The elegant, multi-tiered main towers of Japanese castles, surrounded by massive fortifications, are widely recognized as symbols of samurai rule. In fact, the first of these Tenshutaku emerged only at the very end of the Sengoku period. Most fortifications were made of wood, featured earthen walls and moats, and cleverly utilized the natural surroundings. The second volume of the series will introduce these older structures as well as fortresses that were affected by major sieges, such as Takamatsu in 1582, Fushimi and Ueda in 1600, and Osaka in 1614/15. The book explains the sophisticated siege techniques, countermeasures, and the Japanese artillery of the time. A second focus addresses the complex heraldry of both prominent and lesser-known samurai families of the Sengoku period, with many colorful examples.