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Zenta and Matsuzo Mystery #2
White Serpent Castle
During the struggle for a warlord's territory, two unemployed samurai attempt to secure power for the rightful heir.
179 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1976
1 person is currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
Lensey Namioka
43 books69 followersNamioka was born in Beijing, the daughter of linguist Yuenren Chao and physician Buwei Yang Chao. The family moved often in China. In 1937, the Chaos were living in Nanjing, and fled westward in the face of the Japanese Invasion. They eventually made their way to Hawaii, then Cambridge, Massachusetts. Namioka attended grade school in Cambridge and excelled at mathematics.
Namioka attended University of California, Berkeley, where her father was a professor of Asian Studies. Here she met and married Isaac Namioka, a fellow graduate student in mathematics. The Namiokas moved to Ithaca, New York, where Isaac Namioka taught at Cornell University, and Lensey Namioka taught at Wells College.
In 1959, the Namiokas' first daughter Aki was born, followed by a second daughter Michi, who was born in 1961. The family moved to Seattle in 1963, when Isaac Namioka accepted a position at the University of Washington.
In the 1970s, on a visit to Japan, Namioka visited Namioka Castle. The experience inspired her to learn more about the samurai. This study culminated in The Samurai and the Long-nosed Devils, which was published in 1976. Namioka expanded this book into a whole series of books about samurai. Namioka also wrote a series of books about a Chinese American family named Yang, and several books about young women and girls facing difficult choices.
Lensey Namioka is the only person known to have the first name "Lensey." Her name has an especially unusual property for a Chinese person born in China: there are no Chinese characters to represent it. Lensey's father, Yuenren Chao, was cataloguing all of the phonemes used in Chinese. He noted that there were two syllables which were possible in the Chinese language, but which were used in no Chinese words. These syllables could be written in English as "len" and "sey." His third daughter was born soon after, and he named her "Lensey."
Namioka attended University of California, Berkeley, where her father was a professor of Asian Studies. Here she met and married Isaac Namioka, a fellow graduate student in mathematics. The Namiokas moved to Ithaca, New York, where Isaac Namioka taught at Cornell University, and Lensey Namioka taught at Wells College.
In 1959, the Namiokas' first daughter Aki was born, followed by a second daughter Michi, who was born in 1961. The family moved to Seattle in 1963, when Isaac Namioka accepted a position at the University of Washington.
In the 1970s, on a visit to Japan, Namioka visited Namioka Castle. The experience inspired her to learn more about the samurai. This study culminated in The Samurai and the Long-nosed Devils, which was published in 1976. Namioka expanded this book into a whole series of books about samurai. Namioka also wrote a series of books about a Chinese American family named Yang, and several books about young women and girls facing difficult choices.
Lensey Namioka is the only person known to have the first name "Lensey." Her name has an especially unusual property for a Chinese person born in China: there are no Chinese characters to represent it. Lensey's father, Yuenren Chao, was cataloguing all of the phonemes used in Chinese. He noted that there were two syllables which were possible in the Chinese language, but which were used in no Chinese words. These syllables could be written in English as "len" and "sey." His third daughter was born soon after, and he named her "Lensey."
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 12, 2016
I got this book from a garbage dump kind of sale in a mall for less than half a dollar. Judging from the cover, the price, and where I have found it I made no serious fuss about this book. I don’t even know why I picked it in the first place! Never mind that because the book exceeded every expectation and turned out to be an exciting journey.
To be clear from the very first: this book is no literary masterpiece. Rather, this is a YA book. YA books don’t have to be bad. Some of them can indeed be good! (think of The Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket); compared to that series however, this book is lacking of illustration of any sort.
The premise bears striking resemblance to Sherlock Holmes stories. Only this book features Zenta and Matsuzo instead of Sherlock and Watson. There are other books available in the series (called ‘A Zenta and Matsuzo Mystery’ series) which are hard to find. In this story, Zenta, a masterless ronin, with his companion and protege, Matsuzo, made a journey to the White Serpent Castle to look for a job. Inside the castle they are confronted with dozens of hostile samurais and they find out that the Lord of the Castle is dead and the situation is in chaos. And there is another thing: the castle is haunted by the White Serpent Ghost—a monstrous white creature said to emerge whenever a crisis threaten the castle. On top of that there are also sword fights, murder, and swarms of mini twists.
You might like this book if you take this book easily. No need to be over-analytic about this. A pleasant entertainment is all. The setting is great: the whole thing happened in a majestic Japanese castle, and because of the nature of the story, I can imagine they make this into a decent movie with proper martial arts choreography and luxurious background settings… because if there is anything lacking from this book, it would be the poor verb usage on fighting scenes. Not bad for a trash sale!
To be clear from the very first: this book is no literary masterpiece. Rather, this is a YA book. YA books don’t have to be bad. Some of them can indeed be good! (think of The Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket); compared to that series however, this book is lacking of illustration of any sort.
The premise bears striking resemblance to Sherlock Holmes stories. Only this book features Zenta and Matsuzo instead of Sherlock and Watson. There are other books available in the series (called ‘A Zenta and Matsuzo Mystery’ series) which are hard to find. In this story, Zenta, a masterless ronin, with his companion and protege, Matsuzo, made a journey to the White Serpent Castle to look for a job. Inside the castle they are confronted with dozens of hostile samurais and they find out that the Lord of the Castle is dead and the situation is in chaos. And there is another thing: the castle is haunted by the White Serpent Ghost—a monstrous white creature said to emerge whenever a crisis threaten the castle. On top of that there are also sword fights, murder, and swarms of mini twists.
You might like this book if you take this book easily. No need to be over-analytic about this. A pleasant entertainment is all. The setting is great: the whole thing happened in a majestic Japanese castle, and because of the nature of the story, I can imagine they make this into a decent movie with proper martial arts choreography and luxurious background settings… because if there is anything lacking from this book, it would be the poor verb usage on fighting scenes. Not bad for a trash sale!
July 9, 2018
Zenta and Matsuzo arrive at a castle, prepared to offer their services to the new lord, only to find the place in upheaval over who should be the rightful heir. The first son is missing, the daughter is headstrong and refuses to marry the chamberlain, and the remaining son is only nine. Politics and ghost stories. Halberds and cricket cages. Envoys and moats.
More fascinating nuances of life in 16th century Japan. With less to set up (since this is the second book in the series), Namioka moved more quickly past necessary discourse and into the mystery at hand. Well done, with a riveting reveal at the end. So glad I picked up this series. Eager for the next installment!
More fascinating nuances of life in 16th century Japan. With less to set up (since this is the second book in the series), Namioka moved more quickly past necessary discourse and into the mystery at hand. Well done, with a riveting reveal at the end. So glad I picked up this series. Eager for the next installment!
January 8, 2018
Love this book series! Lensey Namioka is such an under-rated writer, these books are hidden gems. My brother and I found these hidden in the library and instantly it was like we found sunken treasure! Great characters, fun action, very interesting settings!
August 19, 2019
So much honor
Namioka always tells a good story. The two ronin balance each other perfectly, and there is always more going on than meets the eye. Also, I like that Zenta has standards.
Namioka always tells a good story. The two ronin balance each other perfectly, and there is always more going on than meets the eye. Also, I like that Zenta has standards.
November 15, 2010
The book is about 2 Ronin (Masterless samurai) in 16th century, Zenta and Matsuzo. Zenta was a famous wandering Ronin, his skill was well-known amongst other samurai. Matsuzo was younger than Zenta, he followed Zenta because of the adventure was more valuable than money. Ronin is a samurai without master that will give them money for their service. To maintain their life, they will work from one master to another master, never devoting themselves long enough to one master.
Continue reading http://bokunosekai.wordpress.com/2010...
Continue reading http://bokunosekai.wordpress.com/2010...
February 3, 2010
A fun, easy read for tweens through adults. This novel is an interesting dip into historical Japan, and features enough mystery to keep you guessing right up to the last page.
Death and violence may make it inappropriate for sensitive younger children. Other than that, it's quite tasteful without skirting around the way most people behave.
Death and violence may make it inappropriate for sensitive younger children. Other than that, it's quite tasteful without skirting around the way most people behave.
June 4, 2010
samurai that worked as detective, setting: old Japan age. Zenta and Matsuzo characters remind me a lot to Kenshin Himura and Sanosuke Sagara in Samurai X series :)
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September 21, 2022
This was great series especially as I was interested in Japanese culture and history. I remember being sad when I read the last book in the series.
February 13, 2011
Yeah, ok lah. As expected.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews