Takashi MatsuokaCritiques

Here's what I wrote in 2008 about this read: "Sequel to Cloud of Sparrows; similar opinion."

Here's what I wrote in 2008 about this read: "Simple and easy reading, describing period at the end of Japan's isolation (1860's). Mystical and romantic, hard-to-truly-believe-in characters, but still fun to read and builds additional insights to Japanese culture and history."

orre el año 1861 y Japón, tras dos siglos de aislamiento, se ha visto forzado a abrir las puertas a Occidente, con el consecuente choque entre ambas culturas. En el puerto de Edo se reúnen numerosos barcos extranjeros en busca de oportunidades en esas nuevas tierras; uno de ellos transporta a un grupo de americanos cuyo objetivo es llevar la palabra de Dios al pueblo nipón. Para dos de estos misioneros, sin embargo, el viaje supone algo más: la joven Emily Gibson desea dejar atrás un pasado incómodo e iniciar una nueva vida; también su compañero de viaje, Matthew Stark, tiene algo que ocultar bajo su pacífica apariencia: el suyo es un pasado manchado de sangre. El destino de ambos se cruza con el de Genji, un joven samurái heredero del clan Akaoka. Dotado con el poder profético que caracteriza a su familia, Genji intuye que su futuro y el de Japón están en manos extranjeras. Su amistad con los foráneos despierta el recelo de otros clanes, los cuales, tras años de enfrentamientos en su ambición por alcanzar el shogunado, declarán la guerra abierta a Genji. En este escenario de luchas fratricidas, Genji, ayudado por sus dos nuevos amigos y su amante, la geisha Heiko, defenderá su posición sorteando intrigas y traiciones.

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Samenvatting
Tweehonderdvijftig jaar lang heeft Japan zijn deuren voor het Westen gesloten houden. Nu, in het jaar 1861, dreigen Oost en West op een confrontatie af te stevenen. Terwijl Amerikaanse kanonnen de vestingmuren van het oude Edo bestoken, dreigt aan de macht van de shogun een einde te komen en het land in een bloedige burgeroorlog te worden gestort.
Dan zetten drie vreemdelingen voet aan wal, en krijgt een jonge Japanse krijgsheer een visioen: in een maalstroom van intriges en geweld zal een buitenstaander zijn leven redden...
Samoerai is een epische roman over het oude Japan. Liefde, hoop, oorlog, verandering, verraad en magie wisselen elkaar af in de mystieke wereld van geisha´s, ninja´s en samoerai-legers. In de strijd tussen goed en kwaad, op de grens van traditie en moderniteit, ontmoeten Oost en West elkaar.
De filmrechten van Samoerai werden vóór de Amerikaanse publicatie al verkocht aan Universal Pictures. Takashi Matsuoka werkt momenteel aan zijn tweede roman.

wonderful book

I listened to the audio (abridged) version first. Then I bought the first book (Cloud of Sparrows) read it, then re-read this book (unabridged). I thought both books were wonderful. At this point, I would buy this author's next book without knowing anything about it. He is an amazing author.

This was an amazing novel. Entrancing and entertaining. I don't know if I would have picked it up were I not living in Japan, but I am so glad I did.

This book was given to me by a friend. It took me a while to start reading it, but once I started it, I couldn't put it down. Not always a fast read due to the constant change in time and place, it was nonetheless a great book that I look forward to reading the sequel to.

Cloud of Sparrows is a study of the contradictory nature of the Samurai in a time when their world was inexorably moving forward. They are ruthless killers, incited to decapitate a foe over insulting words, but are also moved to tears by the nuance of a gesture, or a perceived boon found in what was not said, or not done to spare feelings and perception of a reputation. This brutal beauty is reflected on an individual as well as a cultural level, and it is into this passionate, yet rigidly structured society that Lord Genji ushers in foreign Christian missionaries, who become a catalyst for the events of the story.

Genji himself is a huge juxtaposition of ideas, welcoming the outsiders but at the same time not taking their religion seriously, even as he plans to assist them in setting up a mission location, he seems more fascinated and amused by a new toy, more interested in how it is unsettling his rivals than in their purpose for being there. He is the more forward thinking of the Great Lords, but also has difficulty letting go of some traditions and ingrained ideas, even as he recognizes they are outdated, and sometimes downright ridiculous. Coupled with the difficulties of navigating political waters, he also carries the burden of prescient visions, which often make no sense, but sometimes are all too clear.

Genji and Heiko, Matthew and Emily, Shigeru and even Genji’s loyal warriors and servants are all excellent characters who are tested to their limits throughout the course of the story. We learn the history of how the Americans came to be in Japan and see the Samurai way of life beginning to crumble under the press of time and traditions that cannot be sustained as the world moves in. It is by turns beautiful and violent, poignant and humorous, sensitive and senseless, and it was exactly what I wanted on my visit to this culture and time period.

Året är 1861: Japan har i sju år varit öppet för utlänningar, och det blir allt tydligare att den gamla ordningen är på väg att rämna. Samurajer, med svärd och pilbåge, måste till slut ge vika för de eldvapen som i trehundra år hållits under noggrann kontroll. Vassallsystemet håller ännu, men shogun är ung och svag. Det är ännu inte dags för restaurationen i kejsar Meiji, men spänningarna blir allt värre.

Till detta orons land kommer en båt med amerikanska missionärer: Zepheniah Cromwell, den egentliga missionären, hans förlovade Emily Gibson, som flyr sin egen skönhet och vad den gör med män, samt Matthew Stark, en revolverman som söker sin sista strid. De tas väl emot av daimyo Okumichi Genji, herre till ett av de mindre av de stora länen, och från en familj som ryktas ha profetians gåva. Hans älskarinna, Edos mest firade geisha Heiko, rapporterar dock till Kawakami, chef för shogunens hemliga polis.

Låter detta en aning fånigt? Jo, detta är inte direkt en höglitterär roman: det är spänning satt i exotisk miljö, med två överdrivet vackra kvinnor, samurajer, ninjor, zenkloster, profetior, gamla oförrätter och en hel del spänning. Det är inte en helt snäll bok: även om Genji presenteras som en ädling med ovanligt lite törst för blod dödas ändå många helt oskyldiga på hans order, och hans farbror är typen som tycker att det där med hemsökelse av efterkommande i tredje och fjärde led tyder på att man varit för blödig gällande första och andra.

Samtidigt gillar man ju allt det där: det nyöppnade Japan är en intressant brytningstid, personerna må vara lite väl ensidiga ibland men är likväl mestadels engagerande, och profetiorna tar inte över handlingen (några av dem har dock den tråkiga tendensen att meddela sig om andra världskriget eller samtiden; nu finns kanske inte så mycket tid till att stoppa in dem här annars för att demonstrera tidens gång, men någon gång skulle jag vilja se en tolvhundratalsprofet förfära sig över sjuttonhundratalet eller liknande).

Det finns också en hel del humor, och intressanta bifigurer. Mest förtjusande är nog samurajen Hidé och hans samtal med sin vän Taro, vilka ömsom är roliga, ömsom hjärteknipande. De imponerar mer än alla genomgångar av japansk kultur eller högadlig tragik.

Feudal Japan is being compelled to give up their isolationism and entreat with powerful foreigners (in this case, mid-19th century US). This is blood story of ancient blood feuds amidst encroaching foreign intervention.

Like most Japanese novels, the prose seems very stilted, just like the abrupt dialog of a Kurasawa movie. The audio book version additionally was read rather matter-of-factly, adding strange humor to passages where limbs and heads are being struck off the bodies in graphic detail. The Japanese characters seemed a little too pragmatic when dealing with the foreigners, especially considering their transition from a isolationist nation.

The book does occasionally give us some historical information regarding battles that occurred hundreds of years earlier, when great warlords consolidated power in epic battles. Hard feelings still resonated generations later through descendants of the participants.

The characters were interesting, but not terribly likeable. Which is just as good, as Matsuoka has a George RR Martin streak in him.

To start off, I loved Cloud of Sparrows. Matsuoka is a gifted writer, and it's a shame that he hasn't written more.

When I first started reading this, I was concerned that it wouldn't live up to Cloud of Sparrows, and had a difficult time understanding the book's structure (frequent jumps back and forth between time periods). However, it all began to make sense after about 25% through, and I found myself racing to the finish.

The sheer depth of emotion and description of the flaws of each and every character made the story real. All of the plot holes in Cloud of Sparrows are woven together and answered in ways that were impossible to predict. The reader gets a sense of the rise and fall of the Tokugawa regime, with particular focus on the decline and fall of the samurai class.

The complexity and incredible plot development makes this even better than Cloud of Sparrows. Not as much violence as with the first book, but the ending is masterfully crafted.

Matsuoka writes an incredible historical fiction of pre-Meiji Restoration in Japan, where various warlords clash over differences made at Sekigahara centuries ago. Lord Genji is a complex character, and his comrades are all fun to follow. The dialogue is impeccable, and serves as a strong representation of 19th Century Japanese culture as Westerners begin to force their entry into local society.

This historical novel is set in 19th century Japan as an expiring samurai culture is clashing with arriving foreigners. I hadn't known that samurais had lasted even this late, so was interested to learn a little about this very different society and its ways. A small group of missionaries becomes involved with one of the reigning nobles, who is contending for position against the Shogun's security chief. One of the young missionaries is a 18 year old female--I wonder where this is leading.

Esta fue una de las primeras novelas que he leido, y la que causó mi fanaticismo por este tipo de género. Adoro todo sobre este libro- los personajes, como está escrito, el setting, todo!

I adore this one. If you liked the first one (Cloud of Sparrows), you'll love this one too.

I nearly put down this book before finishing the second chapter. A ninja-geisha spy who falls in love with her quarry, a zealous and lecherous priest, a pure and ignorant young girl, and a gifted, attractive and progressive samurai lord: all these together almost made one-too-many stereotypes.Rewards await those ready to struggle through a seemingly predictable opening, however. None of these things are quite what they seem (except the priest, but there's a surprise there, too), and the subtle changes in the characters are more satisfying than the large ones. There is a severe kind of beauty in the contrast between story lines. Simple moments are filled with great passion, and horror is presented with the utmost calm and clarity.I swung between irritation and admiration throughout the book. Some parts were too heavy-handed, while others only became clear after serious consideration. I spent more time wishing the characters were real than believing that they could be.While I wouldn't read it again, I'm glad I didn't drop it, either.

I probably would have passed on this book if I had seen it in a bookshop, but have really enjoyed it. The characters were well written and provided interesting contrasts / conflicts. I look forward to the next book.

A great weekend read in the sunshine. This book was worth the wait, you need your brain in gear for the leaps in time, but these did make the book much more tense. Faster flowing than the previous book and no real lose ends.

This title was ok. IT is set in Japan during the 19th century period of rapid change when modern ways were replacing the samurai way of life. Some of the plot points are not realistic and, in fact, a little confusing.

Denne bog foregår i Japan. Genji er overhoved for Okumuhiklanen, hvor der i hver generation i klanen er der siden 1200-tallet blevet født ét barn med en slags "profetiske evner": om ikke ligefrem en evne til at spå om fremtiden, så en hjemsøgelse af visioner. Genji har fået tre af denne slags: at en udlænding vil frelse hans liv, at hans elskede dør i barselsseng, og at han selv vil blive snigmyrdet under en eller anden indsættelsesceremoni.
Der kommer da tre vestlige missionærer til landet og handlingen tager for alvor fat.

Historien er spændende, fordi den skildrer et meget lukket samfund, med stærke traditioner - der udfordres, når de fremmede dukker op. Og så "lugter" den af samurai!

An excellent story... Read it along with its sequel, Autumn Bridge.

Ein Buch, dass ich eigentlich eher als Abwechslung gekauft hab und eigentlich gar nicht meinem gewöhnlichen Buchgeschmack zu entsprechen schien.
Es ließ sich recht schnell lesen, will sagen, es ist angenehm zu lesen ohne plump oder einfältig dabei zu sein. Schön detailierte Beschreibungen ohne einen zu erschlagen.

Es geht inhaltlich um einen Großfürsten, Genji Okumuchi, dem man das zweite Gesicht nachsagt, da in jeder Generation seiner Familie einer diese Gabe besitzen soll. Zeitlich befinden wir uns im Jahre 1861 - erst seit Kurzem haben Ausländer wieder Zutritt zu Japan. Besagter Großfürst ist Schutzherr für eine kleine Gruppe christlicher Missionare.

Sehr liebevoll werden in etlichen Seitenstories die Schlüsselerlebnisse vieler Charaktäre enthüllt. Oft Begebenheiten aus verschiedenen Perspektiven beleuchtet. Was das Buch um so lesenwerter macht (o;

Ich möchte jedem, der zumindest etwas für historische, oder historisch angehauchte fiktionale Texte über hat dieses Buch ans Herz legen.
Ich bin jedenfalls sehr froh, es doch gekauft zu haben, erst wollte ich es - aus Geldknappheit natürlich T_T - ausgerechnet dieses, aus besagter eher untypisch für mich getroffenen Wahl, zurück ins Regal legen.

Da das Ende etwas unvermittelt kommt und eher vorhersebar ist - ist im Stoff des Buches zu begrünen, gibt es nur 4 1/2 statt 5 Sterne.½

Six years have passed since Okumichi Genji, Great Lord of Akaoka domain, was saved by an American missionary. In the late 1800s, Japan stands on the threshold of change. At the same time, it is fourteenth century Japan, and the Okumichi clan is all but wiped out by a treacherous commander intent on murdering the Okumichi's sorceress ancestor, the Lady Shizuka.

Where to begin about this novel? My summary does it no justice (but then, my summaries never do anything any justice). So I'll just launch into the praise, I think. (And here I pause for breath.)

This book is so beautifully made. It is difficult to create a story that jumps back and forth through time and place that doesn't fall apart on the author. Despite the jumping around, he managed to cleverly weave a cohesive story out of so many different threads without it becoming scattered or confusing. At the same time, the prose is beautiful: often understated, yet elaborate at other times. The characterization is vivid and consistent.

I really, really love this book. It is everything a follow-up novel should be. It answered the questions of the first book, created more questions, and answered most of them by the end. While it left a little corner of my heart hoping for more, I'm satisfied enough with the ending to accept that Genji's story is over. Indeed, the novel ended at the PERFECT time and place, in both Genji's story and Shizuka's.

This is an EXCELLENT conclusion (or beginning?) to Matsuoka's Cloud of Sparrows.