In this lecture, Dr. Rosina Buckland, Asahi Shimbun Curator in the Department of Asia at the British Museum, discusses the major exhibition Samurai currently on view at the museum until May 4. The exhibition examines the history and myths of the samurai, from their warrior origins in the 11th century to their pervasive presence in popular culture today. As Lead Curator, Dr. Buckland has also co-authored the accompanying book for the show. In her presentation, she will describe the thinking behind the exhibition and a sampling of the exhibits, as well as explain the broader scope of an associated research project. Dr. Buckland notes that within Japan’s history, the figure of the samurai is unique in its global intelligibility, reading as both symbol of Japan and a universal icon of the virtuous and fearless warrior, ripe for appropriation. Although the term is now commonly used in English and other languages, among the general public there is little understanding of the changing historical reality of the people called samurai, or of the wide variety of ways in which the stereotype has been used over time, both in Japan and elsewhere.