Textbooks and Other References on Japansese History & Culture, the Samurai Caste, and "Bushido" (Way of the Warrior)
 = references I have used
Of course I realize you are asking, "used for what?" Well, I intend to put up a whole section on his history and a timeline, and how Katsumoto and the movie plot was and wasn't based on him, and why doing a movie that followed Saigo specifically would not have worked.
The Last Samurai: The Life and Battles of Saigo Takamori -- Mark Ravina
the history and battles of Japan's most famous Samurai warrior and leader, who led a fierce rebellion at the time of the Meiji Restoration before eventually being defeated; he had helped the current Daimyo into power, then was betrayed by the Daimyo's resignation, and possibly also an assasination attempt by the deadly Ninja; this is the main person on which the fictional character of "Katsumoto" in the movie "The Last Samurai" is based; can be found on online at Amazon.com
Samurai Sourcebook -- Dr. Stephen R. Turnbull
a reference book on Samurai armour, warfare and history, with many detailed and accurate illustrations; can be found on online at Amazon.com
The Book of Five Rings -- Miyamoto Musashi
writen by a famous Samurai warrior and intended for students of war, this extensive book is divided into "books"; many sections and even individual points only point a student in the right direction or way of thinking, and meditation on each point is encouraged; mainly covers the behavior and thought patterns a Samurai warrior should adopt so he will be able to serve his lord without hesitation and make the best technical decisions in battle to effectively and quickly kill his enemy; it has been translated into other languages as well; widely read among Japanese and foreign students of swordsmanship and the martial arts as well as Japanese businessmen; can be found on online at Amazon.com
Bushido: The Way of the Samurai -- Tsunetomo Yamamoto, et al
a collection of 12 of the writings of Tsunetomo Yamamoto, a famous Samurai who never lost a duel and lived to a ripe old age; mostly in the form of letters to his students; can be found on online at Amazon.com
Bushido the Warrior's Code -- Inazo Nitobe
provides excellent cultural and technical understanding of the "Way of the Warrior"; intended for students of war but recommended to businessmen and those interested in Japanese culture as well; and "easier read" than The Book of Five Rings; can be found on online at Amazon.com
Samurai -- Dr. Stephen R. Turnbull
a complete text on the history of many Samurai at all levels of importance; can be found on online at Amazon.com
Samurai Warfare -- Dr. Stephen R. Turnbull
more in-depth than Samurai Sourcebook, especially in regards to the technical aspects of warfare and Samurai behavior; good illustrations, maps, etc.; can be found on online at Amazon.com
Ideals of the Samurai: Writings of Japanese Warriors -- William Scott Wilson
a collection of writings from different Samurai from different periods in Japanese history; can be found on online at Amazon.com
Ashiguru 1467-1649 (Warrior 29) -- Dr. Stephen R. Turnbull
thorough text on the history and battles of the Ashiguru clan; can be found on online at Amazon.com
History of Japan to 1334 -- George Bailey Sansom
thorough text covering the history and all important battles and Samurai in Japan up to 1334; can be found on online at Amazon.com
History of Japan 1334-1615 -- George Bailey Sansom
thorough text covering the history and all important battles and Samurai in Japan from 1334-1615; can be found on online at Amazon.com
Zen and the Way of the Sword: Arming the Samurai Psyche -- Winston L. King
How did a warrior class come to adopt Buddhism, a religion of non-violence? can be found on online at Amazon.com
The Last Samurai: Official Movie Guide -- Warner Brothers
a richly-illustrated book produced by Warner Brothers about the Samurai history, culture and armour and the making of the movie; a wonderful coffee-table book; can be found on online at Amazon.com; you can view selected pages at TheLastSamurai.com if you enter the Flash version of the website
The Chrysanthemum and the Sword: Patterns of Japanese culture -- Ruth Benedict
the result of her anthropological study, commissioned by the United States after World War II, to better understand the Japanese culture and psyche and how it led to so much aggression against their neighbors; can be found on online at Amazon.com
Understanding Terroism: Challenges, Perspectives and Issues -- Gus Martin
a sociological study of the roots and growth of terrorism; includes something on the Samurai and Bushido, because I found this book on a keyword search; I don't recall finding any other information, so either there are no customer reviews on this book or none that related to the inclusion of Samurai; can be found on online at Amazon.com
Other References I Used
Funk & Wagnall's New Encyclopedia, 1984
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