hey people, for a while now i've been intrested in the samurai and im thinking about writing a story on them though im having a hard time finding out about the differen't era's of japan ,the many samurai clans and what terrtories they were in and etc.

It would be a big help if someone could give information or some sites that hold the information i seek. It would be greatly apreaciated.

A good book is The Samurai Sourcebook it goes into detail about all the different clans, battles, and eras.

do you have any idea where i might be able to obtain this book?

Any bookstore should have it.

http://www.samurai-archives.com/nobunaga.html

this is about Oda Nobunaga, not about samurai
but I'm not sure if you've ever heard Nobunaga's Ambition before, and it is a famous part of Japanese history

Famous, yes, but over used.
You want a good Samurai rivalry in japanese history?
Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen.
The biggest, and well known rivalry in japanese history.

i thank you all for you help.

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if anybody else here has good information please post it. i really need this.

I think they're generals, not samuris.
During the sengoku era, bushido was not emphasized. The generals rated Art of War much more.

^ your correct, i just read form the source that they were both generals or soldiers of high rank, either one.

anyone people i guess it would help if i told you all what era's im particulary intrested in.
Im intrested in the Edo and Meija era of japan.

^ Ito Hirobumi 伊藤博文

http://www.ipl.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/FLOPS2002/C...ukeyashiki.html - Bukeyashiki (samurai residences of the Edo period)
http://www.e-budokai.com/taihojutsu/samurai.htm - Samurai justice
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Towers/9151/hagakure.htm - Hagakure review

without knowing what exactly you want to know....
these are all from the first page of a Google on »"edo era" samurai«

Yes generals, but still in japan it's known as the most known rivalry.
Read up on it because it's a very cool rivalry.
It's also said Kenshin fell to his knees and cried when he heard his most respectful enemy has fallen to death by sickness.
No one ever truly won between the two.
When I was talking to my friend Yoshi(Exchange student from japan) he says people belive they still are rivals in death.
Yoshi also told me they learned in school that he told his son when he was near death to help fight along side Kenshin because he didn't want thier battle to effect anyone else but them.
I just think it's not to well know in the USA because game industrys, anime and mangas haven't over used them like the rule of Oda Nobunaga.

If you can look up the Tensho era, I know that both Oda Nobunaga and Miamoto Musashi both had alot to do with this era.