For some initial insight into who is viewed as heroes in Japan, and what they did, here is a list from the Japanese version of Wikipedia, as of August 9, 2008:
Historical persons
Taira no Masakado (平将門) ［? - 940］Military commander during the Heian Era
Minamoto no Yoshitsune (源義経) ［1159 - 1189］ Military commander in late Heian Era
Kusunoki [...]
Continue reading about A list on Japanese Heroes, according to Wikipedia
Although we are mostly concerned with mythical heroes on this site, it’s hard to draw a clear line between myth and reality. However superhuman, there is probably not one fictional hero that has no connection at all to the world of mortals. So we’ll start by presenting some traits of characters from the human world [...]
Today I am starting work on a new story about an encounter I had with a very special, spear wielding woman in Kyoto some time ago. The weapon she used has a history going back to ancient Japan, and indeed to some of the most famous heroes and heroines in the history of the country.
My postings [...]