Bushido
The way of the warrior

Bushido is an FRPG by Paul Hume and Bob Charrette with a brilliantly realised feudal Japanese setting and excellent game mechanics.

This is the FRPG that I used to referee most when I was at Durham. I also wrote a prize-winning scenario ―

Busido maps the standard fighter, thief, cleric, and magic user character classes from D&D to Japanese archetypes: Bushi, Yakuza, Gakusho (either Buddhist or Shintoist), and Shugenja.

It also includes the prototypically Japanese professions of Budoka (a specialist in unarmed combat, the template for the D&D monk) and Ninja.

The skills system is rich and includes basic abilities and capabilities (e.g., swimming) as well as Bugei (martial skills), fine arts, practical arts, Ninja skills, and magical and mystical skills. And true to the Japanese spirit of the game, characters can advance not only in Level and Status but also in On (honour) and Ki (spirit).