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Japan
Sixteenth century Japan. When he is only ten-years-old Jimmu is forced to witness the ritual suicide –– or seppuku –– of his father. Afterwards Jimmu has to leave what has been his home and go with his father’s bodyguard, Nichiren. Nichiren tells Jimmu that his father’s death was caused by the Lord Ankan who had accused his father of plotting against the Emperor and produced false papers to prove it. The Emperor proclaimed Jimmu’s father a traitor and he was given the option of a private suicide to avoid a public execution. Nichiren tells Jimmu that he must avenge his father by killing Lord Ankan. Until he does so his father’s unquiet spirit will be forced to wander the earth.
Jimmu lives with Nichiren who teaches him how to use the weapons of a samurai. Nichiren also works on Jimmu and constantly tells him that it is his mission in life to kill Lord Ankan. Ten years later Nichiren is dead of a fever and Jimmu is already an efficient killing machine.
Jimmu makes his way to Lord Ankan’s castle and is taken on as one of the guard. Jimmu means to kill Lord Ankan quickly. He knows it will be virtually impossible for him to escape and he will be put to death himself but Nichiren has instilled into him that death with honour is better than a life of disgrace.
But the fact that Jimmu has to spend longer at the castle than he had intended makes an important difference. Jimmu begins to find out what kind of person Lord Ankan really is. He turns out to be kind, nothing like the evil man Nichiren had made him out to be. Could Nichiren have lied to Jimmu? Then there is Jimmu’s training. Nichiren had taught Jimmu to use the weapons of a samurai but he had told Jimmu absolutely nothing about the code the samurai lived by. More questions and doubts for Jimmu.
There is another complication for Jimmu. He finds himself attracted to Lord Ankan’s daughter.
This book gives a comprehensive picture of the lives of the warlords of medieval Japan. The reader is also shown all about samurai training. Not forgetting the detailed descriptions of battles and smaller attacks by bandits with all their violence. All this is enhanced by the information on the accompanying web site.
And against this background is the development of a teenage boy who is learning how to think for himself and reject his former teachings.
An unusual and thought provoking book.
11+
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