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Samurai's Tale Essay

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1.The Samurai's Tale
By: Harutomo Murakami
Houghton Mifflin Company
Copyright @ 1984
215 Park Avenue New York, New York
234 Pages

2. Harutomo Murakami (Taro)- The hero of the story, the son of a poor samurai who died in battle
Lord Akiyama Nobutomo- One of Lord Shingen's generals, Taro's master and friend.
Lord Akiyama Nobutora- Father of Lord Akiyama Nobutomo
Lord Oda Nobunaga- Lord Takeda Shingen's rival and enemy.
Lord Oda Nobutada- Son of Lord Oda Nobunaga
Lord Takeda Katsuyori- Son of Lord Shingen, also called the Wakatono, the prince
Lord Takeda Shingen- The Lord of Kai, a ruthless warlord whose ambition is to rule all of Japan.
Lord Takeda Yoshinobu- Son of Lord Shingen. He revolts against his father and is killed. …show more content…

A priest taught Taro how to write, and he practiced Zen Buddhism, as he wanted to prepare for being a samurai. Bullied by a couple of ronins one day, Taro ran away and told his master's father, who sent him to Iida castle with a message for his son (Lord Akiyama). After delivering the message about the disloyal ronins who had harassed him, Taro became Akiyama's messenger and befriended Yoshitoki, a young samurai. At age 15, he was sent with Yoshitoki to carry a message to Tsutsujigasaki Castle. On the way, they escaped from two bandits disguised as monks. A strange old man invited them into his hut and predicted that neither Lord Oda Nobunaga nor Lord Takeda Shingen would rule Japan. On their return from the castle, Yoshitoki and Taro found the hut of the strange man empty and decided that the man had been a ghost. Lord Akiyama gave Taro back his family name- Murakami- and presented him with a sword. Everyone anticipated a huge battle from which either Lord Takeda Shingen or Oda Nobunaga would emerge as ruler of Japan. When Murakami was 18, Lord Takeda decided to go to war and Murakami was disappointed to find himself appointed aide to the officer in charge of food supplies. When a thief tried to steal some rice, Murakami showed both firmness and compassion by beating him, but not killing him. Murakami won a sword fight with a ronin bandit loyal to Lord Obu, but

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