SOLVED. SF series with a Japanese-Samurai theme [s]

[Michael]

A SF series I started reading but did not finish in the late 80s or early 90s.
A future world in which a Japanese ruling class living by the samurai code holds total sway over all lives.
Non-Japanese people as I recall could only hold inferior positions in society. I think that maybe they could obtain the favour of the heads of the Samurai clans through acts of service. While the rulers live highly ritualistic, stylised lives amid the colour and splendour of the emperors of a vanished age, life is very different for the non-Japanese common people.
In this future world, a cheap, super strong, lightweight building material was discovered at some point in the past, enabling the populated areas to be wholly enclosed.
There is open land which is used for cultivation but ordinary citizens are not permitted to access it.
Details of the Japanese culture are painted lavishly and evocatively.

I have absolutely no idea of the name of the series or of the author.

[Kris]

The Tomoe Gozen series by Jessica Amanda Salmonson? https://www.goodreads.com/series/4328...

Michael, who is the main character in the series?

Do you recall if the author is male or female?

[Michael]

I seem to recall that the author was male. Ditto for the main character, he was male and caucasian.

[stormhawk]

not part of a series but have you checked out The Man in the High Castle by Philip K Dick? The social stratification element is part of that story.

[Sue]

The ruling classes are Chinese rather than Japanese but otherwise the Chung Kuo series by David Wingrove has most of the elements you describe.
is I think the first book.

[Michael]

Thank you, Sue. I think you might have nailed it.