Edoropolis Emporium

In SPC/KNT it's assumed that Tokugawa clan still commands Japan in the far future. One can see about lifestyle and politics of Edo period in the series. I see in another thread a controversy about the role of the ninjas (spies) in the politics of the feudal Japan. So if you wish to learn more about samurais, ninjas and corruptions of the shogunate, I recommend Lone Wolf and Cub (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lone_wolf_and_cub). It's a story about Itto Ogami, a former Shogun's officer who was framed by Yagyuu clan. Disgraced, he walks through all provinces of Japan with his 3 years old son working as assassin, to earn money sufficient to put forward his revenge plan. Both the plot and the artwork are magnific, it's a must read epic.

"Lone Wolf & Cub" is still a work of fiction, even though it is based on history.  If you really want to learn some real facts about Edo Japan, I recommend for starters "Everyday Life in Traditional Japan" by Charles Dunn as a good introduction.  And if you are into spies, ninjas, and espionage, you should read "Kempei Tai: A History of the Japanese Secret Service" by Richard Deacon.

You said well, "Lone Wolf & Cub" or "Kozure ookami" (子連れ狼) is a fiction, so it's not a history research work. Actually my intention was to show some aspects of the samurais and ninjas in the imagination and art of Japan. Despite the fact of the highest levels of social hierachy have been ocupied by the warrior class, Edo period was peaceful in comparison with early eras (but the peace was maintained by repression). So, saying that one can learn history of Japan from mangas and novel books is same to say that one can learn American history watching western movies.
My father (born in Japan) likes to watch VHS of Japanese TV shows about Edo period (jidaigeki). Owing to him, I know "onihei hankachou" (鬼平犯課帖), "mito koomon" (水戸黄門), "zenigata heiji" (銭型平次 ), among others shows. And I have read novels of Shoutarou Ikenami (池波正太郎) located in Middle Age Japan, an amusing reading (I am not recommeding it to all because these books are in Japanese  :P ).

Espionage, treason, assassination and even women who got information thanks to sleeping with some drunk dudes, that’s a part of history no one is proud. It happened everywhere even before the world was round and keeps happening today.