Stephen Richard Turnbull (born 6 February 1948) is a specialist in Japanese religious history.Turnbull attended Cambridge University where he gained his first degree.
He currently holds an MA in Theology, MA in Military History and a PhD from the University of Leeds where he is a lecturer in Far Eastern Religions.
He was on the editorial board of the short-lived Medieval History Magazine (2003–2005), which was published in association with the Royal Armouries.
He was a consultant for the widely successful PC game Shogun: Total War and also its well-received sequel Total War: Shogun 2, both products of Creative Assembly, as well as historical advisor on the severely panned Hollywood film 47 Ronin starring Keanu Reeves.