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Musui's Story

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1843

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Book Brief

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Katsu Kokichi, Transl. Teruko Craig, Illustr. Hiroshige Utagawa

Musui's Story

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1843
Book Details
Pages

174

Format

Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction

Setting

Edo, Japan • 1800s

Publication Year

1843

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

Musui’s Story by Katsu Kokichi, translated by Teruko Craig, is an autobiography of a lower-ranking samurai in the late Edo period. The narrative recounts Katsu's life of rebellion, including multiple escapes from home, financial mismanagement, engagement in illegal activities, and interpersonal conflicts, offering an unembellished depiction of ordinary life and social dynamics in Tokugawa Japan. This book includes content related to interpersonal violence.

Adventurous

Humorous

Informative

Playful

Gritty

Reviews & Readership

4.0

1,022 ratings

54%

Loved it

35%

Mixed feelings

10%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Musui's Story by Katsu Kokichi, translated by Teruko Craig and illustrated by Hiroshige Utagawa, offers a captivating glimpse into Edo-period Japan. Reviewers appreciate Craig's fluid translation and Utagawa's evocative illustrations. However, some found the narrative's episodic structure disjointed. Overall, the memoir's vivid depiction of a samurai's rebellious life is compelling.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Musui's Story?

Readers who enjoy memoirs filled with adventure, personal anecdotes, and historical insights will find Musui's Story captivating. Similar in appeal to Shōgun by James Clavell and The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu, this autobiography offers a vivid portrayal of samurai life in Tokugawa Japan.

4.0

1,022 ratings

54%

Loved it

35%

Mixed feelings

10%

Not a fan

Character List

Kokichi Katsu

A low-ranking samurai and author of an autobiography, known for his unorthodox lifestyle during the late Edo period in Japan, who experiences a life filled with immorality and questionable conduct.

Kokichi's biological father, who works as a minor official for the Tokugawa shogunate and takes a lenient approach toward Kokichi's behavior despite numerous misdeeds.

Kokichi's older half-brother, a respected Confucian scholar and district administrator who acts as a stabilizing force in Kokichi's life, trying to guide him and manage his troublesome actions.

Another half-brother to Kokichi, who is also adopted into another family and serves as a district administrator, maintaining a difficult relationship with Kokichi.

Kokichi's wife, described as a devoted and loyal partner, who faces numerous hardships due to Kokichi's behavior after their arranged marriage.

Nobuko's grandmother and Kokichi's adoptive grandmother, who has a poor relationship with Kokichi and is portrayed as treating him unfavorably.

Kokichi's only son, who becomes an accomplished naval engineer and official, rising to prominence during the Meiji Restoration and contributing significantly to Japan's naval development.

Book Details
Pages

174

Format

Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction

Setting

Edo, Japan • 1800s

Publication Year

1843

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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