Watsuki's sources

Hi!

So here they are: Watsuki's sources. There are four main books listed
in the Kaden, along with a short summary of each of them. A more
completely list is then enclosed in the Kaden but quite
unfortunately, only a French translation of the original titles was
given and the authors' names were not mentioned. As none of these
books were published in French, it's quite useless information, so
it's a little hard to do research to check if they had been published
at least in English.

I would particularly have enjoyed learning more about the following
book

"Recueil de photographies sur le Shinsengumi" published by
Shinjinbutsu ourai-sha. In English, it would be something
like: "Collection of pictures of the Shinsengumi"

Anyway, here is a description of the four main sources of information.


Mary-Ann (^-^)


-----------------------

"Moeyo ken" – 2 volumes – by Ryotaro Shiba

"According to the sayings, when they were in private, Isami Kondo
called Toshizo Hijikata by saying "Hey Toshi!" – that's how this
Bakumatsu novel, which relates the life of Toshizo Hijikata, starts.

The author is Ryotaro Shiba, one of the greatest historical writers
in Japan, who sadly left this world in February 1996.

In this remarkable book. The readers can follow Hijikata from his
birth in a peasant family in de town of Ishida-mura (now a the Tama-
ku district in Kyoto), to his childhood where he used to fight a lot
and during which he already showed a great potential for organisation
and as a strategist, to different phases of his life, always a sword
in his hand and with a strong unbreakable will (as the Ikedaya
incident, the Toba-Fushimi battle, the Aizu battle and all the
heartbreaking events where he lost his two best friends: Isami Kondo
and Soushi Okita). The story goes on until the battle of Hakodate at
the end of the Boshin war, where he died under the enemy's bullets,
still a sword in his hand. Either they first read it for the man
itself, or to learn more about the Shinsengumi, many people declared
having become a Shinsengumi fan after having read this book! Watsuki
himself consider this book as his "bible".

That's why it is, sooner or later, an essential book for every
Kenshin fan.



"Sugata Sanshiro" ("Sanshiro Sugata") – 3 volumes – by Tsuneo Tomita

It's after having read this book that Watsuki decided to set his
story in the Meiji era. The story takes place during the fifth year
of the Meiji era, at a time when the popularity of traditional
Japanese martial arts was rapidly declining, due to the social
changes underway. Sanshiro Sugata, a young man who's a real judo
prodigy, is then slowly becoming a very mature fighter. There are a
lots of sports manga featuring Sanshiro learning judo, karate or even
boxing: fans of that category of manga among our readers will
probably know what we are talking about. Even those who never heard
Sanshiro's name probably heard about his unbeatable technique "yama
arashi" (mountain's storm). Look for drawings of fights where's there
a sensation of speed, as if the characters where going to come out of
the book, and you'll probably find something…

To learn more about the Meiji era this is an essential book for every
Kenshin fan.

The author, Tsuneao Tomita, was the Ghokugi award's first winner
after WW2.

One of Akira Kurosawa's movies is based on this book.



"Shinengumi keppuroku" – by Ryotaro Shiba

After having introduced the Shinsengumi in his previous work, "Moeyo
ken", Ryotaro Shiba then published a book consisting of many short
novels. The main difference between the two books is that, instead of
keeping the same point of view as in "Moeyo ken", "Shinsengumi
keppuroku" explores different Shinsengumi's members' point of view,
each short novel staring one of them. The novels are not linked
together, which allows a wide diversity of styles. Kenshin fans will
be happy to learn that Saito is one of the main characters of "Yari
wa hozoin ryu". Kanryusai Takada, makes an apparition in "Kamogawa
zenitoribashi" (episode where he is murdered by Saito). The most
popular Shinsengumi member, Soushi Okita, is the main character of a
whole chapter "the love of Soushi Okita". Be sure not to miss this
book.

There is a TV series based on this book and there is also another one
based on "Moeyo ken", which are both remarkable, especially the one
based on "Shinsengumi keppuroku".



"Katsura Kogoro" – 2 volumes – by Kaoru Furukawa

This is a biography of Kagoro Katsura, who was Kenshin's superior
during the Bakumatsu in the manga, and who was one of the three most
important men of the Meiji restoration. This is the story of his life
and of the man who had to changed his name to Takayoshi Kido during
the restoration, to finally die of sickness in the tenth year of the
Meiji era. The author himself, Kaoru Furukawa, says that between the
Bakumatsu and his life as a politician, Kido/Katsura not only changed
his name, but his personality as well, loosing all of this vitality.
We can see different aspects of his personality throughout the book.
For those who wants to learn more about a man who was close to
Kenshin in the manga.

Wonderful!!!!
Mary-Ann don't forget to put this in the "files" section too! This
info is amazing:)

--- In SHQ@yahoogroups.com, "Mary-Ann" wrote:
A more
> completely list is then enclosed in the Kaden but quite
> unfortunately, only a French translation of the original titles was
> given and the authors' names were not mentioned.

Can you give the French to English translations of these titles too?
There are many Japanese sites which record their book resources and
I'm sure that we can match the titles.....


I'm dying to read the short story of Saito and Kanryu's ghost...

Mary-Ann wrote:

I would particularly have enjoyed learning more about the following
book

"Recueil de photographies sur le Shinsengumi" published by
Shinjinbutsu ourai-sha. In English, it would be something
like: "Collection of pictures of the Shinsengumi">>


OOhhh what I wouldn't give to see this one. This is one I'm sure we could make sense of even without lots of translation

Thank you so much for translating this for us.


--
Barbara Sheridan
http://www.barbarasheridan.net

> From: "Mary-Ann" <maryannsfanfic@...>
> Subject: Watsuki's sources
>
> I would particularly have enjoyed learning more
> about the following
> book
>
> "Recueil de photographies sur le Shinsengumi"
> published by
> Shinjinbutsu ourai-sha. In English, it would be
> something
> like: "Collection of pictures of the Shinsengumi"

It's "Shinsengumi Shashin-shuu".

In the Kenshin Hiden, the sources listed are:

- "Edo-jo Oniwaban Tokugawa Shogun no Mimi to me"
(Chuko Shinsho)
- "Edo Tokyo Nenpyo" (Shogakukan)
- "Okubo Toshimichi - Monogatari to Shiseki wo
Tazunete" (Seibido)
- "Osaka no Nishiki-e Shinbun" (Sangensha)
- "Kaionji Shiogoro Zenshu Dai18kan - Akujin Retsuden"
(Asahi Shinbun sha)
- "Kaitei Zoho - Ishingo Dainenpyo" (Murata Shoten)
- "Gama no abura kara LSD made" (Kokushi to Genkaku no
bunka)
- "Zatsugaku Bakumatsu/Ishin monoshiri Hyakka" (Nitto
Shoin)
- "Shisetsu Bakumatsu Ansatsu" (Yuzankaku)
- "Shumi no Nihonto" (Yuzankaku)
- "Shinsengumi Shashinshu" (Shinjinbutsu Oraisha)
- "Zukai Bakumatsu/Ishin Omoshirojiten" (Mikasa Shobo)
- "Token" (Hoikusha)
- "Nihonshi Shojiten" (Yamakawa Shuppansha)
- "Bakumatsu Ishin Guide" (Shinkigensha)
- "Bakumatsu Ishin Monoshiri Jiten" (Shufu to
Seikatsusha)
- "Hiden" (magazine)
- "Buki to Bogu Nihon-hen" (Shinkigensha)
- "Meiji Ishin Jinmei Jiten" (Yoshikawa Hiroshi Bunkan
(?))
- "Meiji Bunka Zenshu Betsukan Meiji Jibutu Kigen"
(Nihon Hyoronsha)
- "Yomeru Nenpyo - Nihon-shi" (Jiyu Kokumin sha)
- "Rekishi Dokuhon Ken no Tatsujin Data File"
(Shinjinbutsu Oraisha)
- "Rekishi Gunzo Series Aizu senso Tufun Byakkotai to
Kawai Tsugunosuke" (Gakken)


And Mary-Ann: can I put your Kenshin Kaden interview
translation in my website? ^^ Of course I'll give the
due credits to you ^^


Serizawa Kamo




__________________________________
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Interesting...I thought Watsuki would use one of Shizuko Akama's book
as a basis for RK Saitou. Okay, I do remember that Serizawa Kamo
mentioned 2 other people who had info on historical Saitou.

Hi!

Thank you for the list. I was wondering how to accurately translate
those titles in English... And, most of all, thanks for the tip about
Shinsengumi Shashin-shuu. (^-^)

Mary-Ann

--- In SHQ@yahoogroups.com, Serizawa Kamo wrote:
> > From: "Mary-Ann"
> > Subject: Watsuki's sources
> >
> > I would particularly have enjoyed learning more
> > about the following
> > book
> >
> > "Recueil de photographies sur le Shinsengumi"
> > published by
> > Shinjinbutsu ourai-sha. In English, it would be
> > something
> > like: "Collection of pictures of the Shinsengumi"
>
>
> It's "Shinsengumi Shashin-shuu".
>
> In the Kenshin Hiden, the sources listed are:
>
> - "Edo-jo Oniwaban Tokugawa Shogun no Mimi to me"
> (Chuko Shinsho)
> - "Edo Tokyo Nenpyo" (Shogakukan)
> - "Okubo Toshimichi - Monogatari to Shiseki wo
> Tazunete" (Seibido)
> - "Osaka no Nishiki-e Shinbun" (Sangensha)
> - "Kaionji Shiogoro Zenshu Dai18kan - Akujin Retsuden"
> (Asahi Shinbun sha)
> - "Kaitei Zoho - Ishingo Dainenpyo" (Murata Shoten)
> - "Gama no abura kara LSD made" (Kokushi to Genkaku no
> bunka)
> - "Zatsugaku Bakumatsu/Ishin monoshiri Hyakka" (Nitto
> Shoin)
> - "Shisetsu Bakumatsu Ansatsu" (Yuzankaku)
> - "Shumi no Nihonto" (Yuzankaku)
> - "Shinsengumi Shashinshu" (Shinjinbutsu Oraisha)
> - "Zukai Bakumatsu/Ishin Omoshirojiten" (Mikasa Shobo)
> - "Token" (Hoikusha)
> - "Nihonshi Shojiten" (Yamakawa Shuppansha)
> - "Bakumatsu Ishin Guide" (Shinkigensha)
> - "Bakumatsu Ishin Monoshiri Jiten" (Shufu to
> Seikatsusha)
> - "Hiden" (magazine)
> - "Buki to Bogu Nihon-hen" (Shinkigensha)
> - "Meiji Ishin Jinmei Jiten" (Yoshikawa Hiroshi Bunkan
> (?))
> - "Meiji Bunka Zenshu Betsukan Meiji Jibutu Kigen"
> (Nihon Hyoronsha)
> - "Yomeru Nenpyo - Nihon-shi" (Jiyu Kokumin sha)
> - "Rekishi Dokuhon Ken no Tatsujin Data File"
> (Shinjinbutsu Oraisha)
> - "Rekishi Gunzo Series Aizu senso Tufun Byakkotai to
> Kawai Tsugunosuke" (Gakken)
>
>
> And Mary-Ann: can I put your Kenshin Kaden interview
> translation in my website? ^^ Of course I'll give the
> due credits to you ^^
>
>
> Serizawa Kamo
>
>
>
>
> __________________________________
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Yahoo! Photos: High-quality 4x6 digital prints for 25¢
> http://photos.yahoo.com/ph/print_splash

Mary Ann

Is what you had listed for the Shinsengumi Shashin-shuu (Recueil de
photographies sur le Shinsengumi) book an author name or the actual book
publisher--Shinjinbutsu ourai-sha

And there didn't happen to be by any chance ISBN numbers listed, did there?

Tiffany,

Since the dreaded golfish has seen fit to let you communicate with the
Japanese message board folks did you or could you ask if any of them are
familiar with that photo book?

--
Barbara Sheridan
http://www.barbarasheridan.net

Hi!

There unfortunately was no author name and no ISBN. Shinjinbutsu
ourai-sha is the publisher. That's the only info I have. (T-T)

Mary-Ann

--- In SHQ@yahoogroups.com, Barbara Sheridan wrote:
>
>
> Mary Ann
>
> Is what you had listed for the Shinsengumi Shashin-shuu (Recueil de
> photographies sur le Shinsengumi) book an author name or the actual
book
> publisher--Shinjinbutsu ourai-sha
>
> And there didn't happen to be by any chance ISBN numbers listed,
did there?
>
> Tiffany,
>
> Since the dreaded golfish has seen fit to let you communicate with
the
> Japanese message board folks did you or could you ask if any of
them are
> familiar with that photo book?
>
> --
> Barbara Sheridan
> http://www.barbarasheridan.net

Shinjinbutsu ourai-sha publishes many Shinsengumi books...I think they
published Shizuko Akama's books.

I contacted the folks at www.sasugabooks.com (STILL waiting for my
order because the publishers in Japan are out of stock)...but they are
pretty good with replying to emails though and as soon as they find a
book they list the isbn#s...

example of a reply to my post on

http://www.kyoto-shinsengumi.jp........the fish says:
You translated simply. (As for the mistake there is no indication with
we ask ^ ^;) Don't you think? it is customer from the foreign country? !

(sigh) it seems we will be a mere curiousity LOL note the use of [!]

No need for thanks ^^ And thanks a lot for translating
that interview from Kenshin Kaden ^^

As for Shinsengumi Shashinshuu, I guess it's this
book:

http://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/ASIN/440400513X/qid=1082746497/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_10_2/250-4196110-5168232

ISBN: 440400513X ; (2000)

As for the other titles, I guess they were used as a
source for the Kenshin Hiden, not necessarily by
Watsuki-sensei himself :)


Serizawa Kamo

> Hi!
>
> Thank you for the list. I was wondering how to
> accurately translate
> those titles in English... And, most of all, thanks
> for the tip about
> Shinsengumi Shashin-shuu. (^-^)
>
> Mary-Ann

__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Photos: High-quality 4x6 digital prints for 25�
http://photos.yahoo.com/ph/print_splash