Anthony J. Bryant facts for kids

Anthony J. Bryant (born February 14, 1961 – died December 25, 2013) was an American writer and editor. He was famous for his books about samurai and Japanese armour. He also helped create a popular role-playing game.

About Anthony J. Bryant

Anthony J. Bryant was born in Franklin, Indiana. When he was five years old, he was adopted by Robert M. and Margaret Bryant.

After his father, Robert M. Bryant, passed away in 1967, Tony and his mother moved. They went to Miami Shores, Florida. He grew up there and went to Pinecrest Preparatory School.

Studying in Japan

Anthony loved learning about Japan. He went to Florida State University and finished in 1983. There, he earned a degree in Japanese studies. This means he learned a lot about Japanese culture, history, and language.

He then moved to Tokyo, Japan, to continue his studies. He studied Japanese history, language, and especially Japanese armour at Takushoku University. He finished these studies in 1986. Anthony lived in Japan for six years, from 1986 to 1992. Later, in 2003, he earned another degree in Japanese from Indiana University Bloomington.

Expert on Japanese Armor

Anthony Bryant became a real expert on how Japanese armour was made. He joined a special group called the Nihon Katchū Bugu Kenkyū Hozon Kai. This group works to protect and study Japanese arms and armor. He was one of only four members who were not from Asia.

While living in Japan, he also worked as an editor. He was a features editor for the Mainichi Daily News. This is a big newspaper in Japan. He also edited the Tokyo Journal, which was an English magazine.

Writing About Samurai

Anthony wrote four books for Osprey Publishing. This company publishes books about military history. His books were all about samurai history. He also worked with Mark T. Arsenault on a rulebook for a role-playing game. The game was called Sengoku: Chanbara Roleplaying in Feudal Japan.

He was a historian who focused on different periods of Japanese history. These included the Kamakura Period, Muromachi Period, and Momoyama period. He was very interested in the warrior culture from these times. He also enjoyed learning about the court life and society of the Heian Period. Plus, he studied Japanese literature.

Editor of Dragon Magazine

After returning from Japan, Anthony became an editor in 1995. He worked for Dragon Magazine. This was a very important magazine for TSR, Inc.. They are the creators of the famous role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons. He edited eight issues of the magazine before Dave Gross took over.

Anthony Bryant passed away on December 25, 2013. He died at St. Francis Health in Indianapolis.

Books by Anthony J. Bryant

• The Samurai, (Elite), Osprey Publishing, London (1989) ISBN: 0-850-45897-8
• Early Samurai AD 200–1500, Osprey Publishing, London (1991) ISBN: 1-855-32131-9
• Samurai 1550–1600, Osprey Publishing, London (1994) ISBN: 1-855-32345-1
• Sekigahara 1600: The Final Struggle for Power, Osprey Publishing, London (1995) ISBN: 1-855-32395-8
• Sengoku: Chanbara Roleplaying in Feudal Japan, Gold Rush Games; Revised edition (May 1, 2002)
• Iwaya no sōshi ("The Tale of the Cave House"): A Translation and Commentary, Indiana University (2003)
• Sekigahara 1600: The Final Struggle for Power, Praeger Publishers (September 2005) ISBN: 0-275-98869-4

Other Works

• Nihon Katchu Seisakuben , a manual about making Japanese armor.
• The Estates of Heian Nobility (an essay).