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jayb_213's review
4.0
Eight short stories from the samurai days. At first, I thought they were old, classic, tales but they are not. Nevertheless, they are really light, positive and uplifting stories that give you a taste of the old days in Japan. You’ll likely get through them quickly as they are very easy and fun to read.
gemmadee's review against another edition
4.0
Chick lit for samurais! Or is it samurai stories for chicks? Either way, a fun read and a nice counterpoint to the chambarra stereotypes.
cristi_ivan's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting collection of samurai tales, that explores the clash between honor, duty and emotions.
The Bamboo Sword contains eight short stories, which unfold at the beginning of the Edo period, right after the battle of Sekigahara. Most of the stories take place during a period of peace, that comes after long unrest, so they center more on the domestic lives of samurais, rather than what they achieve on a battlefield.
Fujisawa’s characters are capable to show individuality. They don’t follow blindly their clans and leaders, and they are able to elevate their personal needs (and their families) above the needs of the clan. Torn between their sense of duty and their emotions, they always resort to virtue and morality. Although most of the stories are triggered when some low rank samurai is caught in the deadly games of the higher ranks, this almost constant way to lead to intrigue wasn’t necessarily something that felt repetitive. **** stars
The Bamboo Sword contains eight short stories, which unfold at the beginning of the Edo period, right after the battle of Sekigahara. Most of the stories take place during a period of peace, that comes after long unrest, so they center more on the domestic lives of samurais, rather than what they achieve on a battlefield.
Fujisawa’s characters are capable to show individuality. They don’t follow blindly their clans and leaders, and they are able to elevate their personal needs (and their families) above the needs of the clan. Torn between their sense of duty and their emotions, they always resort to virtue and morality. Although most of the stories are triggered when some low rank samurai is caught in the deadly games of the higher ranks, this almost constant way to lead to intrigue wasn’t necessarily something that felt repetitive. **** stars
zbeyzx's review
5.0
This was my first time reading a collection of short stories kind of book and I've had so much fun. I love reading about Japan and reading about 1600s Japan was even more awesome.
It says this book was put together by Japanese Literature Publishing Project and I'm happy to hear that there is a project like that. I'd love to read more Japanese literature and I'm hoping my school's library has more books from JLPP.
It says this book was put together by Japanese Literature Publishing Project and I'm happy to hear that there is a project like that. I'd love to read more Japanese literature and I'm hoping my school's library has more books from JLPP.
justabean_reads's review
4.0
Eight short stories, originally written in the 1970s and '80s, centring on low-income men early in the Tokugawa Shogunate. Most of the men are low-ranking Samurai who have menial jobs, some stories are about merchants or street people. Most of the stories centre on the dilemma faced by men of a warrior caste who can't get out of the caste (even if they wanted to, which they usually don't), but live in peace time. Some of the characters were old enough to fight, but many are soldiers who have never gone to war. The title story, for example, is about a rōnin with a wife and three young children who is desperately trying to find a position, any position in order to feed his family. Another focus' on the chief groom in a castle who has fallen out of shape and training, and has to try to complete an important escort mission. I found the focus on men, men and more men a little off putting, though there are some great wife and daughter characters throughout, but though it bordered on manpain a couple of times, it never slid over. The author also tended to over describe things about the period that I already knew, which I felt broke the flow of the stories a bit, and swordplay solved more problems than it probably actually did in the period, but the writing was elegant, and the characters very vivid and sympathetic. I liked the book.
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