Boye Lafayette De Mente (1928-2017) was a distinguished scholar of Japan, China, and Korea whose career began in the 1940s. His experience spanned roles as a member of a U.S. intelligence agency, trade journalist, editor and author based in Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong and Singapore. A graduate of Jochi University in Tokyo and the American Institute for Foreign Trade (now Thunderbird School of Global Management), De Mente wrote over 70 books, including Japan's Cultural Codewords and The Etiquette Guide to Japan.

Alexander Bennett is professor of Japanese history and Budo theory at Kansai University. He co-founded and publishes Kendo World, the first English-language journal dedicated to Kendo. He holds black belts in numerous martial disciplines including Kendo Kyoshi 7-dan, Iaido 5-dan and Naginata 5-dan. His published works include The Complete Musashi: The Book of Five Rings and Other Works and Hagakure: The Secret Wisdom of the Samurai.