Noh and Kyogen originated from Sangaku, a popular form of entertainment introduced from the Asian continent during the Nara period.
Sangaku evolved into Sarugaku Noh, incorporating theatrical elements. Noh reached its peak in the Muromachi period, when under the patronage of Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the father-son duo Kan’ami and Zeami transformed it into a refined art of song and dance. Kyogen developed as comic interludes performed between Noh acts, creating a unique balance between solemnity and humor on the same stage.
These arts flourished under the protection of the successive ruling Shoguns, Japan’s most powerful rulers.
Noh became a vital ritual element for maintaining the Shogunate's authority and was routinely performed at official ceremonies and banquets.
Shoguns themselves were often fervent practitioners, learning and even performing these plays.
They became essential components of formal rituals, and Noh stages were constructed within residences and temple grounds.
One such celebratory piece traditionally viewed by Shoguns is the play "Sanbaso."

Kenjutsu is one of Japan’s traditional martial arts.
While it may have involved interpersonal combat at first, it evolved during the Edo period into a profound system of discipline. With over 700 schools (ryuha), it eventually spread beyond the samurai class to townspeople and farmers.
Successive Shoguns trained under officially recognized masters of the Yagyu Shinkage-ryu school.
The Shogun’s Connection: Successive Shoguns studied under official masters of the Yagyu Shinkage-ryu. This school, established by Yagyu Munenori, became known as "The Shogun’s Sword" and a symbol of peace. Its philosophy of Katsunin-ken ("The healing sword ") focuses on neutralizing the opponents without killing them — exemplified by the technique of Mutodori (disarming an opponent with one’s bare hands).

Like Kenjutsu, Jujutsu is a traditional Japanese martial art that developed as a means of physical training for the samurai.
Within samurai society, it was regarded as both physical and mental cultivation, a method of self-formation and discipline.

Training dojos were established in samurai residences, and Jujutsu was a compulsory subject in domain schools (hanko).

Tezuma (also known as Wazuma) was established as a performing art during the Edo period, but its origins trace back to the Sangaku performances introduced from the continent during the Nara period, which are also considered to be the origins of Noh and Kyogen.
During the Edo period, performances flourished primarily in the three major cities of Edo, Osaka, and Kyoto, and the term “Tezuma” also took root at around this time.
Professional magicians (called Houkashi) emerged around that period too, and even Shoguns were said to enjoy Tezuma.
In one notable instance, the magician Miyako Ukon was invited to Edo Castle to perform before the 4th Shogun, Tokugawa Ietsuna.
Many Edo-period magicians rose from low social status (hinin caste). One such figure, Yanagawa Itchosai, was originally of low rank but ended up receiving a noble title in 1847 and even performed for foreign dignitaries at the shogunate’s request. He is credited with creating the famous piece of “The Butterfly Dance.”
Shoguns highly valued Tezuma and used it as part of diplomatic entertainment.

Calligraphy is much more than the mere act of writing. It is about beautifying life and enriching the spirit through the aesthetic expression of the written character.
Since ancient times, calligraphy has long been regarded as a method for self-cultivation.
From childhood, Shoguns were instructed not only in Noh chanting and painting but also in calligraphy. Their surviving works, often featuring ancient poems or Confucian wisdom, allow us to glimpse the unique personality and resolve of each ruler.
As the saying goes, “The written character also reveals the person's character”, and individuality can be discerned from each piece of calligraphy.

The custom of drinking tea is believed to have emerged during the Nara and Heian periods.
By the late Kamakura period, a game called “Toucha” (tea-tasting competition) —where participants had to guess the origin of tea simply based on its preparation, aroma, and taste—became popular first at the imperial court, before spreading to samurai and commoners. However, due to its gambling nature, it was later prohibited by warrior law.
Murata Juko, the tea master of Ashikaga Yoshimasa, the eighth shogun of the Muromachi shogunate, prohibited gambling and drinking at tea gatherings, advocating instead for a practice emphasizing spiritual exchange between host and guest.
The foundation of modern tea ceremony was established by Sen no Rikyu during the Azuchi–Momoyama period. He emphasized simplicity and the spirit of wabi-sabi, rejecting extravagance. He introduced smaller tea rooms (2 to 3 tatami mats), crouching entrances (nijiriguchi), and refined low window designs (shitajimado).
wabi-sabi aesthetics—finding beauty in simplicity and eliminating excess—became fundamental principles of the tea ceremony.
With these principles at its base, the samurai tea ceremony of the Edo period further evolved.
The Shogunate developed its own formal style known as Ryuei Sado. Tea masters served as more than just instructors; they were close confidants of the Shogun, acting as gatekeepers and informants within the castle. Official tea instructors and tea administrators held influential positions within the castle, sometimes affecting political fortunes.

Zen represents a state where the mind has been freed from all the tumult and agitation.
Zen philosophy profoundly influenced Japanese culture (arts, cuisine, medicine) and became a key method of fostering mental and physical cultivation.
Zen was the spiritual backbone of the samurai, and successive shoguns have been known to receive guidance from the high priest of Zen temples time and again.
Tokugawa Ieyasu, drawing from the hardships he had endured during his eventful childhood, deeply valued the teachings of renowned monks, which he employed to solidify the foundation of shogunal government and to stabilize governance.
For the Tokugawa Shoguns, Zen and meditation were not merely matters of faith but practical disciplines to maintain mental composure under the immense pressure of war and constant political strife.

The shogun maintained a highly regimented daily routine.
They placed great emphasis on health management, adhering to three meals a day and receiving medical examinations after each meal.
The shogun's meals were of the highest quality, featuring the finest ingredients.
Seasonal ingredients specific to each time of year and region were meticulously selected and incorporated.
Preferences varied by Shogun, leading to subtle differences in court cuisine across eras.

Shoguns cherished famous hot springs, and Tokugawa Ieyasu in particular is said to have enjoyed indulging in therapeutic bathing to recover from the stresses of governance.
The residence of the Shogun incorporated steam baths resembling modern saunas. These precursors to the modern sauna lacked bathtubs and instead channeled steam from external boilers — the preferred method of deep relaxation and purification for the ruling class at the time.