Underdogs of Japanese History: 11 tales of iconic characters who prevailed against the odds... or didn’t

A samurai prison guard who saw the humanity in even the most savage prisoners,An untalented warlord relentlessly obsessed with protecting his people,A lady-in-waiting of ancient Japanese court who turned herself from a single-mom bookworm into a best-selling author and savior of the ruler of Japan,An impoverished samurai clan that overthrew two centuries of oppression…Japanese history holds a wealth of underrated figures, each with an inspiring story of perseverance and determination that remains untold. Embark on a journey to relive eleven life stories of resilience and triumph of eleven remarkable underdogs.A fascinating collection of new perspectives for understanding Japanese values and traditions through underdog stories.ChaptersThe Prisoners of Kodenmachō - the out-of-the-ordinary decision of Samurai prison guard Ishide Tatewaki in the wake of a city-wide fireMaeda Keiji - the life of a delinquent warrior of the Maeda samurai clan during the Sengoku PeriodOharu of Jakarta - the comeback of a half-Japanese/half-Italian girl in the Edo Period after being exiled from JapanImagawa Ujizane - the story of overcoming the dilemmas of being the son of Imagawa Yoshimoto, the legendary warlord who perished in battle unexpectedlyEjima - the struggles of the ladies-in-waiting in an all-woman battleground in the Shogun's haremYagyū Sekishūsai - a sword master who chose not to draw his sword and his quest for redeeming the family's good name Iwasa Matabei - the artist life of the son of a villain warlord of the Sengoku PeriodOda Ujiharu - the losing streak of an untalented warlord obsessed with protecting his peopleMurasaki Shikibu - the power of the pen proven by the author of The Tale of GenjiSengoku Hidehisa - the roller-coaster ride of a samurai underdog who lived a dramatic life of success, failure, and then redemption The Satsuma Samurai - the Edo Period, the ambitions and downfall of the last Shogun, the Meiji Restoration, and the Satsuma Rebellion told in the eyes of the Satsuma samurai clan Read more