Samurai (Fbula)

Rating:
Summary: Clash between values
Review: In this sad and moving novel, old and rich samurai Hayato adopts young Nagayuki and later marries him with his daughter, Tomiko. He is sent to law school in Tokyo, where the couple spends a happy time. Later, Hayato decides that Nagayuki must go to America, alone, to make justice to his samurai status and come back full of dollars, like some other Japanese have done. But the America Nagayuki finds is prejudiced and hostile, and his law degree counts for nothing. So he is forced to perform the lowest of jobs. In the meantime, Hayato loses all his fortune due to his pretentiousness, sinking Tomiko and her child in poverty. Hayato's behavior eventually brings tragedy to all.

This book confronts in extreme the values of old Japan and the values of the United States. While completely an apolitical novel, it seems clear that Matsubara, the author, is telling us about the rigidities of old cultures and how frequently they force people to cling to old systems of thought that, far from protecting them, bring disaster. It's a pity that this book is out of print, because it is a good novel and its message is valuable.

Rating:
Summary: Samurai
Review: The respected samurai Father Hayato raises his adopted son, Nagayuki, to marry his daughter Tomiko. As their friendship deepens into love, Hayato insists that Nagayuki go to America, alone, to win back the family honour and redress financial losses. Compelled by his samurai upbringing to put fillial duty before personal happiness, Nagayuki goes to a prejudiced and unfriendly America, wheer his brilliant law degree and high social status count for nothing and he is forced to perform the lowest of labouring jobs. In Japan Hayato's refusal to adjust to his standards to his means reduces Tomiko to poverty and despair and he eventually brings tradgedy down on them all.

A moving portrait of conflicts generated by the clash between the old values of the Japanese aristocracy and the new reallities of the inter-war years.