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Hagakure was originally a group of stories and musings by a samurai named Yamamoto Tsunetomo, which were collected by the scribe Tsuramoto Tashiro between the years 1709 to 1716. It wasn't until 1979 that William Scott Wilson translated the book into English, and it is upon this translation that writer Sean Michael Wilson (no relation) created the script for the manga. ...The plot for Hagajure revolves around a young samurai -in this case he is actually depicted as the scribe Tsuramoto Tashiro- learning the philosophies of the samurai from an old master - the original author Yamamoto Tsunetomo... The stories are divided into chapters which group them loosely together in themes, such as loyalty, revenge, kaishaku & seppuku, and sincerity. ...The story that will seem the most shocking, perhaps, is the one in which Yamamoto discusses the practice of beheading in frank detail, claiming that to be unnerved by the practice is to be a coward. There are plenty of anecdotes about ritualised suicide as well, and squeamish readers may find it difficult to wade through -particularly with the effective illustration work of London-based Japanese artist Chie Kutsuwada, who manages to convey the horror and brutality of the stories without allowing the gore to take centre stage. ...All in all, this is a great introduction to one of the most important works on samurai philosophy, and an excellent way to dip your toes into what is a very lengthy and involved piece of (original) text. --NEO Magazine; Jan 2011
Product Description
This manga adaptation of what Ivan Morris called the most influential of all samurai treatises is told in a form reminiscent of The Arabian Nights;. A young, upcoming samurai seeks the advice of an older, experienced warrior who has become a Zen monk. The ambitious young samurai humbly begs to learn from the old master, who consents. So begins a series of eventful meetings. At each sitting, the seasoned samurai tells his young student tales of samurai past. Tales of famous warriors are recited. With brutal, unrelenting samurai justice, wrongs are righted and judgment is passed. With each incident, the young novice learns what it means to be a samurai. Learns what courage and right thought are. Learns the harsh realities and subtle wisdom of his age. With text by scriptwriter Sean Wilson, and vivid manga by Chie Kutsuwada, Hagakure will enthral legions of manga and martial arts fans. An important Afterword is provided by William Scott Wilson, translator of Yamamoto Tsunetomo's orginal Hagakure.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Ok I love Hagakure, and I love Anime/Manga. This is a nice presentation of a few of the stories from the Japanese classic, shown in a modern way but still maintaining the class of the original. I think I read it in a sitting!
A nice gift for the martial artist in your life, or go on, spoil yourself.
Enjoy.
A nice gift for the martial artist in your life, or go on, spoil yourself.
Enjoy.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I'm not a fan of Manga at all, mainly because I find the stories themselves are simply childish, unsophisticated and predictable. This publication doesn't suffer from these shortfalls. 'Hagakure' is a prescription, in the form of sayings and anecdotes, of how a Samurai should conduct himself, foster appropriate ideals and thoughts and generally live his life. But since it was written by Yamaoto Tsunetomo several hundred years ago in a culture very different from the Western world, some of the idea are at best arcane and at worst...well I'll let you judge that. As a consequence, Hagakure can be very difficult to understand, obscure and not much fun to read-I know, I've tried a few times. However this Manga version really makes it easier to follow. Its premise is of a young Samurai who comes to the house of Tsunemoto in order to learn about the way of the Samurai. Each idea on topics such as loyalty, revenge etc are then literally illustrated as short stories-a great way to read and understand and since the original contents of Hagakure are meaningful and at times profound, this manga doesn't suffer the shortfall with which I started this review. Its well drawn, printed on quality paper and has a nice glossy soft cover which make it a pleasure to handle.
Highly recommended, especially if you've struggled with the original version of Hagakure.
Highly recommended, especially if you've struggled with the original version of Hagakure.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
5 reviews
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
An easy to follow, enjoyable and informative manga adaptation of the original, historic samurai book by Yamamoto Tsunemoto.
29 Dec 2010
Format:Paperback
Back in the early 1700's, a samurai named Yamamoto Tsunetomo, a former retainer of Nabeshima Mitsushige, the third ruler of the Saga prefecture in Japan would provide a spiritual guide for a samurai warrior, the way of Bushido.
A young samurai named Tashiro Tsuramoto visited the aging Yamamoto back on March 5, 1710 and was fascinated by the samurai of the Saga region and he began recording meticulously the stories and opinions of the aging Tsunetomo about what the warrior code meant to the samurai class. Especially during a time when Japan was at peace and the position of the samurai were not the same as it was during the most feudal period of Japan.
By September 10, 1776, Tashiro had collected all of Tsunetomo's ideas in a completed 11-volume compilation. The manuscript is known as Hagakure (which has several meanings but translates to "Hidden Leaves") and it records Tsunetomo's views on Bushido, the warrior code of the samurai and that a samurai retainer must be willing to die any moment for his lord.
For two centuries, the Nabeshima clan had secretly guarded and kept the manuscript in the Saga domain and decided to make it public during the Meiji period (1886-1912).
While "Hagakure: The Code of the Samurai" had been translated by several people and released several times throughout especially within the last 50 years, recently the book was made into a manga. Featuring an adaptation by Sean Michael Wilson (who has written manga versions of "A Christmas Carol", "Wuthering Heights", "The Canterville Ghost"), illustration by Chie Kutsuwada ("The Mammoth Book of Best New Manga") and features translations by William Scott Wilson ("The Lone Samurai: Hagakure" which would inspire the film "Ghost Dog" by filmmaker Jim Jarmusch).
For those who had the opportunity to read "Hagakure", especially for Japanese who read it, many were fascinated because the book was literally a historic timepiece of how the Bushido code was before the 1700's before samurai entered a peaceful coexistence and others samurai took on administrative duties due to the change of Japan. By the time that Tashiro Tsuramoto started taking notes of the book in the early 1700's, by that time, the monumental battles of Japan were over and the Tokugawa Shogunate established peace in the land in 1603. For Tsunemoto, he saw the changes in samurai and so, what Tashiro was able to record in his notes were wonderful stories of how things were back then.
I know many people may not and probably will not read the original translated book of "Hagakure" but for many people, especially today, sometimes a manga is the best way to approach a new generation.
The book is broken down to the following chapters:
* Chapter 1: The Way of the Samurai
* Chapter 2: Loyalty
* Chapter 3: Revenge
* Chapter 4: Kaishaku and Seppuku
* Chapter 5: Sincerity
* Afterword by William Scott Wilson
In the manga, the aging samurai Yamamoto Tsunemoto is visited by Tashiro Tsuramoto who wants to learn from him about the ways of the Samurai. Tsunemoto gives several anecdotes of samurai. How important their loyalism to their lord.
One story was about a lord cutting his fingernails and the samurai who didn't leave because he counted nine fingernails and there should be ten.
Another story featured the samurai code in which a samurai was being teased because of his looks. So the samurai Tokuhisa slayed the man who made fun of him. The samurai was told that "To be made fun of and remain silent is cowardice. A Man who makes fun of people is himself a fool. It was his own fault for being cut down".
In the chapter of "revenge", one story talked about a samurai who got his revenge by slaying another who had wronged him and people cheered for him because he was able to get revenge. Tsunemoto explains to Tsuramoto of the importance of taking revenge and slaying those who have done one wrong. In Tsunemoto's words, "To cut a man down in revenge is honorable if the crime committed against you warrants it"
Also, interesting were two stories on how samurai and husbands who caught their wives having sex with another man and how they dealt with the affair.
For the chapter of Kaishaku (those who are appointed to behead those who have committed seppuku) and Seppuku (Japanese ritual suicide), some may find this chapter quite interesting. In one story, Tsunemoto talks about children being brought up to execute. One story was about a Yamamoto Kichizaemon who cut down a dog, then as a teenager executing a criminal and how people at 14-15 were raised and ordered to do beheadings. Tsunemoto talked about how he found performing a beheading was an "extremely good feeling" and that to think it is unnerving is "a symptom of cowardice".
These are just a few examples of the story of samurai in "Hagakure: The Code of the Samurai - The Manga Edition". While many of us know of samurai through what we watch from Akira Kurosawa or classic samurai films and for some people their knowledge is what they see from anime or manga, it really helps to have a manga edition of a highly revered, respected book like "Hagakure" because we get to see multiple perspectives of samurai as told by Yamamoto Tsunemoto. To learn the way of the Bushido and how one was loyal to their lord but also upheld the code and lived the way of the samurai warrior according to the code.
While this book does have a storyline of Tashiro Tsuramoto learning from Yamamoto Tsunetomo and how Tashiro is enlightened by Tsunetomo's words. The manga which was adapted from the original manuscript gives us a good perspective of how things were back then in Japan amongst samurai.
Each story that Tsunemoto tells is short, thus we get a good number of examples in each chapter. The illustrations by Chie Kutsuwada were well done and the manga adaptation was very informative and as a period piece, quite enjoyable to read as it is quite different from other manga that one would read about samurai.
It's important to note that this manga is targeted for older teens or a mature audience, definitely not for young children as it does feature beheadings, seppuku, etc.
Also, I want to note that I haven't read the original book, so I can't comment on how much was left out in the adaptation but with translator William Scott Wilson's passion about "Hagakure" and that he worked with Sean Michael Wilson who wrote the adaptation, I am assuming they are faithful to the original book.
If you have any interest in samurai especially about Japanese perspective and the Bushido code of that time... but you don't feel that you are up to reading the actual book, then definitely recommend checking out "Hagakure: The Code of the Samurai - The Manga Edition".
Definitely recommended!
A young samurai named Tashiro Tsuramoto visited the aging Yamamoto back on March 5, 1710 and was fascinated by the samurai of the Saga region and he began recording meticulously the stories and opinions of the aging Tsunetomo about what the warrior code meant to the samurai class. Especially during a time when Japan was at peace and the position of the samurai were not the same as it was during the most feudal period of Japan.
By September 10, 1776, Tashiro had collected all of Tsunetomo's ideas in a completed 11-volume compilation. The manuscript is known as Hagakure (which has several meanings but translates to "Hidden Leaves") and it records Tsunetomo's views on Bushido, the warrior code of the samurai and that a samurai retainer must be willing to die any moment for his lord.
For two centuries, the Nabeshima clan had secretly guarded and kept the manuscript in the Saga domain and decided to make it public during the Meiji period (1886-1912).
While "Hagakure: The Code of the Samurai" had been translated by several people and released several times throughout especially within the last 50 years, recently the book was made into a manga. Featuring an adaptation by Sean Michael Wilson (who has written manga versions of "A Christmas Carol", "Wuthering Heights", "The Canterville Ghost"), illustration by Chie Kutsuwada ("The Mammoth Book of Best New Manga") and features translations by William Scott Wilson ("The Lone Samurai: Hagakure" which would inspire the film "Ghost Dog" by filmmaker Jim Jarmusch).
For those who had the opportunity to read "Hagakure", especially for Japanese who read it, many were fascinated because the book was literally a historic timepiece of how the Bushido code was before the 1700's before samurai entered a peaceful coexistence and others samurai took on administrative duties due to the change of Japan. By the time that Tashiro Tsuramoto started taking notes of the book in the early 1700's, by that time, the monumental battles of Japan were over and the Tokugawa Shogunate established peace in the land in 1603. For Tsunemoto, he saw the changes in samurai and so, what Tashiro was able to record in his notes were wonderful stories of how things were back then.
I know many people may not and probably will not read the original translated book of "Hagakure" but for many people, especially today, sometimes a manga is the best way to approach a new generation.
The book is broken down to the following chapters:
* Chapter 1: The Way of the Samurai
* Chapter 2: Loyalty
* Chapter 3: Revenge
* Chapter 4: Kaishaku and Seppuku
* Chapter 5: Sincerity
* Afterword by William Scott Wilson
In the manga, the aging samurai Yamamoto Tsunemoto is visited by Tashiro Tsuramoto who wants to learn from him about the ways of the Samurai. Tsunemoto gives several anecdotes of samurai. How important their loyalism to their lord.
One story was about a lord cutting his fingernails and the samurai who didn't leave because he counted nine fingernails and there should be ten.
Another story featured the samurai code in which a samurai was being teased because of his looks. So the samurai Tokuhisa slayed the man who made fun of him. The samurai was told that "To be made fun of and remain silent is cowardice. A Man who makes fun of people is himself a fool. It was his own fault for being cut down".
In the chapter of "revenge", one story talked about a samurai who got his revenge by slaying another who had wronged him and people cheered for him because he was able to get revenge. Tsunemoto explains to Tsuramoto of the importance of taking revenge and slaying those who have done one wrong. In Tsunemoto's words, "To cut a man down in revenge is honorable if the crime committed against you warrants it"
Also, interesting were two stories on how samurai and husbands who caught their wives having sex with another man and how they dealt with the affair.
For the chapter of Kaishaku (those who are appointed to behead those who have committed seppuku) and Seppuku (Japanese ritual suicide), some may find this chapter quite interesting. In one story, Tsunemoto talks about children being brought up to execute. One story was about a Yamamoto Kichizaemon who cut down a dog, then as a teenager executing a criminal and how people at 14-15 were raised and ordered to do beheadings. Tsunemoto talked about how he found performing a beheading was an "extremely good feeling" and that to think it is unnerving is "a symptom of cowardice".
These are just a few examples of the story of samurai in "Hagakure: The Code of the Samurai - The Manga Edition". While many of us know of samurai through what we watch from Akira Kurosawa or classic samurai films and for some people their knowledge is what they see from anime or manga, it really helps to have a manga edition of a highly revered, respected book like "Hagakure" because we get to see multiple perspectives of samurai as told by Yamamoto Tsunemoto. To learn the way of the Bushido and how one was loyal to their lord but also upheld the code and lived the way of the samurai warrior according to the code.
While this book does have a storyline of Tashiro Tsuramoto learning from Yamamoto Tsunetomo and how Tashiro is enlightened by Tsunetomo's words. The manga which was adapted from the original manuscript gives us a good perspective of how things were back then in Japan amongst samurai.
Each story that Tsunemoto tells is short, thus we get a good number of examples in each chapter. The illustrations by Chie Kutsuwada were well done and the manga adaptation was very informative and as a period piece, quite enjoyable to read as it is quite different from other manga that one would read about samurai.
It's important to note that this manga is targeted for older teens or a mature audience, definitely not for young children as it does feature beheadings, seppuku, etc.
Also, I want to note that I haven't read the original book, so I can't comment on how much was left out in the adaptation but with translator William Scott Wilson's passion about "Hagakure" and that he worked with Sean Michael Wilson who wrote the adaptation, I am assuming they are faithful to the original book.
If you have any interest in samurai especially about Japanese perspective and the Bushido code of that time... but you don't feel that you are up to reading the actual book, then definitely recommend checking out "Hagakure: The Code of the Samurai - The Manga Edition".
Definitely recommended!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Excellent rendition of the book Hagakure
24 Sep 2011
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is an excellent rendition of a written book, turned into images and set into a story line that is easy to read and understand. Rarely is there philosophy books that are presented in this way.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Some reviews
29 Oct 2011
Format:Paperback
Some reviews I've noticed for this book:
"Sean Michael Wilson uses the story line of a young apprentice who seeks to learn the Bushido spirit and the way of the samurai. Each lesson of the samurai code in "Hagakure" resonates, and Sean Wilson balances the romantic vision of the life of a samurai warrior with such shocking samurai practices as teaching a 5-year-old apprentice how to kill by practicing on puppies.
"Hagakure" is superbly illustrated by Chie Kutsuwada. The lines and shading exude an artistic grace, while the graphic images of gore and spurting blood reveal the stark and brutal code of the samurai. Her images also evoke an ironic humor, such as the chapter on a cuckold samurai who contemplates his revenge while sitting by a pond populated by a pair of frisky fornicating frogs. "Hagakure" -- with its captivating storytelling and imagery -- offers readers a wonderful initiation to the evolving genre of English manga."
- Kris Kosaka, Japan Times
"Hagakure: The Code of the Samurai (The Manga Edition) is a worthwhile read. The interpretation seems honest and unconcerned with conforming itself and its idealism to the expectations of the modern day. It is, however, important to distinguish between drawing and storytelling. The drawing of the manga, while it has impressive moments, fails to give testament to the inner workings of the characters. The storytelling does succeed in creating a pace that is contemplative yet engaging, and that fills in the gaps left by the drawing. The intention of this manga was to use a modern storytelling medium to help the reader connect and empathize with a people and a tradition of the past. When all is said and done, and the dust clears, this Hagakure accomplishes its intention."
- Chris Jamison, Washington Independent review of Books
"It is no small irony that in the 21st century, Hagakure is now circulated freely in the form of this new manga edition and has come to define orthodox samurai ideals for so many readers.'
- Paul Schalow Washington Independent review of Books
"Now that we have more a more global curriculum in 8th grade history, I thought it would be great to add this to the collection. There is a new assignment where the kids write a short story as someone from a different time period and one of the topics deals with being a member of Japanese society. Being in 8th grade, this version of Hagakure is much more accessible to our students.
Why I Didn't Put It Down: You could read this fairly quickly but I think the tenets are definitely ones you would have to sit and reflect on. The illustrations definitely reflect other manga comics. And some of the illustrations might be considered intense or too violent. I think, our kids can handle that. Half of them spend their time playing Black Ops so this is actually very mild. Plus, you need those images to understand what the master is sharing with the student.
Who Would I Recommend This To: If you like Japanese manga, definitely pick it up. If you are interested in Japanese history and samurais, definitely pick it up. I actually asked one of my students to read it and he came back very excited about it. He gave a glowing recommendation and told me to read it too.
On the graphic novels/comic books front - we are getting a lot of students interested in reading the ones we are buying and I am so glad that I get to build this collection. I can't wait to purchase more. I still want to separate them out from the general collection but I keep hitting a wall but I will be persistent because at other school libraries I've visited, they are separated out.
I actually asked one of my students to read it and he came back very excited about it. He gave a glowing recommendation and told me to read it too."
- Anna M, Librarian.
"Sean Michael Wilson uses the story line of a young apprentice who seeks to learn the Bushido spirit and the way of the samurai. Each lesson of the samurai code in "Hagakure" resonates, and Sean Wilson balances the romantic vision of the life of a samurai warrior with such shocking samurai practices as teaching a 5-year-old apprentice how to kill by practicing on puppies.
"Hagakure" is superbly illustrated by Chie Kutsuwada. The lines and shading exude an artistic grace, while the graphic images of gore and spurting blood reveal the stark and brutal code of the samurai. Her images also evoke an ironic humor, such as the chapter on a cuckold samurai who contemplates his revenge while sitting by a pond populated by a pair of frisky fornicating frogs. "Hagakure" -- with its captivating storytelling and imagery -- offers readers a wonderful initiation to the evolving genre of English manga."
- Kris Kosaka, Japan Times
"Hagakure: The Code of the Samurai (The Manga Edition) is a worthwhile read. The interpretation seems honest and unconcerned with conforming itself and its idealism to the expectations of the modern day. It is, however, important to distinguish between drawing and storytelling. The drawing of the manga, while it has impressive moments, fails to give testament to the inner workings of the characters. The storytelling does succeed in creating a pace that is contemplative yet engaging, and that fills in the gaps left by the drawing. The intention of this manga was to use a modern storytelling medium to help the reader connect and empathize with a people and a tradition of the past. When all is said and done, and the dust clears, this Hagakure accomplishes its intention."
- Chris Jamison, Washington Independent review of Books
"It is no small irony that in the 21st century, Hagakure is now circulated freely in the form of this new manga edition and has come to define orthodox samurai ideals for so many readers.'
- Paul Schalow Washington Independent review of Books
"Now that we have more a more global curriculum in 8th grade history, I thought it would be great to add this to the collection. There is a new assignment where the kids write a short story as someone from a different time period and one of the topics deals with being a member of Japanese society. Being in 8th grade, this version of Hagakure is much more accessible to our students.
Why I Didn't Put It Down: You could read this fairly quickly but I think the tenets are definitely ones you would have to sit and reflect on. The illustrations definitely reflect other manga comics. And some of the illustrations might be considered intense or too violent. I think, our kids can handle that. Half of them spend their time playing Black Ops so this is actually very mild. Plus, you need those images to understand what the master is sharing with the student.
Who Would I Recommend This To: If you like Japanese manga, definitely pick it up. If you are interested in Japanese history and samurais, definitely pick it up. I actually asked one of my students to read it and he came back very excited about it. He gave a glowing recommendation and told me to read it too.
On the graphic novels/comic books front - we are getting a lot of students interested in reading the ones we are buying and I am so glad that I get to build this collection. I can't wait to purchase more. I still want to separate them out from the general collection but I keep hitting a wall but I will be persistent because at other school libraries I've visited, they are separated out.
I actually asked one of my students to read it and he came back very excited about it. He gave a glowing recommendation and told me to read it too."
- Anna M, Librarian.
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