Yukio Mishima is the most famous and widely read Japanese writer in the world. He became famous equally for his works in every conceivable genre (novels, plays, short stories, essays) and for his extravagant style of life and death (harakiri after an unsuccessful attempt at a monarchical coup). The Book of the Samurai is Mishima's reflections on the Hagakure. or Hidden in the Leaves" is a treatise on the samurai code of honor (bushido), based on the canons of Zen Buddhism, Shintoism and Confucianism and compiled on the basis of conversations with the 17th century samurai Jocho Yamamoto. These stories about military valor and military duty, conscience and responsibility, recorded by one of Jocho’s students, are not a collection of commandments, but an original method of understanding the world and comprehending wisdom. “Perhaps Hagakure is originally a book of paradox,” writes Mishima. “During the war, it emitted light, but in broad daylight it was not very noticeable, and only in the darkness did the book truly shine. <…> This book professes freedom. This book appeals to the fervor of hearts.” For the first time, it is published in translation from Japanese - previous editions of “The Book of the Samurai” in Russian were based on the English translation.