Manjiro: The Boy Who Risked His Life for Two Countries

by Emily Arnold McCully

In 1841, Japan had been closed to the outside world for 250 years, and anyone who tried to return to the country after leaving it could be executed. So when the small fishing boat on which fourteen-year-old Manjiro was working was shipwrecked, he despaired of ever returning to his village. The captain of the American whaling ship that rescued Manjiro took a special interest in him, inviting him to come live in Massachusetts. There, Manjiro was treated like Captain Whitfield's son, and he began to feel as though Massachusetts was his second home. Still, he never gave up his dream of finding a way to return to Japan and see his mother again. Watercolor illustrations bring to life the true story of a determined and resourceful young man whose intimate knowledge of two cultures later led him to play an important role in the opening of Japan to Western trade and ideas. Manjiro is a 2009 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

Genres: Biography, Picture Books, History, Nonfiction, Japan, Asia, Childrens

40 pages, Hardcover

First published September 30, 2008

About the author

Emily Arnold McCully received the Caldecott Medal for Mirette on the High Wire. The illustrator of more than 40 books for young readers, she divides her time between Chatham, New York, and New York City.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this engaging picture-book biography of Manjiro, a ship-wrecked young Japanese fisherman who was rescued by an American whaling ship, became the first Japanese person to visit the United States, and played an instrumental role in the opening of Japan to the western world in the nineteenth century, Emily Arnold McCully manages to capture the excitement of an incredible life's journey. Many important historical themes are introduced, from the self-imposed isolation of Japan to the importance of whaling to the New England economy, although the narrative stays firmly fixed on Manjiro, his new life in the west, and his longing to return home, despite the danger to his life, as someone who has (however accidentally) defied the shoganate's ban on contact with the outside world...

Educational without being didactic, Manjiro: The Boy Who Risked His Life for Two Countries is the best kind of biography: one that entertains while also imparting information. What an extraordinary life this man had, going from a humble fisherman in Japan, to an educated adopted son in America, and then back again to Japan, where he ended up becoming a samurai. McCully's narrative is engaging, and her artwork appealing, making this a book I would recommend to young readers with an interest in Japanese and/or American history, or in sea-faring yarns. It is rather text-heavy for a picture-book, so I think it's probably best suited for upper elementary school students and above.

[booklady · Rating 4 out of 5]

The true story of a fourteen year old Japanese boy, Manjiro, who in 1841 is shipwrecked on a deserted island and rescued by American whalers. At the time, Japan had been virtually cut off from the rest of the world for two hundred fifty years. Manjiro's decision to accept Captain Whitfield's invitation to come to Massachusetts and live with him was instrumental in changing the course of relations between two future superpowers. Even more interesting was the literary prediction by Herman Melville in his 1851 epic, Moby Dick, "If that double-bolted land, Japan, is ever to become hospitable, it is the whale-ship alone to whom the credit will be due; for already she is on the threshold."

Well-researched, well-written, beautifully illustrated, and a fascinating story as well. Once again, nice to learn more history from a so-called 'picture' book.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though a tad dry, this was a very interesting true story about a Japanese boy who was shipwrecked and rescued by American sailors at a time when Japan was closed to the western world and any Japanese citizen who left the country would be killed if they returned. Manjiro spent a number of years in America learning English, western culture, and western technology before returning to Japan, where he was not killed but taught others about the west. His experiences were in large part responsible for persuading the Japanese to open up to western commerce. See also Shipwrecked!: the True Adventures of a Japanese Boy by Rhoda Blumberg for another version of this story.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Long-ish kids book, but a great background-true-story to history...Matthew Perry and the opening up of Japanese trade with other countries in 1854.

[JaNel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great adventure that happens to be a true story. THe only criticism is that to get the full story you have to read the notes at the end. I would have preferred to have the whole story. But I guess that would’ve been too long..?

[Lara Lleverino · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautifully illustrated book about a young boy from Japan that lived during the period of isolation. He and some other fishermen get blown out to sea during a storm and he knows returning home will be hard because they can be executed for it. The fishermen are picked up by an American whaling ship and the boy is eventually taken to Massachusetts. Years later the boy after taking part in the California gold rush, returns to Japan, helps open the country and becomes a respected Samurai.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a lot of text for a kids’ book, but I find this story so fascinating. My 5yo, 7yo, 9yo did well with it. Great illustrations with a great history lesson of Japan. For older readers, The Heart of a Samurai is an excellent, more in-depth adaptation of the same story.

[Sherry Scheline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book about a young man’s journey of exile. Wonderful way to teach history.

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short overview of the life of Manjiro. Read in preparation for the Manjiro Trail Tour in Fairhaven, MA. See: https://whitfield-manjiro.org/

[Michael Karis · Rating 5 out of 5]

How could a 14 year old boy become a part of international relations between two vastly different nations in different parts of the world in the 19th century? Read about it in Emily Arnold McCully’s Manjiro.
Manjiro was a boy who lived in Japan, 1841. Every day he would work on a small fishing boat several miles off the coast of Japan. During Japan’s Tokugawa government (1603-1867, Japan was closed to the world. No foreign visitors were allowed, and anyone who tried to return to the country after leaving it could be sentenced to death.
Manjiro’s small fishing boat was caught in a storm and shipwrecked. Manjiro and his fellow fishermen were saved by an American whaling ship. Manjiro was invited to live in America. Could it become like a second home for him? Did he face racism in America? What would happen if he were to return to Japan? Would he ever be able to see his mother again?

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

We discovered this book at our local library and it looked like an interesting read. We had never heard of Manjiro before, and we were surprised that he was rescued from being shipwrecked by the crew of the John Howland. I did not know that he had a ship named for him. He was our ancestor from the Mayflower, and I have to admit that I don't know as much about him as I probably should.

The narrative traces Manjiro's journey to Hawaii, New England, California and eventually back to his homeland in Japan. The story explains about the isolationism that Japan created for itself and the events that finally brought the nation into contact with the rest of the world.

Overall, it's a very interesting story and we also enjoyed reading the author's note at the end that gives some additional detail.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating story of Manjiro, a real-life Japanese boy from
1841 who became lost at sea, was taken up by a Massachusetts whaling captain, educated in America, and finally returns to
Japan to his family, but more importantly helps Japan to open the door to US trade and westernization in 1850. McCully again vividly paints the action both with words and pictures, using notes and bibliography at the end to entice readers further. Tell teachers about this one.

[J-Lynn Van Pelt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A picture book with a lot of text and would be best for proficient readers. The story is a well researched (the author provides her resources and a short biography in the back of the book) account of a boy named Manjiro who helped forge a trade treaty between Japan and America. The story is interesting because it is not a well known historical detail.

The pictures are simple water color.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brief Lives: A list of biographies for children is on Pink Me: http://pinkme.typepad.com/pink-me/201...

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story of a young japanese boy who had courage and a thirst for knowledge.

[SaraKat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This picture book about the real historical figure of Manjiro was interesting. I knew that Japan had a closed policy for a while, but I didn't really know how long it was or that citizens could be put to death for leaving the country. Manjiro had a great experience learning about other cultures and he had a great attitude toward life. I felt terrible that he had to experience racism for the first time in America. The art was watercolor pictures that showed sea life and Manjiro's experiences. I don't really know why the subtitle was there. He risked his life going home, but not for the two countries.