Erik Christian Haugaard

In the middle of the sixteenth century the first Europeans landed on the island of Kyushu in the southern part of Japan. We shall never know which one of these adventurers was the first to tell the tale of Odysseus to the Kyushu islanders, but soon that great epic of our western culture was transformed into a native Japanese tale: The Story of Yuriwaka.

When this story occurs, Kyushu is not a happy place to live. Pirates from the country of Shiragi have been landing on the shores of the island to plunder and murder. In answer to the pleas of the people, the Emperor of Kyushu sends for Yuriwaka, the strongest man in all of Japan, to punish and destroy the people of Shiragi. And so with his favorite hawk Midorimaru on his shoulder, and his iron bow in his hand, Yuriwaka takes command of the Emperor's ships, and sets sail for Shiragi to carry out the Emperor's orders.

Eric and Masako Haugaard divide their time between their two homes in Tokyo and West Cork, Ireland. Mr. Haugaard has won critical acclaim for his books for young readers with such titles as The Little Fishes, Cromwell's Boy, The Samurai's Tale, and Prince Boghole. Birgitta Saflund is a West Cork artist whose work previously appeared in The People Who Hugged the Trees, published by Roberts Rinehart in 1990.

Contents

Yuriwaka bids farewell to lady Kasuga and Midorimaru
The beppu brothers abandon the sleeping Yuriwaka
The archery contest… (mere)

Substance: The true story of the forty-seven samurai avenging their dead lord is a standard of Japanese lore. This narrative is first-person, by the servant of the samurai leader. Suitable for junior readers, although some maturity is needed to deal with the concepts of honor and subterfuge. The Floating World is presented discretely.
Style: Exposition is clear and straight-forward. The philosophies and culture of the period are well represented for the target audience.
The author has other books set in Japan in the sixteenth century.… (mere)