Book Recommendations on the Sengoku Jidai/Warring States Period in Japan?

I've been watching some YouTube videos on the Warring States Period in Japan and its a truly fascinating era, can anyone recommend some good English language books on the topic? I prefer more accessible, narrative-driven accounts of the period rather than analytical, academic style works, but I'm open to any suggestions as I'm not sure how much has been written on this period in English.

I'd highly recommend these videos for anyone interested:

- An excellent 25 minute summary of Japanese history:

-And this series recounts some key battles, also a brilliant channel for anyone interested in military history, highly recommend all their work:
Sengoku Jidai - Age of Warring States - YouTube

Naomasa298 said:

Although it's now a little outdated, I strongly recommend George Samson's work. The relevant volume is "A History of Japan, 1334-1615". It was published in 1961, but it's very readable and will give you the basic timeline and details the important events.

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Thanks for the recommendation, I shall check it out! I dont mind age as long as the language is fairly easy to read and not too oldfashioned.

Not sure exactly why but I was expecting you to reply here Naomasa IIRC you specialise in Asian or Japanese history? Or am I confusing you with someone else.

Naomasa298 said:

Japanese history is my specialty, yes, and to a lesser extent Chinese and Thai history. As well as Victorian colonial history.

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Ah, kudos to you then, Japanese history is truly fascinating. Are you perhaps named after the Tokugawa general Ii Naomasa?