Re: Japanese historical fiction

For those of you who did want their history in a big novelization,
have you seen the works of Eiji Yoshikawa? These are huge
(many hundreds of pages) tomes (His book on Musashi was printed in 5
volumes I believe).

I read 'Musashi' and 'Taiko' for sure, and perhaps another on the
Heike,
they are long reads but well worth the time.

Alex Hazlett

p.s. according to amazon.com, people who buy 'Taiko' are likely to buy
books by:
Takuan Soho
Stephen Turnbull <---------------
John Allyn
Miyamoto Musashi
Yagyu Munenori

Hi, I'm new at this as well... I'm a simple bugei who loves to read about
those warriors, & their times, who practiced their martial specialties
somewhat more seriously than I (due to obvious reasons), although I have
been a practitioner for some twenty years. My own Japanese is limited &
I've only visited Japan twice.

I agree with Alex: big novelisations, like those of Yoshikawa's, are a
great way to pick-up "the flavour" of our subject/topic of interest.
General Studies, like those of Newman, Wiencek & Cook are also very useful
as is Friday's "Hired Swords" (which I believe is quite accessible for us
amateurs).

Sadler's "The Maker of Modern Japan", Mabire & Breheret's "The Samurai" are
good and Wilson's translations:- "Ideals of the Samurai" & the
"Budoshoshinshu" are really great. "Musui's Story - the Autobiogaphy of a
Tokugawa Samurai by Katsu Kokichi is absolutely marvellous as a journal of
the first half of the nineteenth century.

I'd also like to concur with Scott Nicholas, who noted that the emergence of
the "samurai" militarily was during Masakado's rebellion.
Regards,
Steve Lofts.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Alex Hazlett" <arexu@...>
To: "samurai list" <samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, February 25, 2002 3:24 AM
Subject: [samuraihistory] Re: Japanese historical fiction


> For those of you who did want their history in a big novelization,
> have you seen the works of Eiji Yoshikawa? These are huge
> (many hundreds of pages) tomes (His book on Musashi was printed in 5
> volumes I believe).
>
> I read 'Musashi' and 'Taiko' for sure, and perhaps another on the
> Heike,
> they are long reads but well worth the time.
>
> Alex Hazlett
>
> p.s. according to amazon.com, people who buy 'Taiko' are likely to buy
> books by:
> Takuan Soho
> Stephen Turnbull <---------------
> John Allyn
> Miyamoto Musashi
> Yagyu Munenori
>
>
> Samurai Archives: http://www.samurai-archives.com
> ---
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> samuraihistory-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>

stop emailin me

-----Original Message-----
From: Lofty [mailto:loftysamurai@...]
Sent: Monday, February 25, 2002 9:27 PM
To: samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [samuraihistory] Re: Japanese historical fiction


Hi, I'm new at this as well... I'm a simple bugei who loves to read about
those warriors, & their times, who practiced their martial specialties
somewhat more seriously than I (due to obvious reasons), although I have
been a practitioner for some twenty years. My own Japanese is limited &
I've only visited Japan twice.

I agree with Alex: big novelisations, like those of Yoshikawa's, are a
great way to pick-up "the flavour" of our subject/topic of interest.
General Studies, like those of Newman, Wiencek & Cook are also very useful
as is Friday's "Hired Swords" (which I believe is quite accessible for us
amateurs).

Sadler's "The Maker of Modern Japan", Mabire & Breheret's "The Samurai" are
good and Wilson's translations:- "Ideals of the Samurai" & the
"Budoshoshinshu" are really great. "Musui's Story - the Autobiogaphy of a
Tokugawa Samurai by Katsu Kokichi is absolutely marvellous as a journal of
the first half of the nineteenth century.

I'd also like to concur with Scott Nicholas, who noted that the emergence of
the "samurai" militarily was during Masakado's rebellion.
Regards,
Steve Lofts.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Alex Hazlett" <arexu@...>
To: "samurai list" <samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, February 25, 2002 3:24 AM
Subject: [samuraihistory] Re: Japanese historical fiction


> For those of you who did want their history in a big novelization,
> have you seen the works of Eiji Yoshikawa? These are huge
> (many hundreds of pages) tomes (His book on Musashi was printed in 5
> volumes I believe).
>
> I read 'Musashi' and 'Taiko' for sure, and perhaps another on the
> Heike,
> they are long reads but well worth the time.
>
> Alex Hazlett
>
> p.s. according to amazon.com, people who buy 'Taiko' are likely to buy
> books by:
> Takuan Soho
> Stephen Turnbull <---------------
> John Allyn
> Miyamoto Musashi
> Yagyu Munenori
>
>
> Samurai Archives: http://www.samurai-archives.com
> ---
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> samuraihistory-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>



Samurai Archives: http://www.samurai-archives.com
---
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
samuraihistory-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com



Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Could you give me some more info on the books by Newman, Wienck, Mabire &
Breheret. Are they general surveys of samurai history or do they tackle more
specific subjects. I've read all the other ones mentioned. I liked parts of
Fridays book. I enjoyed Sadlers work thats the type of narrative popular
history I like.

----- Original Message -----
From: Soto, David <d34@...>
To: <samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2002 9:14 PM
Subject: RE: [samuraihistory] Re: Japanese historical fiction


-----Original Message-----
> From: Lofty [mailto:loftysamurai@...]
> Sent: Monday, February 25, 2002 9:27 PM
> To: samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [samuraihistory] Re: Japanese historical fiction
>
>
> Hi, I'm new at this as well... I'm a simple bugei who loves to read about
> those warriors, & their times, who practiced their martial specialties
> somewhat more seriously than I (due to obvious reasons), although I have
> been a practitioner for some twenty years. My own Japanese is limited &
> I've only visited Japan twice.
>
> I agree with Alex: big novelisations, like those of Yoshikawa's, are a
> great way to pick-up "the flavour" of our subject/topic of interest.
> General Studies, like those of Newman, Wiencek & Cook are also very useful
> as is Friday's "Hired Swords" (which I believe is quite accessible for us
> amateurs).
>
> Sadler's "The Maker of Modern Japan", Mabire & Breheret's "The Samurai"
are
> good and Wilson's translations:- "Ideals of the Samurai" & the
> "Budoshoshinshu" are really great. "Musui's Story - the Autobiogaphy of a
> Tokugawa Samurai by Katsu Kokichi is absolutely marvellous as a journal of
> the first half of the nineteenth century.
>
> I'd also like to concur with Scott Nicholas, who noted that the emergence
of
> the "samurai" militarily was during Masakado's rebellion.
> Regards,
> Steve Lofts.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Alex Hazlett" <arexu@...>
> To: "samurai list" <samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Monday, February 25, 2002 3:24 AM
> Subject: [samuraihistory] Re: Japanese historical fiction
>
>
> > For those of you who did want their history in a big novelization,
> > have you seen the works of Eiji Yoshikawa? These are huge
> > (many hundreds of pages) tomes (His book on Musashi was printed in 5
> > volumes I believe).
> >
> > I read 'Musashi' and 'Taiko' for sure, and perhaps another on the
> > Heike,
> > they are long reads but well worth the time.
> >
> > Alex Hazlett
> >
> > p.s. according to amazon.com, people who buy 'Taiko' are likely to buy
> > books by:
> > Takuan Soho
> > Stephen Turnbull <---------------
> > John Allyn
> > Miyamoto Musashi
> > Yagyu Munenori
> >
> >
> > Samurai Archives: http://www.samurai-archives.com
> > ---
> > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> > samuraihistory-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> >
> >
> >
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> >
> >
>
>
>
> Samurai Archives: http://www.samurai-archives.com
> ---
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> samuraihistory-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
> Samurai Archives: http://www.samurai-archives.com
> ---
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> samuraihistory-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>

Hello David, Greetings from Australia!
Henry Wiencek's "The Lords of Japan" Select Books, 1983;
John Newman's "BUSHIDO, The Way of the Warrior" [A New Perspective on the
Japanese Military Tradition] Bison Books, 1989;
Jean Mabire & Yves Breheret: "The Samurai" Wyndham Publications, 1975
... are quite general surveys although "The Samurai" has some great
anecdotes in it.

I think you'd like: "The Samurai" by H. Paul Varley, Penguin Books, 1974;
though it's a short book it's very much in tune with Sadler's narrative.

What I found to be a 'surprise packet' was Malcolm Kennedy's "A Short
History of Japan" Mentor Books, 1964; the first half of the book is a
wonderful portrayal of the samurai in Japanese history, quite in-depth
really.

You've probably read John Allyn's "The 47 Ronin Story" Tuttle, 1983 --
though a little slow as a novel the insights into the motivation of the
heroes are good. Jack Seward's "Hara-Kiri" [Japanese Ritual Suicide] Tuttle,
1984 is a nicely graphic account of Seppuku in action!

Some of the more 'academic' types of tome, that I found very interesting
were:- "Meiji 1868" [Revolution and Counter-revolution in Japan], Paul
Akamatsu, George Allen & Unwin, 1972;
"Sakamoto Ryoma and the Meiji Restoration" by Marius Jansen, Standford Uni.
Press, 1971;
"Studies in the Institutional History of Early Modern Japan", Hall &
Jansen, Princeton Uni. Press, 1970

As a contrast to Lafcadio Hearn's writings, you may like Lord Redesdale's
"Tales of Old Japan" -- my copy is a Macmillan & Co., 1910 - it still may
be in print somewhere; the stories seem so fresh & new...
Another nice yarn is Elizabeth Gray Vining's "Windows for the Crown Prince"
Lippincott, 1952 -- it's the personal story of an American woman's 4 years
as private tutor to the Crown Prince Akihito (Now Emperor).
Good reading, David.
Steve Lofts

----- Original Message -----
From: "William Letham" <samuraiw@...>
To: <samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2002 4:01 PM
Subject: Re: [samuraihistory] Re: Japanese historical fiction


> Could you give me some more info on the books by Newman, Wienck, Mabire &
> Breheret. Are they general surveys of samurai history or do they tackle
more
> specific subjects. I've read all the other ones mentioned. I liked parts
of
> Fridays book. I enjoyed Sadlers work thats the type of narrative popular
> history I like.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Soto, David <d34@...>
> To: <samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2002 9:14 PM
> Subject: RE: [samuraihistory] Re: Japanese historical fiction
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> > From: Lofty [mailto:loftysamurai@...]
> > Sent: Monday, February 25, 2002 9:27 PM
> > To: samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: Re: [samuraihistory] Re: Japanese historical fiction
> >
> >
> > Hi, I'm new at this as well... I'm a simple bugei who loves to read
about
> > those warriors, & their times, who practiced their martial specialties
> > somewhat more seriously than I (due to obvious reasons), although I have
> > been a practitioner for some twenty years. My own Japanese is limited &
> > I've only visited Japan twice.
> >
> > I agree with Alex: big novelisations, like those of Yoshikawa's, are a
> > great way to pick-up "the flavour" of our subject/topic of interest.
> > General Studies, like those of Newman, Wiencek & Cook are also very
useful
> > as is Friday's "Hired Swords" (which I believe is quite accessible for
us
> > amateurs).
> >
> > Sadler's "The Maker of Modern Japan", Mabire & Breheret's "The Samurai"
> are
> > good and Wilson's translations:- "Ideals of the Samurai" & the
> > "Budoshoshinshu" are really great. "Musui's Story - the Autobiogaphy of
a
> > Tokugawa Samurai by Katsu Kokichi is absolutely marvellous as a journal
of
> > the first half of the nineteenth century.
> >
> > I'd also like to concur with Scott Nicholas, who noted that the
emergence
> of
> > the "samurai" militarily was during Masakado's rebellion.
> > Regards,
> > Steve Lofts.
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Alex Hazlett" <arexu@...>
> > To: "samurai list" <samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com>
> > Sent: Monday, February 25, 2002 3:24 AM
> > Subject: [samuraihistory] Re: Japanese historical fiction
> >
> >
> > > For those of you who did want their history in a big novelization,
> > > have you seen the works of Eiji Yoshikawa? These are huge
> > > (many hundreds of pages) tomes (His book on Musashi was printed in 5
> > > volumes I believe).
> > >
> > > I read 'Musashi' and 'Taiko' for sure, and perhaps another on the
> > > Heike,
> > > they are long reads but well worth the time.
> > >
> > > Alex Hazlett
> > >
> > > p.s. according to amazon.com, people who buy 'Taiko' are likely to buy
> > > books by:
> > > Takuan Soho
> > > Stephen Turnbull <---------------
> > > John Allyn
> > > Miyamoto Musashi
> > > Yagyu Munenori
> > >
> > >
> > > Samurai Archives: http://www.samurai-archives.com
> > > ---
> > > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> > > samuraihistory-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > Samurai Archives: http://www.samurai-archives.com
> > ---
> > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> > samuraihistory-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> >
> >
> >
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
> > Samurai Archives: http://www.samurai-archives.com
> > ---
> > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> > samuraihistory-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> >
> >
> >
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> >
> >
>
>
>
> Samurai Archives: http://www.samurai-archives.com
> ---
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> samuraihistory-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>

Hey, William.
I think I addressed you as David in my reply ... sorry about that ... that's
what I get from talking to someone about another trip to Japan whilst I'm
trying to type a message to you!
Kind regards,
Steve Lofts

----- Original Message -----
From: "William Letham" <samuraiw@...>
To: <samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2002 4:01 PM
Subject: Re: [samuraihistory] Re: Japanese historical fiction


> Could you give me some more info on the books by Newman, Wienck, Mabire &
> Breheret. Are they general surveys of samurai history or do they tackle
more
> specific subjects. I've read all the other ones mentioned. I liked parts
of
> Fridays book. I enjoyed Sadlers work thats the type of narrative popular
> history I like.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Soto, David <d34@...>
> To: <samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2002 9:14 PM
> Subject: RE: [samuraihistory] Re: Japanese historical fiction
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> > From: Lofty [mailto:loftysamurai@...]
> > Sent: Monday, February 25, 2002 9:27 PM
> > To: samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: Re: [samuraihistory] Re: Japanese historical fiction
> >
> >
> > Hi, I'm new at this as well... I'm a simple bugei who loves to read
about
> > those warriors, & their times, who practiced their martial specialties
> > somewhat more seriously than I (due to obvious reasons), although I have
> > been a practitioner for some twenty years. My own Japanese is limited &
> > I've only visited Japan twice.
> >
> > I agree with Alex: big novelisations, like those of Yoshikawa's, are a
> > great way to pick-up "the flavour" of our subject/topic of interest.
> > General Studies, like those of Newman, Wiencek & Cook are also very
useful
> > as is Friday's "Hired Swords" (which I believe is quite accessible for
us
> > amateurs).
> >
> > Sadler's "The Maker of Modern Japan", Mabire & Breheret's "The Samurai"
> are
> > good and Wilson's translations:- "Ideals of the Samurai" & the
> > "Budoshoshinshu" are really great. "Musui's Story - the Autobiogaphy of
a
> > Tokugawa Samurai by Katsu Kokichi is absolutely marvellous as a journal
of
> > the first half of the nineteenth century.
> >
> > I'd also like to concur with Scott Nicholas, who noted that the
emergence
> of
> > the "samurai" militarily was during Masakado's rebellion.
> > Regards,
> > Steve Lofts.
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Alex Hazlett" <arexu@...>
> > To: "samurai list" <samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com>
> > Sent: Monday, February 25, 2002 3:24 AM
> > Subject: [samuraihistory] Re: Japanese historical fiction
> >
> >
> > > For those of you who did want their history in a big novelization,
> > > have you seen the works of Eiji Yoshikawa? These are huge
> > > (many hundreds of pages) tomes (His book on Musashi was printed in 5
> > > volumes I believe).
> > >
> > > I read 'Musashi' and 'Taiko' for sure, and perhaps another on the
> > > Heike,
> > > they are long reads but well worth the time.
> > >
> > > Alex Hazlett
> > >
> > > p.s. according to amazon.com, people who buy 'Taiko' are likely to buy
> > > books by:
> > > Takuan Soho
> > > Stephen Turnbull <---------------
> > > John Allyn
> > > Miyamoto Musashi
> > > Yagyu Munenori
> > >
> > >
> > > Samurai Archives: http://www.samurai-archives.com
> > > ---
> > > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> > > samuraihistory-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > Samurai Archives: http://www.samurai-archives.com
> > ---
> > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> > samuraihistory-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> >
> >
> >
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
> > Samurai Archives: http://www.samurai-archives.com
> > ---
> > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> > samuraihistory-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> >
> >
> >
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> >
> >
>
>
>
> Samurai Archives: http://www.samurai-archives.com
> ---
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> samuraihistory-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>

Hello Lofty

Thats okay been called lots of things in my lifetime.

Have read some of the books mention Alwyn, Jansen, Vining, Redesdale, some
are on my wish list Akamatsu, Seward, ( eg wait and find a cheap copy on a
used book website.) now I'll add Newman Weinck and Mabire. Checked Mabire at
Alibris.com and found two titles, maybe its the same book???

If you're coming to Japan there is nothing like Osaka, though perhaps I'm
predjudiced because I live here.

----- Original Message -----
From: Lofty <loftysamurai@...>
To: <samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2002 6:35 PM
Subject: Re: [samuraihistory] Re: Japanese historical fiction


> Hey, William.
> I think I addressed you as David in my reply ... sorry about that ...
that's
> what I get from talking to someone about another trip to Japan whilst I'm
> trying to type a message to you!
> Kind regards,
> Steve Lofts
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "William Letham" <samuraiw@...>
> To: <samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2002 4:01 PM
> Subject: Re: [samuraihistory] Re: Japanese historical fiction
>
>
> > Could you give me some more info on the books by Newman, Wienck, Mabire
&
> > Breheret. Are they general surveys of samurai history or do they tackle
> more
> > specific subjects. I've read all the other ones mentioned. I liked parts
> of
> > Fridays book. I enjoyed Sadlers work thats the type of narrative popular
> > history I like.