Notes

Japanese terms are not pluralized as is usually the custom. Plural or singular should be clear from contextual usage.

Pronunciation

Japanese words are generally pronounced as in Italian, without the accenting, as Japanese is monotonal in nature.

For the sake of familiarity, dates are as in the Western Gregorian calendar.

For the sake of authenticity, names from the feudal era are in Japanese style, family name first.

Names of modern Japanese are in the more familiar Western style with the family name last.

Many prominent people had more than one name. The name a person is most commonly known is the one used here.