Samurai & Shoguns: Feudal Japan
Like Duolingo, but for Samurai & Shoguns: Feudal Japan. Tomo turns the whole topic into a game you play five minutes a day, until it actually sticks.
For the part of you with thirty open tabs that never became anything.
Free during early access · No credit card · iPhone & Android
Key ideas in Samurai & Shoguns: Feudal Japan
- The central government's influence faded
- Provincial lords armed private guards
- Samurai social hierarchy
- Low status of traders
- Samurai eventually formed their own military government (Bakufu)
- The Shogun became the de facto political leader over the Emperor
- Why landowners shifted from imperial protection to private warriors
- The Emperor's power was symbolic during the Shogunate
- Daimyo were the regional lords who employed samurai
- The social hierarchy of Feudal Japan
- The Shogunate or Bakufu was the samurai-led government
- This system replaced the direct rule of the imperial court
- The transition of samurai from guards to political rulers
- The specific roles and relationships within the feudal system
- Distinguishing the roles and powers of the Emperor versus the Shogun
- Understanding the source of the Shogun's legitimacy through the Emperor
You've tried the other tabs
Thirty open tabs. Four facts you actually kept.
You watched. You nodded. By Sunday it was gone.
One answer, then back to scrolling.
Eight weeks. You meant to finish. You didn't.
Tomo gives Samurai & Shoguns: Feudal Japan the Duolingo treatment: levels, streaks, and quick quizzes that test what you just learned. That game loop is what the tabs above never had, so it's the one you actually finish.
Here's what playing it feels like
A real question from this course. Take your best guess.
Imagine you are a wealthy landowner in a lawless land. With no imperial army to call upon, why would you pay for private guards?
Get it right to open this lesson and 53 more in the app.
Where Samurai & Shoguns: Feudal Japan takes you
Step back in time to an era of brave warriors, powerful lords, and hidden spies. Learn how the samurai lived, fought, and shaped the history of Japan for centuries.
- 1
The Rise of the Warrior
- Who Were the Samurai?
- The First Shogun Takes Control
- Life in a Japanese Castle
- The Rules of Honor
- 2
Armor, Swords, and Skills
- How a Katana is Made
- Putting on the Heavy Armor
- Fighting on Horseback
- The Art of Bows and Arrows
- Training from a Young Age
- The Mystery of the Ninja
- 3
Daily Life and Culture
- Tea Ceremonies and Calm Minds
- Poetry and Writing for Warriors
- What People Ate and Wore
- 4
The End of an Era
- The Great Peace of Edo
- When Foreign Ships Arrived
- The Last Samurai Rebellion
- How the Samurai Live On Today
- Japan Becomes a Modern Nation
4 sections · 18 units · 54 levels. Built to play, not to enroll.
You pick the voice
Samurai & Shoguns: Feudal Japan is taught in the The Storyteller style: every lesson is a story. Want a different feel? In the app you can spin up the same topic in any of Tomo's teaching styles. Same facts, totally different vibe.
More History on Tomo
Marriage: The Power Behind the Vows
Go beyond the white dress to discover how marriage was used as a tool for survival, wealth, and social control. Explore how an ancient contract for land and labor transformed into a modern quest for love.
Voyages of the Great Ocean
Master the history of the world's largest ocean. From ancient wayfinders and the Tongan Empire to the complex legacy of global colonization and modern cultural resilience.
The Shipwreck of Paul: Malta’s Apostolic Legacy
Trace the transformative 100 days of the Apostle Paul on Malta through the lens of 'Providential Hospitality.' Analyze the intersection of Lucan narrative, Roman maritime law, and the archaeological evidence of the Melite shipwreck.
Mastering the Steel Giants
Step into the commander's seat and learn how to operate, identify, and outsmart the most famous tanks of World War II. From basic maneuvers to the high-stakes chess of armored warfare, you'll discover why these machines changed history.
Unlock the Heart of Korea
Go beyond the screen and understand the real Korea. Learn to read the clever alphabet, navigate a Seoul street, and discover the ancient stories that shaped modern K-culture.
Five Friends Across the Ocean
Discover how five different countries—Canada, Australia, the UK, the US, and New Zealand—share a common history and a special bond. Explore the traditions, symbols, and stories that make these 'cousin' nations unique yet connected.
Start Samurai & Shoguns: Feudal Japan today.
Download Tomo, search Samurai & Shoguns: Feudal Japan, and play your first lesson in under a minute.