Musui's Story: The Autobiography of a Tokugawa Samurai

by Katsu Kokichi, Teruko Craig (Editor, Translator, Introduction)

A series of picaresque adventures set against the backdrop of a Japan still closed off from the rest of the world, Musui's Story recounts the escapades of samurai Katsu Kokichi. As it depicts Katsu stealing, brawling, indulging in the pleasure quarters, and getting the better of authorities, it also provides a refreshing perspective on Japanese society, customs, economy, and human relationships.

From childhood, Katsu was given to mischief. He ran away from home, once at thirteen, making his way as a beggar on the great trunk road between Edo and Kyoto, and again at twenty, posing as the emissary of a feudal lord. He eventually married and had children but never obtained official preferment and was forced to supplement a meager stipend by dealing in swords, selling protection to shopkeepers, and generally using his muscle and wits.

Katsu's descriptions of loyalty and kindness, greed and deception, vanity and superstition offer an intimate view of daily life in nineteenth-century Japan unavailable in standard history books. Musui's Story will delight not only students of Japan's past but also general readers who will be entranced by Katsu's candor and boundless zest for life.

Katsu Kokichi (1802-1850) was a low ranking samurai who lived during the last decades of the Tokugawa period of Japan. Upon his retirement he wrote an autobiography that offers modern readers a richly detailed account of daily life in Edo during the early nineteenth century.

Genres: History, Japan, Nonfiction, Biography, Japanese Literature, Memoir, Autobiography

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1843

Reviews

[Andrew]

Consider the degree to which the notion of the samurai is distorted in the Western imagination. Countless neckbeards imagine a disciplined scholar-warrior and follower of bushido, fighting the good fight. Others think of Tom Cruise.

When, if Katsu Kokichi is anything to go by, the sloppy braggart from Kurosawa's Seven Samurai might be a more accurate model. Katsu fucks around, cheats, lies, steals, and generally acts the ne'er-do-well, while imploring the reader to do better, and is shocked and delighted how well his kids turned out. More than anything else, I felt like I was hearing a beer-drunk old-timer at a dive bar tell his life story, with that mix of regret and pride, complete with a story about how he bruised his dick.

[Smiley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This fine paperback did not seem readable to me when I leafed through it a few months ago but I decided to read it because I’ve never read such an autobiography written by a Tokugawa samurai before. Written in 1843 during his retirement, this nine-topic account would help its readers know more or better understand how the author lived or worked as well as what the people/places looked like in Edo (Now Tokyo) 170 years ago. Interestingly, there is an anonymous 4-line poem facing the Prologue page:

Be patient, large of heart, and chaste,
Ever conscientious in fulfilling your duties.
Follow the path of learning,
Even though life is as fleeting as the dew on the roadside.

This reminds me of the Japanese character itself that has long shaped Japanese to be unique in their country called Japan, in other words, each line looks simple but Japan has since taken each as her way of life and become one of the great countries in the world, that is, culturally, economically, technologically, etc.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful and funny book, written in the "readers, don't do things like I did" vein. Very revealing about what life was like for lower ranking samurai in the Tokugawa era.

[Rin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Man this dude was a douche. I guess points for realizing it though?

[Hailey · Rating 2 out of 5]

read this for a class, but in the beginning i had hope that i might enjoy it. i was wrong.

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book immensely, not only because of the personal insights it gives one of the everyday life of an Edo samurai during the closing years of the Edo Period, but because dispels the myth of the "honorable" samurai so often sold to the West through book and film.

Most samurai living in Edo, and most other castle towns of the period (although probably not as dishonest as Katsu Kokichi on the whole), had very little to do but march to the capital, spend money and fight off debt, and this book does a good job of presenting a rare firsthand account of one such "urban samurai."

[Kendra Strand · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lucid translation that reads easily and enjoyably, despite showing its age in the interpretation of certain terms and concepts, including “feudalism” and related structure and terminology, as well as discussions of the Yoshiwara district and its inhabitants. Regardless, Craig captures the easygoing, almost flippant, pleasure and resilience with which Katsu goes about his life and his makeshift business endeavors, even when they deal him one harsh blow after another.

[kimberley eckersley · Rating 4 out of 5]

really fascinating look at the life of a (highly unorthodox) low-ranking samurai just prior to the bakumatsu. many of the pages detail various disputes about loans and contain detailed descriptions of regalia and swords, but his story growing up as a gifted-swordsman-renegade is highly engaging to read. can't help but smile at his irony-laden pedagogy of never following his youth's example while still reflecting wistfully on such a 'lucky and wonderful life'. a cunningly brutal man with an affable personality but with an adherence to a genuine sense of morality.

[Hamish Veitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

The life of a lowly Edo-period samurai with the Howard Ratner wheel & deal, snap necks cash checks mindset. My favourite part is when his family lock him in a bamboo cage in their living room for 3 years because he’s too embarrassing. He was 21 at the time

[Abigail Jordana · Rating 1 out of 5]

Reading this book was more painful than when he fell off of the cliff and hurt his testicles.

[Regina Mariano · Rating 4 out of 5]

for his183 class

tokugawa samurai were in the trenches

[Lance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book and easy read but Musui is an asshole. He’s a wife beater, a cheat, a crappy friend, and a violent person who never seems to distinguish himself in any positive manner. This is a very interesting insight to samurai culture but holy crap is the author a jerk.

[Chelsea Henry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to read this for my history of japan class. This book is about the life of a samurai during the 1800's. This towards the end of the Tokugawa era in Japan. This book will shatter your thoughts and beliefs about what the samurai were, a lot like this class has done. The image you have in your head or have seen in movies is totally wrong, the bushido is all bullshit lol.
This book is funny, surprising and a very easy read. My professor said it was so easy to read because Kokichi was not educated, he only had maybe a 4th grade education at best, and in Japan they use this story to teach kids to learn to read. Parts of his story are very sensationalized and maybe even made up. Kokichi is a jackass and brilliant at the same time. He spends most of his life broke and always trying to make a buck. It is a very entertaining read though. If you like history, and Japanese history give it a try. It can be read in a few hours. We only spent 2 class periods on it, we read half the book one day then discussed and then read the other half and discussed it.

[Olivia Merrill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is both a good look into what the day to day life of a low-ranking samurai was, and an amusing collection of stories. Katsu Kokichi is, by his own admission, not a great person, but reading his recounting of his life is great fun.

[camryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book for an East Asian history class. Very entertaining while revealing the realities of Tokugawa social structure at the same time. Would recommend for anyone who is interested in history, but not necessarily nonfiction.

[Kavya Balaji · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really confusing -- not the best read

[Stanley Watt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Less interesting than I had hoped. Seemed like Samurai life was mostly trouble making and dealing with relatively inconsequential problems.

[Preetam Chatterjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

#Preparatory books for another Degree:

For starters, Kokichi’s writing is attractive, self-deprecating, and unfiltered. He amenably admits his faults and transgressions, often with a sense of funniness that makes his story relevant, despite its historical and cultural remoteness. His reflections later in life, when he articulates remorse for his youthful irresponsibility, lend the narrative a liberating arc, though Kokichi never entirely loses his unscrupulous attraction. The translation by Teruko Craig captures the nuances of Kokichi’s voice, retaining its authenticity while making the text accessible to a modern audience. Craig also provides accommodating notes and context to illuminate the historical backdrop, enriching the reader’s understanding of Kokichi’s world. Katsu Kokichi was born into a samurai family but quickly deviated from the expected path of discipline and uprightness. In his autobiography, written later in life as a form of reflection and advice to his descendants, Kokichi reports his escapades with humor and a surprising degree of candor. From gambling and fraud to brawling and running away from home, his life is marked by a continuous fight between duty and personal rebellion. What makes this book particularly compelling is its contrast to the traditional samurai ethos of bushido. Kokichi’s life illustrates the declining role of the samurai class during the Tokugawa period, as economic hardship and social changes undermined their once-privileged status. Through Kokichi’s anecdotes, readers gain insight into the realities of a class struggling to maintain relevance in a changing world. Even though I hurried through the tome, as it was part of my examination preparations, I can safely conclude that this tome is a thoroughly amusing and edifying read that smashes conservative notions of samurai life. Katsu Kokichi’s autobiography is not just a personal confession; it is a window into an altering world, told by a man fearless to depict his limitations. For readers keen on Japanese history, samurai culture, or reminiscences of avant-garde lives, this book is a must-read. Give it a go.

[Deanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Teruko Craig does an excellent job translating Katsu Kokichi's autobiography in a way that makes it easy for the modern English reader to appreciate and understand, but Kokichi himself is a rather unlikable protagonist. This autobiography offers interesting insight into late Edo period life, but it's often difficult to tell what you can believe from these stories as the author was clearly embellishing. He paints himself as rich, successful, and popular, but we know that his wasteful spending caused his family to live in poverty, he was the only man in his family to fail to earn a working position as a samurai, and he spent much of his time stealing and gambling. Kokichi wrote this story as a cautionary tail to warn his children not to live as he did, but he seems so proud of himself that it doesn't feel like he would have lived any differently if he could do it over.

"Although I indulged in every manner of folly and nonsense in my lifetime, Heaven seems not to have punished me as yet.... No other samurai with such a low stipend spent money as I did. And how I blustered and swaggered about, with a trail of followers at my beck and call! ....My past conduct truly fills me with horror."

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in 1843 near the end of the Edo Era in Japan, this is the autobiography of a samurai. Or, perhaps it is better to say this is a manual of how not to be a samurai. Katsu Kokichi does pretty much everything wrong as a samurai. He runs away from home...twice. He gets into debt repeatedly, visits prostitutes, and can't even keep a proper job. In a world where shoguns rule surrounded by samurai, who are only allowed to get certain jobs in the strict society (which is partially based on Buddhism, Confucianism, and Shintoism), Musui does not fit in. This is his story, and boy is it amusing.

I won't say it's especially accurate to his real life, as in one breath Katsu is sharing only his lucky moments in life and the next condemning his entire life of being useless. However, it is a fun story which brings the life of an ordinary samurai to vivid color. When we think of samurai, most people think of sword-wielding warriors, but during the Edo (also known as Tokugawa) Era, samurai weren't allowed to fight anymore and has to follow very strict rules of how to live. This book is equally an amusing story as well as an examination into Japanese history. I highly recommend it.

[Pedro · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun little romp through Tokugawa Japan on the eve of the Meji Restoration. The self aggrandizing autobiography of a clearly unrepentant Kokichi Katsu remains amusing throughout and never overstays its welcome. This isn't a literary masterwork or even a complete narrative, but it makes for an easy historical read and provides a window into the mentality of an era long past.

Our protagonist is a complete bastard, if a charming one. He's a Japanese wiseguy, like the characters you find in Goodfellas or The Sopranos. I'm sure everyone around Katsu hates him. If that sort of protagonist isn't your cup of tea then I can't recommend this book. However if you're in the mood for a light read about the antics of an unemployed samurai then I think you'll like this.

It's been to long since I've read a complete book. Ironically, now that I'm an English major I finish very few books. Hopefully I'll have more reviews in the future.

[Isabel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed this look into 19th Centuary Japan. This was a required book for a college class, but I found it interesting and even entertaining. Kikuchi Katsu is not a great figure of this era or even someone to look up too, however his autobiography provides a detailed look into the life of a mid ranking Samurai in the early 1800's. His exploits and adventures throughout Japan as a young man and into adulthood highlight various cultural aspects and traditions. There were parts that were hard to understand, as this is translated and his writing style was at a low level and included "slang". Overall this is an interesting and unique read, especially as most books on this era focus on high ranking officials or members of the court and empire.

[Daniela M · Rating 2 out of 5]

What was promised as the true account of a Tokugawa samurai full of brawling, shogun politics, and historical intrigue, quickly turned into a highlight reel told in a very quick and passive manner. I couldn't find myself engaged in the recount of Katsu's life. He often ommited interesting encounters, or oversummerized key interactions throughout his life. This definitely wasn't the exciting and gripping tale of a Tokugawa samurai, as Katsu never actually tells us what it was like to be a samurai. This more often follows him running away, dealing with debt collectors, and settling family drama. This became repetitive and frustrating both in the style of recounting these events, as well as the lack of direction in what was needed to be said. Not the exciting story I was expecting.

[Taylor Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Follow the path of learning,
Even though life is as fleeting as the dew on the roadside.”
—imprint preceding the Prologue

Portrait of life as an infringed samurai at the dusk of the Tokugawa era. Most interesting is Katsu Kokichi’s prologue, which features abstract and philosophical reflections twined with a simple, practical morality aimed at sons, grandsons and future readers. Do not make these mistakes as I have lived them— instead, take heed this wisdom, live these rules, and you will do well. The narrative is picaresque, wild, heroic and oft times, on the surface, dubious, though ceaseless round each corner entertaining.

An interesting document.

[Miguel Nakano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essa edição de Musui's Story, primorosamente traduzida por Teruo Craig, é um relato fascinante do período Tokugawa no Japão, uma era marcada pelo isolamento e, portanto, a obra proporciona ao leitor um melhor entendimento da sociedade da época. Por mais que o autor, Katsu Kokichi, fosse um samurai dotado de pouca educação, e talvez por méritos da tradução, é uma leitura bastante simples e agradável e, inclusive, cômica em diversos momentos. Embora a vida de Katsu possa ser considerada medíocre, há diversos momentos absurdos e incríveis presentes no livro, além de bastante sabedoria – afinal, ele próprio diz que "Aquele que se chamaria de homem faria bem em não imitar meus atos".

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an assignment as part of a world history class I’m taking. It is a memoir/autobiography of Katsu Kokichi (aka Musui), a low-ranking samurai during the Tokugawa period of early modern Japan. The author recounts his childhood, adolescence and adulthood in a plain no holds barred style. As an unemployed, uneducated samurai Katsu’s prospects were dim. Nevertheless he figured out how to use his wits, brawn and compassion to survive and lead an interesting and innovative life. This book is a good window into early 1800’s Japanese society.

[Deva · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic. I really enjoyed getting to read about Katsu's life, and his interpretation of life in the Edo period. This is a great read for any person interested in Edo period Japan, and especially for those who want to dispel the mythos of the "honorable samurai" that is so often portrayed in the West. While he rarely follows his own advice and ideals, I really liked this mentality from the prologue "Treat your wife and children with benevolence and your servants with compassionate. Be conscientious in you job; associate with friends in truth and sincerity." (p. 3)

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just ok, not the best storyteller and doesn't exercise much discretion in deciding what goes in and what doesn't. Not as interesting as My Confession by Samuel Chamberlain, a "samurai" of the Wild West.

[Caseyfast · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book provides a humorous, insightful tale of a low-level Samurai's life. I enjoy this sort of narrative.

[Ayyy James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to read this for my East Asia History class. It was much less dull and boring than I expected it to be.