If you know anything of Japan, then you most certainly know of the Samurai! The feared warriors of this island nation, they ruled and conquered to carve the groundwork of Japan as we now know it. Opposition was not nonexistent, as the history of the Ninjas well testifies, yet the Samurai usually faced and subdued all obstacles in their path. Toyotomi Hideyoshi was a famous example of the Samurai--indeed, he was a Samurai who succeeded in unifying Japan! Famous Samurai abound. Throughout the history of Japan there were great swordsmen, great leaders, and wise men to progress the culture towards modern times. The Samurai are probably one of the greatest cultural traditions of any nation! This set positions a color theme of red against blue. With the Shogun dressed to the 'T' in his armor and equipage, he looks the very picture of a champion Samurai. His wife at his side presents a splendid taste of Japanese women's dress from that era. The minor warlords, the bishops, are dressed quite well in their armor, and display various other features of Samurai weapons and accouterments. The leaping horse and his rider also demonstrate a little thought of aspect of warfare of the island--horsemen. A critical part of any army, a Samurai's horse was well-bred and wiry. The castle of the Shogun or ruler also depicts the famous pagoda style architecture of Feudal Japan; turned up roof corners, and many tiers to the building will indicate immediately where the building comes from. And, finally, the rank of pawns, in this case being the martial figures of Samurai soldiers. For the red side, the soldier is relaxing on one knee, holding the short sword close at hand. The blue 'pawns' are upright, calmly awaiting the onset of the conflict--but behind those calm features are keep eyes, a great mind, and a formidable warrior! Test your skills, with a Samurai themed battle, and see if you have the wits to defeat the most famous warriors of Japan! These finely made chess sets are made of poly-resin. Each piece is hand-painted using long lasting, lead-free paint. These pieces are not recommended for children below 10 years of age since they will break if dropped or played with roughly. Specifications: King height: 3 1/4"; King base: 1"; King weight: .8 oz.; Set weight: 24.2 oz.; Pieces only. Chessboard not included.; How to choose a chessboard: We recommend a square size of 1 1/4" or 1 1/2".