Chapter I: Preface

To hope to understand in a few short years or even in a lifetime the development of the humane, refined, and notably progressive people of Japan would be presumptuous; yet, if I can in these pages contribute in some degree toward that end, I shall feel amply rewarded.

I am indebted to those who have preceded me in this field for much of my detail. I shall, moreover, always hold that to my Japanese friends and others, who so cheerfully rendered me assistance in obtaining original matter, should be attributed any merit which this tale of old Japan may possess. Without them it could not have been, and for its shortcomings I alone am responsible.

NOTE.--The superior figures throughout the text refer to the
notes in the appendix.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

INTRODUCTORY vii

I. THE CHRISTENING 1

II. EARLY LIFE 12

III. MEETING WITH KINSAN 21

IV. COURSE DETERMINED 29

V. THE HIDDEN CAVE 35

VI. THE PLEDGE 47

VII. AN UNEXPECTED COMMAND 51

VIII. THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY 59

IX. THE WEDDING FEAST 65

X. THE STOWAWAYS 78

XI. CAST ADRIFT 81

XII. A WOMAN'S PRIVILEGE 89

XIII. DANGER IN SHIBUSAWA'S ABSENCE 97

XIV. THE "NO" DANCE 104

XV. HOME ABANDONED 111

XVI. A GREAT SORROW 118

XVII. THE CHILD 122

XVIII. THE VOW OF VENGEANCE 129

XIX. THE POET'S BANISHMENT 132

XX. THE FORTY-SEVEN RONIN 136

XXI. THE HOME-COMING 142

XXII. A MEETING IN THE GARDEN 147

XXIII. AN UNEXPECTED CALL 153

XXIV. THE GEISHA PARTY 160

XXV. THE UNHAPPY MEETING 167

XXVI. DAIMYO'S PROCESSION 175

XXVII. SHIBUSAWA RECLAIMED 182

XXVIII. THE DAIMYO'S ARREST 188

XXIX. MAIDO'S PENALTY 199

XXX. THE EARTHQUAKE 208

XXXI. THE CHILD'S FATE 212

XXXII. RONIN RAIDS 218

XXXIII. THE RISE OF SHIBUSAWA 223

XXXIV. NEHACHIBANA'S REVENGE 232

XXXV. MOBILIZING THE SAMURAI 241

XXXVI. BATTLE OF FUSHIMA 248

XXXVII. THE TRIUMPHAL ARCH 255

XXXVIII. SAVING THE ARMADA 258

XXXIX. THE BIVOUAC 265

XL. SIEGE OF TOKYO 267

XLI. THE RESTORATION 278