its blockbuster promise, revealing exactly why the appeal remains. It is divided into three sections, beginning with the rise of the samurai basically clans of mercenaries - to power from the mid-900s. Then the centuries of peace under the shoguns, and finally how their legend became absorbed in popular culture.