Young Japanese boy kitted out in samurai gear. Samurai is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. The samurai followed a set of written rules called the Bushido. Samurai teachings can still be found today in modern day society especially in the world of Japanese martial arts. Various samurai re-enactments are held throughout Japan, with lots of attention to detail in costumes and demeanor - not all that much changed since the 12th century.