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The 47 Ronin Story
47 Ronin Story is the classic Japanese story of Lord Asano of Ako and one of the bloodiest vendettas in Japan's feudal history. In a shocking clash between the warriors and the merchant class of seventeenth century Japan, there emerged the most unlikely set of heroes--the forty-seven ronin, or ex-samurai, of Ako.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1970
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4324 people want to read
About the author
John Allyn
22 books11 followersDr. John Allyn Jr. is a former film and music editor in the motion picture and television industries and was also a writer and director of industrial films in the aerospace field. Mr. Allyn attended the Army Specialized Training Program at Stanford University in 1944, majoring in the Japanese language, and also attended the Army Intensive Japanese Language School at the University of Michigan in 1945, receiving a B.A. degree from the latter. During the first four years of the U.S. occupation of Japan, he worked as Pictorial Censor of the Civil Censorship Detachment of G2, SCAP, in Osaka and Tokyo. After his return to the United States he entered UCLA where he received his master's degree in Theater Arts in 1951. He continued at UCLA where he specialized in Japanese theater, and received a PhD in Theater History.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 410 reviews
January 28, 2024
Perhaps the Foreword by Stephen Turnbull is the more interesting part of this book. He explains that the legend of the 47 ronin fails to follow the basis of law, and that the former Samurai were most likely quite in the wrong as their master almost certainly was. This put a quite different perspective in the story by John Allyn, which is of course fully fictional, as he states in his Preface "This novel is intended to give an account in English of what might have happened in those colourful days when Japan was secluded from the rest of the world and old traditions still governed the lives of men."
For the telling itself it is strangely flat telling; the writing is simple and doesn't contain much passion or excitement. There should be crescendos leading up to the dramatic events, yet it remains sedate and explanatory. There is also a very long timeframe describes in great details between the execution of Lord Asano and the time for revenge. This is explained as Kira and his supporters had engaged spies to watch their every move, suspecting a revenge attack, and the needed to convince them there was no revenge planned, but it took up almost 2/3 of the novel.
The basis of the story is that Lord Asana, a Daimyo or feudal lord - albeit a young and fairly minor one, is at the Shogun's Court and is frustrated with the slow processes invovled. Kira, the court master of ceremonies was making things difficult for him, as he refused to pay the necessary bribe (or gift-giving, as Turnbull refers to it as). Things come to a head as Kira treats him very rudely in a final attempt to have him submit to the bribe, and Asana loses his self control and draws his sword, striking him down (but not killing him). The penalty for drawing a sword in the Shogun's Court is execution, and this quickly follows.
As well as execution, all of Asana's lands are confiscated, his family turned out, his Samurai immediately default to being ronin - masterless Samurai.
The remainder of the story is the ronin taking revenge on Kira. Turnbull says this is not only not legal under the laws, but misplaced, as if revenge was sought on anyone it would be the Shogun.
The last few chapters, once the ronin determine the time is right for their reprisal, is a lot more upbeat, and the writing finally shows some excitement. After the revenge attack, there is a short period where the ronin are under arrest (having given themselves up) and waiting for judgement from the Shogun's council - I won't spoil the end for the reader!
3.5 stars, rounded down.
For the telling itself it is strangely flat telling; the writing is simple and doesn't contain much passion or excitement. There should be crescendos leading up to the dramatic events, yet it remains sedate and explanatory. There is also a very long timeframe describes in great details between the execution of Lord Asano and the time for revenge. This is explained as Kira and his supporters had engaged spies to watch their every move, suspecting a revenge attack, and the needed to convince them there was no revenge planned, but it took up almost 2/3 of the novel.
The basis of the story is that Lord Asana, a Daimyo or feudal lord - albeit a young and fairly minor one, is at the Shogun's Court and is frustrated with the slow processes invovled. Kira, the court master of ceremonies was making things difficult for him, as he refused to pay the necessary bribe (or gift-giving, as Turnbull refers to it as). Things come to a head as Kira treats him very rudely in a final attempt to have him submit to the bribe, and Asana loses his self control and draws his sword, striking him down (but not killing him). The penalty for drawing a sword in the Shogun's Court is execution, and this quickly follows.
As well as execution, all of Asana's lands are confiscated, his family turned out, his Samurai immediately default to being ronin - masterless Samurai.
The remainder of the story is the ronin taking revenge on Kira. Turnbull says this is not only not legal under the laws, but misplaced, as if revenge was sought on anyone it would be the Shogun.
The last few chapters, once the ronin determine the time is right for their reprisal, is a lot more upbeat, and the writing finally shows some excitement. After the revenge attack, there is a short period where the ronin are under arrest (having given themselves up) and waiting for judgement from the Shogun's council - I won't spoil the end for the reader!
3.5 stars, rounded down.
January 4, 2014
A very strangely written book.
written without alot of passion in story or characters
more like a history essay.
but saying that there's something in the story which keeps you hooked till the end.
The final battle scene not a lot to say about it apart from its very clinically cleanly written as is the where we findout happened to all the people in the book.
I may give the fantasy version a read to see what that is like.
written without alot of passion in story or characters
more like a history essay.
but saying that there's something in the story which keeps you hooked till the end.
The final battle scene not a lot to say about it apart from its very clinically cleanly written as is the where we findout happened to all the people in the book.
I may give the fantasy version a read to see what that is like.
July 21, 2020
I think to fully enjoy this novel, one has to have an open mind and realize that this is not written in the traditional western style that historical fiction and fantasy novels often take.
This is a moving but simple story about the popular Japanese tale of the 47 Ronin who avenged their dead master, a historical event that has since become legendary.
This book is relatively short, and is written in a sparse and minimalist manner that western readers might initially find off-putting.
However, anyone who's read at least a little about the Samurai, Japanese culture, or seen at least a few old Samurai films from the 50’s and 60’s knows that Samurai culture was all about extreme stoicism with a distinct distaste for over-dramatic expressions. I think that the rigid, Hemingway-esque tone of the novel captures the philosophy of the Samurai very well, in that regards.
This wasn't a perfect novel, and I think this is a rare case where a film might actually express the story better than a book, but overall I enjoyed it and any student or fan of Japanese history and the Samurai should read it.
This is a moving but simple story about the popular Japanese tale of the 47 Ronin who avenged their dead master, a historical event that has since become legendary.
This book is relatively short, and is written in a sparse and minimalist manner that western readers might initially find off-putting.
However, anyone who's read at least a little about the Samurai, Japanese culture, or seen at least a few old Samurai films from the 50’s and 60’s knows that Samurai culture was all about extreme stoicism with a distinct distaste for over-dramatic expressions. I think that the rigid, Hemingway-esque tone of the novel captures the philosophy of the Samurai very well, in that regards.
This wasn't a perfect novel, and I think this is a rare case where a film might actually express the story better than a book, but overall I enjoyed it and any student or fan of Japanese history and the Samurai should read it.
January 15, 2014
What a way to NOT start a New Year. It is the first half of the first month of 2014 and despite my hopes that this would be a big year for me and my reads, it has kicked off with a real let down.
I have seen 47 Ronin pop up in my friends' reading lists for a couple of years. I always thought it was a Young Adult book and avoided it as I only read adult fiction.
Then recently, I was looking for a book with an Asian Medieval (or near enough to it) flavour to suggest as a monthly read in my book group. I researched 47 Ronin and could not actually find anything anywhere that implied it was a young adult book. I am not sure now why I always thought that it was. I have my suspicions that perhaps it was via word of mouth. Someone must have told me that it was. It wouldn't surprise me if that were the case, because if there is any book that suits the title young adult more, it is this book.
It isn't that it is a story about children, don't assume that, it is more about the way it is written. It is simple, lacking in depth. In fact it did not surprise me to learn that the author was an editor in the television and motion picture industries and then a pictorial censor in the army later on. There is something about the way this story is written that reflects a mind that is used to cutting the fat and censoring. Only over editing can explain why this book suffered so from a complete literary devolution.
The characters were strangers to me. I did not know any of them in the entire book. Could barely tell them apart because the author attached no uniqueness to them.
The setting and environment, where depth of descriptions and cultural laminations should have been laid one atop the other to form a contextual feel (an important facet of historical fiction), were completely missing.
The best way for me to describe the lack of layers to this story is to say that I do not believe the author knew enough about the Japanese mind to write this book. He knows enough about Japan and its languages due to his career specialities, to think about writing a book about the Japanese, but I still think he has had some trouble working out who the Japanese male is. Or at least, who the Japanese warrior is.
The writing itself was not so bad. No glaring offenses there as far as technical skill goes. It was just basic and uncomplicated writing.
I cannot say if there are better historical fiction books out there which will offer a better viewing platform to the culture of the Japanese Samurai, as I have not read many on the subject, but I think you should probably try 47 Ronin. It may have more appeal to others than it did to me. I am fussy when it comes to writing and adult fiction. I expect a certain standard of characterisation and scene development. Not everyone has these same standards.
Apologies that I have not gone into what the book is about or who the characters were. To be brutally honest, I have no idea what the book was about and who the characters were. The whole thing was a mystery to me. I couldn't get into it or appreciate what was going on.
I did not know who was who or which way was up and that reflects in my rating for this book. 2 stars out of 5.
I have seen 47 Ronin pop up in my friends' reading lists for a couple of years. I always thought it was a Young Adult book and avoided it as I only read adult fiction.
Then recently, I was looking for a book with an Asian Medieval (or near enough to it) flavour to suggest as a monthly read in my book group. I researched 47 Ronin and could not actually find anything anywhere that implied it was a young adult book. I am not sure now why I always thought that it was. I have my suspicions that perhaps it was via word of mouth. Someone must have told me that it was. It wouldn't surprise me if that were the case, because if there is any book that suits the title young adult more, it is this book.
It isn't that it is a story about children, don't assume that, it is more about the way it is written. It is simple, lacking in depth. In fact it did not surprise me to learn that the author was an editor in the television and motion picture industries and then a pictorial censor in the army later on. There is something about the way this story is written that reflects a mind that is used to cutting the fat and censoring. Only over editing can explain why this book suffered so from a complete literary devolution.
The characters were strangers to me. I did not know any of them in the entire book. Could barely tell them apart because the author attached no uniqueness to them.
The setting and environment, where depth of descriptions and cultural laminations should have been laid one atop the other to form a contextual feel (an important facet of historical fiction), were completely missing.
The best way for me to describe the lack of layers to this story is to say that I do not believe the author knew enough about the Japanese mind to write this book. He knows enough about Japan and its languages due to his career specialities, to think about writing a book about the Japanese, but I still think he has had some trouble working out who the Japanese male is. Or at least, who the Japanese warrior is.
The writing itself was not so bad. No glaring offenses there as far as technical skill goes. It was just basic and uncomplicated writing.
I cannot say if there are better historical fiction books out there which will offer a better viewing platform to the culture of the Japanese Samurai, as I have not read many on the subject, but I think you should probably try 47 Ronin. It may have more appeal to others than it did to me. I am fussy when it comes to writing and adult fiction. I expect a certain standard of characterisation and scene development. Not everyone has these same standards.
Apologies that I have not gone into what the book is about or who the characters were. To be brutally honest, I have no idea what the book was about and who the characters were. The whole thing was a mystery to me. I couldn't get into it or appreciate what was going on.
I did not know who was who or which way was up and that reflects in my rating for this book. 2 stars out of 5.
February 12, 2024
"47 Ronin" is a rather famous work. It is often portrayed in Japanese culture in manga, anime, and many popular movies. Some of these movies have made it to the US, and their derivatives, such as "47 Ronin", "13 Assassins" and "Last Knights", etc.
Allyn excellent translation tells the story of the incident. In the 1700s, after the Shogun had established complete control, a rural Lord, Lord Asano Naganori, felt insulted by the Shogun's Master of Ceremony, Lord Kira Kozuke-no-suke Yoshihisa, and attacked him. The fallout resulted in the shame of his entire clan and their dissolution.
But, not all of Lord Asano's Samurai would go quietly into the night. Led by Oichi, these 47 remaining Samurai, now Ronin, enact a plan to seek revenge on Lord Kira and avenge their Lord. Their loyalty to the samurai code of honor made them heroes.
This is the gist of the story. But the actual history of the events is somewhat different. This story was first popularized by a kabuki theatre that was called "Kanadehon Chushingura" (The Treasure House of the Loyal Retainers). This became a mass sensation.
Yet, much like English history that was warped by Shakespeare, this "story" of the events portrays Lord Kira as an arch-villain. Lord Asano was the hero. In that version of "history" the evil and greedy Lord Kira was trying to squeeze money out of the honorable Lord Asano. The truth is far more likely a situation where Lord Kira, as The Shogun's Master of Ceremony, is expected to receive ceremonial gifts as this is a long-standing Japanese tradition. Likely the rural, and old-school, Lord Asano, shocked and disconcerted by the effete manners of the Shogun's Court, was rebuked by Lord Kira for his lack of protocol and manners. Lord Asano, in a huff, draws his sword and injures Lord Kira. Except, Lord Asano drew a weapon in the Shogun's palace and struck the Shogun's Master of Ceremony. Thus, he was forced to commit seppuku and his entire clan's holding and noble status liquidated.
Those being the events, I find some issues with the ethic behind the 47 Ronin. They speak of following samurai code and honor and I completely understand BUT as a Samurai in the time of the Shogun, you are breaking the law by seeking revenge and you are questioning the judgement of the Shogun by your actions (it was the Shogun who ordered Lord Asano's death, not Lord Kira) which, by law and the samurai code, means you are doing a dishonorable act. Thus while the justification for the act may have been tenuous, the sheer audacity of the 47 coupled with Lord Kira's fall from grace for corruption led to the events of the book and resulted in them being treated as "honorable" by the Shogun and allowed honorable seppuku themselves. This is why they became folk heroes.
Thus this is a great tale of revenge by a band of loyal warriors to avenge their Lord's wrongful death. A wonderful story of the Shogunate period.
Allyn excellent translation tells the story of the incident. In the 1700s, after the Shogun had established complete control, a rural Lord, Lord Asano Naganori, felt insulted by the Shogun's Master of Ceremony, Lord Kira Kozuke-no-suke Yoshihisa, and attacked him. The fallout resulted in the shame of his entire clan and their dissolution.
But, not all of Lord Asano's Samurai would go quietly into the night. Led by Oichi, these 47 remaining Samurai, now Ronin, enact a plan to seek revenge on Lord Kira and avenge their Lord. Their loyalty to the samurai code of honor made them heroes.
This is the gist of the story. But the actual history of the events is somewhat different. This story was first popularized by a kabuki theatre that was called "Kanadehon Chushingura" (The Treasure House of the Loyal Retainers). This became a mass sensation.
Yet, much like English history that was warped by Shakespeare, this "story" of the events portrays Lord Kira as an arch-villain. Lord Asano was the hero. In that version of "history" the evil and greedy Lord Kira was trying to squeeze money out of the honorable Lord Asano. The truth is far more likely a situation where Lord Kira, as The Shogun's Master of Ceremony, is expected to receive ceremonial gifts as this is a long-standing Japanese tradition. Likely the rural, and old-school, Lord Asano, shocked and disconcerted by the effete manners of the Shogun's Court, was rebuked by Lord Kira for his lack of protocol and manners. Lord Asano, in a huff, draws his sword and injures Lord Kira. Except, Lord Asano drew a weapon in the Shogun's palace and struck the Shogun's Master of Ceremony. Thus, he was forced to commit seppuku and his entire clan's holding and noble status liquidated.
Those being the events, I find some issues with the ethic behind the 47 Ronin. They speak of following samurai code and honor and I completely understand BUT as a Samurai in the time of the Shogun, you are breaking the law by seeking revenge and you are questioning the judgement of the Shogun by your actions (it was the Shogun who ordered Lord Asano's death, not Lord Kira) which, by law and the samurai code, means you are doing a dishonorable act. Thus while the justification for the act may have been tenuous, the sheer audacity of the 47 coupled with Lord Kira's fall from grace for corruption led to the events of the book and resulted in them being treated as "honorable" by the Shogun and allowed honorable seppuku themselves. This is why they became folk heroes.
Thus this is a great tale of revenge by a band of loyal warriors to avenge their Lord's wrongful death. A wonderful story of the Shogunate period.
December 11, 2019
getting ready to travel to Japan i read all i can find. this is one of the most amazing stories from the samurai period. the 47 ronin were ordered to commit seppuku for their vindictive slaying of a corrupt official. and they did. what a story.
January 18, 2014
Rating: 2/5
Summary: 47 Ronin seek justice for their executed lord.
Review: There are certain aspects of this story that I liked such as the plot and the cultural details of the time period. The author has studied the Japanese culture extensively and it shows. However, the characters, style of writing, and emotional connection/passion just wasn't there.
The feudal Japanese culture is vastly different from the modern Western way of thought, it was hard to understand some of the actions, and the reasoning and state of mind of the characters that led to the decisions they made. The author did not provide any insight into the state of mind, instead the characters were just there to propel the plot forward. With the exception of Oishi, all the other Ronin were very cookie cutter *inset stereotypical Ronin here*.
There were also some fascinating issues just waiting to be explored regarding loyalty, consequences of actions, justice, suicide... so much potential for deep exploration lost.
Additionally, the style of writing was as simplistic as the characters, without any stylistic elaborations. It added emotional distance between the story and the reader, and contributed to the lack of passion. I don't think I have ever read a story with so much potential for emotional connection and pain that so completely missed the mark. I admit, I am a huge crier. So it is quite sad when such a story as this didn't elicit as much as a shudder. The style of writing, the development of characters, everything just seems to contribute to this distance between story and reader which seems to grow as the story progresses ending with the most disappointing and anti-climactic battle scene I've ever read.
This novel was ok. It had some moments, like the duel in the theatre, that amused and connected me with the characters. It also had an interesting plot based on a true story with fascinating feudal Japanese cultural details that I loved. But overall, it just didn't do it for me.
And... click for a spoilery rant:
Summary: 47 Ronin seek justice for their executed lord.
Review: There are certain aspects of this story that I liked such as the plot and the cultural details of the time period. The author has studied the Japanese culture extensively and it shows. However, the characters, style of writing, and emotional connection/passion just wasn't there.
The feudal Japanese culture is vastly different from the modern Western way of thought, it was hard to understand some of the actions, and the reasoning and state of mind of the characters that led to the decisions they made. The author did not provide any insight into the state of mind, instead the characters were just there to propel the plot forward. With the exception of Oishi, all the other Ronin were very cookie cutter *inset stereotypical Ronin here*.
There were also some fascinating issues just waiting to be explored regarding loyalty, consequences of actions, justice, suicide... so much potential for deep exploration lost.
Additionally, the style of writing was as simplistic as the characters, without any stylistic elaborations. It added emotional distance between the story and the reader, and contributed to the lack of passion. I don't think I have ever read a story with so much potential for emotional connection and pain that so completely missed the mark. I admit, I am a huge crier. So it is quite sad when such a story as this didn't elicit as much as a shudder. The style of writing, the development of characters, everything just seems to contribute to this distance between story and reader which seems to grow as the story progresses ending with the most disappointing and anti-climactic battle scene I've ever read.
This novel was ok. It had some moments, like the duel in the theatre, that amused and connected me with the characters. It also had an interesting plot based on a true story with fascinating feudal Japanese cultural details that I loved. But overall, it just didn't do it for me.
And... click for a spoilery rant:
February 23, 2021
4.5 Stars for The 47 Ronin Story (audiobook) by John Allyn, Jr. and Stephen Turnbull read by David Shih. This was a fascinating look into Japanese culture.
January 12, 2014
This book did not fully deliver my expectations. Reading it felt like a large task. The subject of the story was interesting, but the way it was told is flat.
However, I was able to drag myself to finish it and picking up bits and pieces of gems within the story.
I am giving the author a lot of credit for introducing plenty of cultural nuances in this book. I just wished the presentation was more personal instead of keeping me at a distance.
However, I was able to drag myself to finish it and picking up bits and pieces of gems within the story.
I am giving the author a lot of credit for introducing plenty of cultural nuances in this book. I just wished the presentation was more personal instead of keeping me at a distance.
November 17, 2013
The 47 Ronin story, is a legendary Japanese tale about honor, and what lengths people will go to in order to achieve such honor. The lengths that the 47 Ronin, of Lord Asano, went in order to achieve honor for themselves and for their master defiantly earned themselves a special place in Japanese history.
Despite all of this I still rated "The 47 Ronin Story", by John Allyn, 2 out of 5 stars. I did this not because I think that the story itself is dull or uninteresting but I think that the way John Allyn wrote the book was less interesting than it could have been. There were many times throughout the book where I thought it was a little lacking in description. For example, in a scene when Allyn tries to depict the defenses of a castle he simply describes it as "The castle was surrounded by gigantic blocks of granite preceded by the low waters of a moat". Through this week description Allyn does not give the reader much imagery within the scene and unfortunately this how most of the book is written, which causes the read to be less enjoyable and much duller. I also thought that the book was lacking in character voice throughout the story which just added on to the dullness of the writing.
However, I do not think that John Allyn can be fully blamed for the dull writing in this book. The story of how the 47 Ronin avenged their master’s death is a tale best told, not read. In order to experience all the emotions within “The 47 Ronin story” someone must tell it to you. With that said John Allyn does deserve some credit for writing the story as it happened in real life.
In conclusion I would recommend that if you are interested in the story about the 47 master less samurai and want to really be involved in the story, that you have someone tell it to you or watch a movie about it. But if you are just curious about the historical events about the 47 Ronin then I would recommend this book. All in all this is an important tale, and no matter how it is told, it should defiantly be heard.
Despite all of this I still rated "The 47 Ronin Story", by John Allyn, 2 out of 5 stars. I did this not because I think that the story itself is dull or uninteresting but I think that the way John Allyn wrote the book was less interesting than it could have been. There were many times throughout the book where I thought it was a little lacking in description. For example, in a scene when Allyn tries to depict the defenses of a castle he simply describes it as "The castle was surrounded by gigantic blocks of granite preceded by the low waters of a moat". Through this week description Allyn does not give the reader much imagery within the scene and unfortunately this how most of the book is written, which causes the read to be less enjoyable and much duller. I also thought that the book was lacking in character voice throughout the story which just added on to the dullness of the writing.
However, I do not think that John Allyn can be fully blamed for the dull writing in this book. The story of how the 47 Ronin avenged their master’s death is a tale best told, not read. In order to experience all the emotions within “The 47 Ronin story” someone must tell it to you. With that said John Allyn does deserve some credit for writing the story as it happened in real life.
In conclusion I would recommend that if you are interested in the story about the 47 master less samurai and want to really be involved in the story, that you have someone tell it to you or watch a movie about it. But if you are just curious about the historical events about the 47 Ronin then I would recommend this book. All in all this is an important tale, and no matter how it is told, it should defiantly be heard.
December 20, 2013
I picked this book up in the local bookstore simply because I saw the word Ronin. I know what it means and therefore, I cannot resist the urge to pick it up, read the blurb and then after fighting with myself "to buy or not to buy", I gave in. I did not regret my decision.
I admit, it was a slow start but after I read the first 3 chapters, I became engrossed. Had to stop in between to sleep, shower, eat and of course off to work but the book was never far from my mind. Was impatient to finish it as I wanted to know how the story would progressed. The history of the samurai never failed to amaze me, [along with their code of conduct; the Bushido Code].
I am not quite sure how much the story sticks to the truth but I can say that these 47 Ronin have my utmost respect and admiration. True, they carried out revenge to avenge their master~ an act of vengeance that should not be revered as it is done to satisfy ones selfish desire even in the name of justice. However, you cannot help but admire what they had done and carried out with such integrity and in the end, they accepted the fate of their lawbreaking with grace because they KNOW what they did was wrong. So they carried out seppuku with honour, believing that they had live their life with integrity as befits their station [as samurai].
The book [nearly] moved me to tears as it was heartbreaking to read how these band of samurai plotted revenge and made sacrifices to their cause, with the knowledge that they will lose their life in the end.
A keeper for those who love Japanese culture and history.
I admit, it was a slow start but after I read the first 3 chapters, I became engrossed. Had to stop in between to sleep, shower, eat and of course off to work but the book was never far from my mind. Was impatient to finish it as I wanted to know how the story would progressed. The history of the samurai never failed to amaze me, [along with their code of conduct; the Bushido Code].
I am not quite sure how much the story sticks to the truth but I can say that these 47 Ronin have my utmost respect and admiration. True, they carried out revenge to avenge their master~ an act of vengeance that should not be revered as it is done to satisfy ones selfish desire even in the name of justice. However, you cannot help but admire what they had done and carried out with such integrity and in the end, they accepted the fate of their lawbreaking with grace because they KNOW what they did was wrong. So they carried out seppuku with honour, believing that they had live their life with integrity as befits their station [as samurai].
The book [nearly] moved me to tears as it was heartbreaking to read how these band of samurai plotted revenge and made sacrifices to their cause, with the knowledge that they will lose their life in the end.
A keeper for those who love Japanese culture and history.
June 9, 2022
47 Ronin is an English retelling of Chushingura. A japanese legend of vendetta of 47 former samurai of Ako. They were avenging the death of their master, Asano Naganori and vowed to fulfill his unfinished business posthumously.
* Ronin is a term used for a samurai without a lord or master during the feudal period (1185–1868) of Japan.
If the author's intention was to make this literature of Japanese legend more accessible to english medium readers, then he fulfilled his objective.
It's written in a simple and clean style without being dramatic, which fits with the spirit of Samurai culture. Readers will be able to follow through the story, with a good understanding without being led astray or, left wondering.
On the other hand, his writing lacked depth and quite monotone. It's unable to incite deep emotion in me.
Nevertheless i really liked the last two chapters. His depictions of the aftermath of Lord Kira's assassination was quite lively.
If only the assassination part was intense and as lively as the aftermath, I would be more satisfied and one-up my rating.
* Ronin is a term used for a samurai without a lord or master during the feudal period (1185–1868) of Japan.
If the author's intention was to make this literature of Japanese legend more accessible to english medium readers, then he fulfilled his objective.
It's written in a simple and clean style without being dramatic, which fits with the spirit of Samurai culture. Readers will be able to follow through the story, with a good understanding without being led astray or, left wondering.
On the other hand, his writing lacked depth and quite monotone. It's unable to incite deep emotion in me.
Nevertheless i really liked the last two chapters. His depictions of the aftermath of Lord Kira's assassination was quite lively.
If only the assassination part was intense and as lively as the aftermath, I would be more satisfied and one-up my rating.
July 23, 2010
Bagaimana rasanya kalau kita tahu kita akan pensiun sebentar lagi?
Oishi dan keseluruhan prajurit Ako merasakan kecemasan dan dendam yang luar biasa saat tuannya, Asano Naganori harus melakukan seppuku karena telah menyerang Kira, sang pemimpin upacara istana yang korupsi.
Bab-bab di pertengahan membuat saya mengingat masa-masa awal pensiun Bapak saya. Perasaan beliau mungkin hampir sama. Merasa tidak lagi diandalkan.
Para samurai klan Asano merasa tidak berguna karena tidak dapat membalas dendam atas kematian majikannya. Tapi lebih dari itu, mereka juga tidak sanggup terjerembab dalam kehinaan menjadi seorang Ronin, samurai tidak bertuan. Perasaan menjadi 'sampah' itu membuat semangat membalas dendam mereka, terutama Hara dan Horibe, semakin berapi-api.
Oishi pun nyaris kehilangan akal, bahkan Kataoka dan Yoshida tak tau bagaimana membujuk agar anak buahnya mampu menahan diri, setidaknya sampai petisi yang mereka ajukan ke Shogun ditolak.
Tapi petisi itu tak juga berkabar. Oishi mencari akal agar rencana ia membawa anak buahnya mendapat penggalan kepala Kira tercapai tanpa ada hambatan dari klan Eusugi maupun prajurit Shogun.
Bahasa buku ini lebih mirip ke bahasa buku sejarah. Tapi dalam memasukkan unsur emosi, lumayan bisa diberikan jempol (tapi satu ajah). Saya menikmati membaca sejarah dalam buku ini. Nyaris persis jika dibandingkan dengan source lain yang coba saya googling.
Hanya saja, karena ini novel berdasarkan sejarah, akhir cerita nya tidak bisa dirubah (atau diubah?). Terlalu indah menurut saya. Kurang tragis layaknya buku samurai yang lain. Hehehehehe
Bintang 4 nya musti turun satu karena cara penuturan akhir ceritanya.
*mari lanjut baca prequelnya Klan Otori, dan mencari akhir tragis cerita-cerita samurai.. Lord Shigeru, here i come*
[image error]
**************************************************************
PBJ 2010, duapuluh ribu
aaah, senangnyaaa.. buku samuraiku nambah lagi
hihihihihihi.. senang, senang, senang...
Baca bareng Mba Indira
Oishi dan keseluruhan prajurit Ako merasakan kecemasan dan dendam yang luar biasa saat tuannya, Asano Naganori harus melakukan seppuku karena telah menyerang Kira, sang pemimpin upacara istana yang korupsi.
Bab-bab di pertengahan membuat saya mengingat masa-masa awal pensiun Bapak saya. Perasaan beliau mungkin hampir sama. Merasa tidak lagi diandalkan.
Para samurai klan Asano merasa tidak berguna karena tidak dapat membalas dendam atas kematian majikannya. Tapi lebih dari itu, mereka juga tidak sanggup terjerembab dalam kehinaan menjadi seorang Ronin, samurai tidak bertuan. Perasaan menjadi 'sampah' itu membuat semangat membalas dendam mereka, terutama Hara dan Horibe, semakin berapi-api.
Oishi pun nyaris kehilangan akal, bahkan Kataoka dan Yoshida tak tau bagaimana membujuk agar anak buahnya mampu menahan diri, setidaknya sampai petisi yang mereka ajukan ke Shogun ditolak.
Tapi petisi itu tak juga berkabar. Oishi mencari akal agar rencana ia membawa anak buahnya mendapat penggalan kepala Kira tercapai tanpa ada hambatan dari klan Eusugi maupun prajurit Shogun.
Bahasa buku ini lebih mirip ke bahasa buku sejarah. Tapi dalam memasukkan unsur emosi, lumayan bisa diberikan jempol (tapi satu ajah). Saya menikmati membaca sejarah dalam buku ini. Nyaris persis jika dibandingkan dengan source lain yang coba saya googling.
Hanya saja, karena ini novel berdasarkan sejarah, akhir cerita nya tidak bisa dirubah (atau diubah?). Terlalu indah menurut saya. Kurang tragis layaknya buku samurai yang lain. Hehehehehe
Bintang 4 nya musti turun satu karena cara penuturan akhir ceritanya.
*mari lanjut baca prequelnya Klan Otori, dan mencari akhir tragis cerita-cerita samurai.. Lord Shigeru, here i come*
[image error]
**************************************************************
PBJ 2010, duapuluh ribu
aaah, senangnyaaa.. buku samuraiku nambah lagi
hihihihihihi.. senang, senang, senang...
Baca bareng Mba Indira
October 30, 2023
A man will only be as long as his life but his name will be for all time
The story of the 47 Ronin is a well known one and, as the author points out, has been the inspiration for several plays and movies over the years, the most recent of which starred Keanu reeves and I admittedly have never seen it (16% on rotten tomatoes? It can’t be THAT bad can it?).
It’s the world’s most famous story of vengeance and a prevailing example of samurai loyalty, courage and honor.
PLOT 4/5
The tale starts with Lord Asano, who is struggling his way through politics as the representative for Ako. He has been placed under the wing of a man named Kira — a corrupt government official. Kira takes pleasure in humiliating the hot headed Asano, and when he goes too far Asano attacks him in a room full of dignitaries.
Lord Asano is sentenced to death, and his samurai concoct a plan to avenge his death by killing the man who started it all— the contemptible Kira.
A lot of the book is spent in suspension, as the leader of the ronin, Oishi ,waits for the perfect opportunity to exact his vengeance. Ultimately the ronin end up waiting over a year before they find their chance at revenge. The story follows Oishi as he tries to keep his men in line and organized without alerting the shogun to their plans.
PROSE 2/5
Story was told in third person limited. It was all very dry, and told more as a recounting of events than a story.
PEOPLE 3/5
Oishi was well defined and his motivations were clear. Some of the other ronin got a little muddled for me, and the few number of female characters were all basically the same— and so damn submissive.
PLACE 3/5
There is some level of world building. We get an idea as to the structure of the society (I.e. ruled by the Shogan and in an economic depression) but largely the story focuses on the plot and not on the world around it. Not a bad thing but in this instance it felt a little dry.
POINT 3 stars
found another “p” to add to my summary. Let’s get to the point.
This particular version of the tale is entertaining but ultimately a very hollow recounting of events. This book was a solid 3 — not bad but also not great. It’s a good introduction to the story of the 47 Ronin, but leaves the reader wanting.
The story of the 47 Ronin is a well known one and, as the author points out, has been the inspiration for several plays and movies over the years, the most recent of which starred Keanu reeves and I admittedly have never seen it (16% on rotten tomatoes? It can’t be THAT bad can it?).
It’s the world’s most famous story of vengeance and a prevailing example of samurai loyalty, courage and honor.
PLOT 4/5
The tale starts with Lord Asano, who is struggling his way through politics as the representative for Ako. He has been placed under the wing of a man named Kira — a corrupt government official. Kira takes pleasure in humiliating the hot headed Asano, and when he goes too far Asano attacks him in a room full of dignitaries.
Lord Asano is sentenced to death, and his samurai concoct a plan to avenge his death by killing the man who started it all— the contemptible Kira.
A lot of the book is spent in suspension, as the leader of the ronin, Oishi ,waits for the perfect opportunity to exact his vengeance. Ultimately the ronin end up waiting over a year before they find their chance at revenge. The story follows Oishi as he tries to keep his men in line and organized without alerting the shogun to their plans.
PROSE 2/5
Story was told in third person limited. It was all very dry, and told more as a recounting of events than a story.
PEOPLE 3/5
Oishi was well defined and his motivations were clear. Some of the other ronin got a little muddled for me, and the few number of female characters were all basically the same— and so damn submissive.
PLACE 3/5
There is some level of world building. We get an idea as to the structure of the society (I.e. ruled by the Shogan and in an economic depression) but largely the story focuses on the plot and not on the world around it. Not a bad thing but in this instance it felt a little dry.
POINT 3 stars
found another “p” to add to my summary. Let’s get to the point.
This particular version of the tale is entertaining but ultimately a very hollow recounting of events. This book was a solid 3 — not bad but also not great. It’s a good introduction to the story of the 47 Ronin, but leaves the reader wanting.
September 17, 2013
Alright! My first review post turns out to be about a Japanese classic. Neato. I actually read this book about a month ago, so my review may be a bit sketchy, but let's begin.
I first attempted to read this book about two years ago, when I bought it from the local borders during a visit from my parents. Unfortunately school and other things got in the way, but largely it was because at the time I thought it was too wordy or difficult to read and keep up with names. Whenever I encounter a situation like this, the fault is usually with me. I put the book down until later, maybe a few years, and then pick it back up and think it's great. This is definitely one of those books.
I don't think I'll go into much detail because I'm not a fan of giving stuff away, but here's the basics. The story is set in Feudal Japan. A rural Daimyo makes a mistake in the high court and his actions lead to years of hardship and trouble for his revenge-driven samurai. The story follows these now-masterless samurai, called ronin, through their path to ultimate revenge.
Some of the most interesting things for me in the book were how well the book described life in the era. Traveling took days. Though described briefly there were many allusions to long horseback trips along the mountainous trails. Tea houses, small shops, archery schools, oppressive rules, poor farmers and restrictive castes. It's all described and lived well by the characters. Even the climax showed just how Japan functioned, how samurai carried themselves and how revenge was settled.
If you're at all interested in Japanese history, or like stories of intrigue and honor, I'd definitely suggest this book for you.
I first attempted to read this book about two years ago, when I bought it from the local borders during a visit from my parents. Unfortunately school and other things got in the way, but largely it was because at the time I thought it was too wordy or difficult to read and keep up with names. Whenever I encounter a situation like this, the fault is usually with me. I put the book down until later, maybe a few years, and then pick it back up and think it's great. This is definitely one of those books.
I don't think I'll go into much detail because I'm not a fan of giving stuff away, but here's the basics. The story is set in Feudal Japan. A rural Daimyo makes a mistake in the high court and his actions lead to years of hardship and trouble for his revenge-driven samurai. The story follows these now-masterless samurai, called ronin, through their path to ultimate revenge.
Some of the most interesting things for me in the book were how well the book described life in the era. Traveling took days. Though described briefly there were many allusions to long horseback trips along the mountainous trails. Tea houses, small shops, archery schools, oppressive rules, poor farmers and restrictive castes. It's all described and lived well by the characters. Even the climax showed just how Japan functioned, how samurai carried themselves and how revenge was settled.
If you're at all interested in Japanese history, or like stories of intrigue and honor, I'd definitely suggest this book for you.
November 25, 2016
Shogun, samurai, and seppuku are not common words in my vocabulary but I do understand the concepts of greed, corruption, honor, loyalty, revenge, bravery and cunning -- all of which are in abundance in this 18th century Japanese story based on real life events.
January 14, 2019
Not only sushi is a dish best served cold... For my proper review, click here: https://patricksherriff.com/2019/01/1...
July 1, 2025
Things I’m doing if I wake up as Lord Kira Yoshinaka:
SLIMING Lord Asano
RAGEBAITING the Forty-Seven Ronīn for two years
DESTABILISING the samurai of Akō
SLIMING Ronīn no.1
SLIMING Ronīn no.2
SLIMING Oishi Yoshio
SLIMING Ronīn no.4
CRACKING Monkey-faced Karaoka
SLIMING old man Hara
SLIMING Ronīn no.7
SLIMING Ronīn no.8
SLIMING Ronīn no.9
SLIMING Ronīn no.10
SLIMING Ronīn no.11
SLIMING Ronīn no.12
SLIMING Ronīn no.13
SLIMING Ronīn no.14
SLIMING Yoshida
SLIMING Ronīn no.16
SLIMING Ronīn no.17
SLIMING Ronīn no.18
SLIMING Ronīn no.19
SLIMING Ronīn no.20
SLIMING Ronīn no.21
CRACKING Horibe
CRACKING Onodera
SLIMING Ronīn no.24
SLIMING Ronīn no.25
SLIMING Ronīn no.26
SLIMING Ronīn no.27
SLIMING Ronīn no.28
SLIMING Takebayashi Takashige
SLIMING Ronīn no.30
SLIMING Ronīn no.31
SLIMING Ronīn no.32
SLIMING Ronīn no.33
SLIMING Chikamatsu
SLIMING Ronīn no.35
SLIMING Ronīn no.36
SLIMING Ronīn no.37
SLIMING Ronīn no.38
SLIMING Ronīn no.39
SLIMING Chikara
SLIMING CHIKARA
SLIMING Ronīn no.42
SLIMING Ronīn no.43
SLIMING Ronīn no.44
SLIMING Ronīn no.45
SLIMING Ronīn no.46
SLIMING Ronīn no.47
SLIMING Lord Asano
RAGEBAITING the Forty-Seven Ronīn for two years
DESTABILISING the samurai of Akō
SLIMING Ronīn no.1
SLIMING Ronīn no.2
SLIMING Oishi Yoshio
SLIMING Ronīn no.4
CRACKING Monkey-faced Karaoka
SLIMING old man Hara
SLIMING Ronīn no.7
SLIMING Ronīn no.8
SLIMING Ronīn no.9
SLIMING Ronīn no.10
SLIMING Ronīn no.11
SLIMING Ronīn no.12
SLIMING Ronīn no.13
SLIMING Ronīn no.14
SLIMING Yoshida
SLIMING Ronīn no.16
SLIMING Ronīn no.17
SLIMING Ronīn no.18
SLIMING Ronīn no.19
SLIMING Ronīn no.20
SLIMING Ronīn no.21
CRACKING Horibe
CRACKING Onodera
SLIMING Ronīn no.24
SLIMING Ronīn no.25
SLIMING Ronīn no.26
SLIMING Ronīn no.27
SLIMING Ronīn no.28
SLIMING Takebayashi Takashige
SLIMING Ronīn no.30
SLIMING Ronīn no.31
SLIMING Ronīn no.32
SLIMING Ronīn no.33
SLIMING Chikamatsu
SLIMING Ronīn no.35
SLIMING Ronīn no.36
SLIMING Ronīn no.37
SLIMING Ronīn no.38
SLIMING Ronīn no.39
SLIMING Chikara
SLIMING CHIKARA
SLIMING Ronīn no.42
SLIMING Ronīn no.43
SLIMING Ronīn no.44
SLIMING Ronīn no.45
SLIMING Ronīn no.46
SLIMING Ronīn no.47
November 19, 2013
Когато честта е по-важна от живота: http://knigolandia.info/book-review/i...
Нивга не ще разбера японците – или поне онези, останали в историята, не днешните озападнили се бизнесмени. След времената, когато четях и препрочитах Клавел, мине се през чудесната ми среща с “Хилядите есени на Якоб де Зут” в началото на тази година, сега дойде и сблъсъкът ми с романизираната версия на популярния мит за 47-те ронини на Джон Алин – и пак се чудя и се мая една и съща планета ли обитаваме с тези хора с толкова различни ценности. Разбира се, няма да поставям оценка, делят ни не само векове, но и коренно различни житейски философии. Пределно наясно съм, че не е възможно наистина да разбера какво е имало в главата на тези 47 самураи, които търпеливо търсят начин да отмъстят за екзекуцията на своя господар, дори и да знаят, че това автоматично ще им коства живота.
Colibri Books
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/i...
Нивга не ще разбера японците – или поне онези, останали в историята, не днешните озападнили се бизнесмени. След времената, когато четях и препрочитах Клавел, мине се през чудесната ми среща с “Хилядите есени на Якоб де Зут” в началото на тази година, сега дойде и сблъсъкът ми с романизираната версия на популярния мит за 47-те ронини на Джон Алин – и пак се чудя и се мая една и съща планета ли обитаваме с тези хора с толкова различни ценности. Разбира се, няма да поставям оценка, делят ни не само векове, но и коренно различни житейски философии. Пределно наясно съм, че не е възможно наистина да разбера какво е имало в главата на тези 47 самураи, които търпеливо търсят начин да отмъстят за екзекуцията на своя господар, дори и да знаят, че това автоматично ще им коства живота.
Colibri Books
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/i...
April 11, 2014
The introduction to this book was not helpful to the experience of reading it. The professor from the United Kingdom places a nice heavy judgment on the acts of the Samurai in perpetrating an attack over a slight to their leader.
The story as told by this author creates a totally understandable and non-western justification for the attack by these Ronin. It makes no sense to try to apply western reasoning for why this attack happened.
I may have missed it, but if I were the author, I'd remove the introduction. It dramatically affects the story and places a skeptical taste in one's mouth before one even reads the book. I nearly took the book back after reading the introduction.
The introduction has nearly no critical value to the story as told. It might be nice for a discussion on west v east values of revenge, duty, and honor, but hurts this book.
The story as told by this author creates a totally understandable and non-western justification for the attack by these Ronin. It makes no sense to try to apply western reasoning for why this attack happened.
I may have missed it, but if I were the author, I'd remove the introduction. It dramatically affects the story and places a skeptical taste in one's mouth before one even reads the book. I nearly took the book back after reading the introduction.
The introduction has nearly no critical value to the story as told. It might be nice for a discussion on west v east values of revenge, duty, and honor, but hurts this book.
January 16, 2014
In the beginning I have to say that I am not a big fan of books set in Japan/Asia, and that I wanted to use this book to get a bit out of my comfort zone and perhaps find interest in this setting. After finishing it, I have to say that it did not happen. The book had some engaging moments, but most of the time it felt more like a summary or a report about a story. The couple of dialogues and interesting cultural details could not save it. This is not a book I could recommend. 2.5 stars
March 14, 2024
47 Ronin was a very interesting short read. Historical fiction is not something I typically gravitate towards, however, I do find things related to feudal Japan to be very intriguing. The standards that these men held themselves to during this time period truly is something else.
The story of the 47 Ronin taking retribution for their late master displays this pretty well in its short duration. Though some parts of the book felt somewhat stale, I really did enjoy the story overall. I saw many reviews saying that the characters were written without passion, however I could feel many of the characters struggles, and I believe that the author did well to portray this fictionalized event in the short length of the book.
I would recommend 47 Ronin to any reader looking to dip their feet into historical fiction as it is quite a short read, and it is paced well.
The story of the 47 Ronin taking retribution for their late master displays this pretty well in its short duration. Though some parts of the book felt somewhat stale, I really did enjoy the story overall. I saw many reviews saying that the characters were written without passion, however I could feel many of the characters struggles, and I believe that the author did well to portray this fictionalized event in the short length of the book.
I would recommend 47 Ronin to any reader looking to dip their feet into historical fiction as it is quite a short read, and it is paced well.
March 21, 2025
None of the characters were actually all that likeable, especially not Lord Asano, so I didn't really feel like rooting for Oishi and his band of ronin. It's an interesting story though, and kind of fascinating that it's based on real events.
October 12, 2023
A quick and easy read with a story that moves along well and keeps you engaged.
I have visited the site of the 47 Ronin graves and knowing the story brought more intrigue and respect to the visit.
I have visited the site of the 47 Ronin graves and knowing the story brought more intrigue and respect to the visit.
January 7, 2014
Themes of honor, loyalty, ritual suicide and acting in accord with the Samuri code of conduct make this read important. After Lord Asano is allowed ritual suicide, his samuri lose their lands and homes. They become ronin, duty bound to avenge their master's death. This story is true and troubling to me because I focused on the ritual suicides. I cannot understand why these ronin rejoiced that their deaths would be by their own hands. That thought led to remembering other people who chose suicide over execution. Hitler came to mind as did astronauts holding cyanide capsules just in case nature might become an executioner. I thought about the 911 terrorists who willingly went to their deaths in order to kill Americans. The acts I have mentioned and those of the forty seven ronin differ from wars where soldiers do not know whether they will live or die in battle. I thank the author for reporting the acts of forty seven ronin in a narrative or book form. He let me, the reader, see the humanity of the people involved.
June 17, 2011
I choose to read this book years ago for a school report. I expected to be bored, but as the story progressed, I found that I was anything but! This book has it all - war, love, betrayal, murder, sex, honor, dishonor, even comedy!!
There is a scene in the book where one of the men is having trouble walking because his pants need to stay ballooned out - if he walks wrong, they'll 'deflate', which would be disgraceful. And I remember laughing at the absurdity of the situation, in light of the horrors occurring around the Ronin and the Empire.
This is a wonderful bit of Japanese history - a fantastic story - and it transcends cultural fiction/non-fiction. It appeals on so many different levels - this is a fantastic book and well worth spending the time to read it!
There is a scene in the book where one of the men is having trouble walking because his pants need to stay ballooned out - if he walks wrong, they'll 'deflate', which would be disgraceful. And I remember laughing at the absurdity of the situation, in light of the horrors occurring around the Ronin and the Empire.
This is a wonderful bit of Japanese history - a fantastic story - and it transcends cultural fiction/non-fiction. It appeals on so many different levels - this is a fantastic book and well worth spending the time to read it!
July 8, 2014
There are some reviews of this book that are less than kind. They refer to the style. It is spartan or Hemmingway-esque, if you will. DO NOT LET THIS DISSUADE YOU. What better style for a tale of the samurai? A story of bravery among professional soldiers who shunned superfluousness for duty, honor, & a commitment to professional service should be told this way. There is also a recently released film. I haven't seen it, but no matter how good it is, it cannot live up to this masterful piece. A tale of honor, loyalty, professionalism, & commitment that is almost superhuman. This is a fantastic piece of literature that is a glimpse into the steel of character that makes warriors what they are, & all honorable people exactly that, wether in feudal Japan or 2014.
October 22, 2014
This is a great book and an enduring piece of literature. While many seemingly do not believe so, I think that's a case of cultural bias. If you read the book from the Samurai viewpoint, you'll see that's it's very much in keeping with their traditions: the book is not overly long nor is it profuse with flashy words or verbose passages. What it is is simple, elegant, and (I assume) true to the source material. While I believe many readers do not like the book due to the seemingly fanatical and heartless actions taken by Oishi-dono, such as divorcing his wife or taking in Okaru-san, if one looks through the Samurai lens one may see the beautiful, yet tragic singularity of their purpose: Their highest calling is to serve their master, even at the cost of their own existence. Read this book.
May 21, 2021
The whole time I was reading this book, I kept wondering how it would be adapted into a major Hollywood motion picture starring Keanu Reeves. For starters, there are no white people in this book. There's also very little action. The main conflict in the book centers around a guy who doesn't want to tip another guy. When that leads to conflict, it's not exactly a fight. Afterwards, there's a two year wait before any vengeance happens, and even then it's pretty mild in terms of action. When it's all said and done, less than a dozen people die and then there's a downer of an ending that is only uplifting if you're a fan of suicide.
So then I watched the movie, which involved a "half breed" raised by Demons as the main character, a fighting tournament, and under ground slave MMA, followed by a giant trojan horse battle at the end. I think I counted five things in common with the book while I was watching it. Honestly, both versions were... fine. The book wasn't exactly super exciting, but it feels like an authentic Japanese story of honor. The movie wasn't exactly good, but it had some entertaining set pieces.
Since this is a book review, I'll say that I liked Oishi and found his relationship with his son interesting, but it's hard to read this story through 2021 eyes and not see it as a big waste of life for most of the people involved. There's also an historical note at the beginning that explains how the 47 Ronin were not within their rights to do what they did, and that Lord Kira really was entitled to some tips for his work and isn't the villain this story has made him out to be. It's an odd thing to read before the book, as it spoils the entire story and kind of taints the read for those unfamiliar. I'd have preferred it at the end to clarify how the story fits into reality.
So then I watched the movie, which involved a "half breed" raised by Demons as the main character, a fighting tournament, and under ground slave MMA, followed by a giant trojan horse battle at the end. I think I counted five things in common with the book while I was watching it. Honestly, both versions were... fine. The book wasn't exactly super exciting, but it feels like an authentic Japanese story of honor. The movie wasn't exactly good, but it had some entertaining set pieces.
Since this is a book review, I'll say that I liked Oishi and found his relationship with his son interesting, but it's hard to read this story through 2021 eyes and not see it as a big waste of life for most of the people involved. There's also an historical note at the beginning that explains how the 47 Ronin were not within their rights to do what they did, and that Lord Kira really was entitled to some tips for his work and isn't the villain this story has made him out to be. It's an odd thing to read before the book, as it spoils the entire story and kind of taints the read for those unfamiliar. I'd have preferred it at the end to clarify how the story fits into reality.
May 8, 2020
The story of the 47 Ronin is a true story from feudal Japan about a band of 47 samurais who challenge the shogun's decision and avenge the injustice done to their master. This book dramatises that story. I'm doing so, it takes you into the customs and culture of feudal Japan and the samurai to understand why their actions are considered so significant.
You get a glimpse of the Japanese society and organisation of power structure between the Shogun, the Emperor and daimyos. You also get a glimpse of how the society was changing in the 18th century with the role of the samurai diminishing and the rise of merchant classes and towns and geishas.
The story itself is fast paced and written in a simple style allowing and has plenty of thrills and twists to keep you engaged.
The characters though seem very two dimensional to serve the narrative. Given the history of this stmory I would have liked to see a more in-depth study of Oishi and the other samurais and even Kira. Although I think the purpose of this book was to narrate a story, and it does that well.
This book definitely has made me more curious about the 47 Ronin story and fuedal Japan society.
You get a glimpse of the Japanese society and organisation of power structure between the Shogun, the Emperor and daimyos. You also get a glimpse of how the society was changing in the 18th century with the role of the samurai diminishing and the rise of merchant classes and towns and geishas.
The story itself is fast paced and written in a simple style allowing and has plenty of thrills and twists to keep you engaged.
The characters though seem very two dimensional to serve the narrative. Given the history of this stmory I would have liked to see a more in-depth study of Oishi and the other samurais and even Kira. Although I think the purpose of this book was to narrate a story, and it does that well.
This book definitely has made me more curious about the 47 Ronin story and fuedal Japan society.
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