Strokes of Brush and Blade

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Strokes of Brush and Blade
Tales of the Samurai

Selected by Edward Lipsett

The samurai were more than just warriors, although of course when war came they were ready. For a thousand years they were, in a very real sense, the glue that held Japan together through all the emperors and shoguns who wielded the power.

While many children in the West grew up with The Lone Ranger or Bonanza, and newer generations instead rooted for Adam-12 or CSI, in Japan the heroes wore topknots and swords: Abarenbō Shogun, Tōyama no Kin-san, and the other sword-wielding heroes of Old Japan.

The tradition of the samurai remains an integral part of Japanese society even today, constituting a social background as pervasive as the archetypal cowboy or cop in America. But there was a lot more to their lives than just waving swords...

This anthology brings together some of the best authors in the genre today, with immersive tales that will transport you back to the good old days, in Japan.

Contents

  • AKIYAMA Kano 秋山 香乃
    Izō 「以蔵」
    translated by Pamela Ikegami
  • ARAYAMA Tōru 荒山 徹
    The Fox Sword, Unbroken 「狐剣は摧れず」
    translated by Tyran Grillo
  • ASAMATSU Ken 朝松 健
    Zui 「甤(ずい)」
    translated by Dan Luffey
  • ASHIBE Taku 芦辺 拓
    The Mummy and the Unicorn 「木乃伊とウニコール」
    translated by Nancy Ross
  • HAYAMI Shun 早見 俊
    Ieyasu’s Scroll 「神君の掛け軸」
    translated by Richard Donovan
  • HAYAMI Shun 早見 俊
    The Demise of Yoshitatsu 「義龍最期の日」
    translated by Matthew Carpenter
  • HONDA Ryūichi 誉田 龍一
    Seppuku 「切腹」
    translated by Nick John
  • KAMIYA Masanari 神家 正成
    Left-Hand Man 「添え手」
    translated by Steve Venti
  • KANBARA Jirō 蒲原 二郎
    The Princess Is the First Spear 「姫こそが一番槍」
    translated by Kristi Fernandez
  • KARIGINU Yayoi 狩衣 弥生
    The Thirteenth Night 「十三夜」
    translated by Ralph McCarthy
  • KATAKURA Izumo 片倉 出雲
    Throw the Witness in the River! 「証人は濁流に流せ」
    translated by Kevin Steinbach
  • NIIMI Ken 新美 健
    The Three Retirees of Komachi Row House 「古町長屋の三隠居」
    translated by James Balzer
  • SUZUKI Ayako 鈴木 彩子
    Memento Mori 「忘れ形見」
    translated by Sharni Wilson
  • SUZUKI Eiji 鈴木 英治
    Lingering Fragrance 「残り香」
    translated by Richard Medhurst
  • YATSU Yaguruma 谷津 矢車
    The Contest 「通し矢をもう一度」
    translated by Juliet Winters Carpenter

Details

  • Pages: x + 315
  • Softcover 6" x 9 (152 mm x 228 mm)
  • ISBN
    Softcover: 978-4-909473-01-1
    Ebook: 978-4-902075-87-8
  • Cover: Yamamoto Masaaki

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