It was 1905. In Japan, the Tokugawa Shogunate had fought its last battle less than 20 years prior and Emperor Meiji’s restoration was well underway.  The Sakai family was one of several valuable samurai family retainers for the Tokugawa Shogunate. The proud noble family was ruler of the Himeji castle until 1868 when full power was returned to the Emperor. With the modernization of Japan, the Sakai family like all samurai had to seek other occupations. Since this was an era of peace, the samurai warrior’s skills were no longer needed. A family history rich in honor and military prowess had to change almost overnight to survive.  The samurai had to find other occupations. They became bureaucrats, writers, merchants, or farmers.

Not too far away, the Sakai’s of Miyazu were retainers of a local daimyo clan, the Honjo.  The Honjo governed from the Miyazu castle from 1758 to 1868.  Two young brothers from the Sakai family watched the samurai way of life end. They set out like many before them to a new world. They set out to America.  Komasu Sakai and his younger brother Tamemasu Kamiya traveled half way across the world to Florida, to start a new beginning.  They poetically named their grand experiment “Yamato” or “the beginning”.  This web page is in part dedicated to that story about their experiences and struggle for survival according to family legend as ...Florida samurai.

Go For Broke Education Center:

Henry T. Kamiya

Were There Samurai in Florida?

Welcome to

Florida Samurai

The Morikami Museum:

Japanese American National Museum: