Young Samurai
Encyclopedia
Young Samurai is a series of action-adventure stories written by Chris Bradford
. It is set in 17th century Japan
following the exploits of an English boy, Jack Fletcher, as he strives to be the first gaijin
samurai
.
Introduced by Puffin Books
as their 'All New Action Hero', Young Samurai has been described as a 'Black Belt', Young Bond
, Artemis Fowl
with Swords and Percy Jackson with Ninja.
The first Young Samurai book, The Way of the Warrior
, was published by Puffin Books in 2008. Disney bought the US publishing rights in the same year and has published the book in early March 2009. By the time of publication in the UK, the Young Samurai series had sold to over 16 different territories. The TV and film rights have been acquired by Coolabi. Young Samurai: The Way of the Warrior
has been nominated for over 14 major book awards and also Young Samurai: The Ring of Earth has won Northern Ireland Book Award 2011.
After a snowstorm forces him to take shelter, Jack comes across a village in need of protection from raiding mountain bandits. Torn between moving on or helping, Jack is persuaded to stay and fight their cause.
But Jack is the first and only samurai to do so. Now he must enlist other warriors to the village’s aid before the bandits return to steal their harvest. No easy task when the reward is so little and he is a foreigner. If only he had his friends to call on…
Ambushed by the Shogun’s samurai, Jack and his friends have only one hope of escape – the Seto sea. But with ferocious storms, man-eating sharks and ninja pirates at every turn, their chosen route is fraught with danger. A treacherous crew only adds to their problems as they flee south from a ruthless samurai sea lord. Unless Jack can harness the Ring of Wind, he and his friends are destined for a watery grave…
Characters
Chris Bradford
Chris Bradford is an author, professional musician and black belt martial artist, best known for his children's fictional series, Young Samurai.The first Young Samurai book, The Way of the Warrior, was published by Puffin Books in 2008...
. It is set in 17th century Japan
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
following the exploits of an English boy, Jack Fletcher, as he strives to be the first gaijin
Gaijin
is a Japanese word meaning "non-Japanese", or "alien". This word is a short form of gaikokujin , which literally means "person from outside of the country". The word is composed of two kanji: , meaning "outside"; and , meaning "person". Thus, the word technically means "outsider"...
samurai
Samurai
is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
.
Introduced by Puffin Books
Puffin Books
Puffin Books is the children's imprint of British publishers Penguin Books. Since the 1960s it has been the largest publisher of children's books in the UK and much of the English-speaking world.-Early history:...
as their 'All New Action Hero', Young Samurai has been described as a 'Black Belt', Young Bond
Young Bond
Young Bond is a series of five young adult spy novels by Charlie Higson featuring Ian Fleming's secret agent James Bond as a young teenage boy attending school at Eton College in the 1930s...
, Artemis Fowl
Artemis Fowl (series)
Artemis Fowl is a series of fantasy novels written by Irish author Eoin Colfer and all the books are best sellers, starring the teenage criminal mastermind Artemis Fowl II. The author summed up the series as: "Die Hard with fairies." There are seven novels in the series; the first was published in...
with Swords and Percy Jackson with Ninja.
The first Young Samurai book, The Way of the Warrior
Young Samurai: The Way of the Warrior
Young Samurai: The Way of the Warrior is a children's historical novel by Chris Bradford, published in 2008. It is the first in a series of action-adventure stories set in 17th century Japan following the exploits of an English boy, Jack Fletcher, as he strives to be the first gaijin samurai.Young...
, was published by Puffin Books in 2008. Disney bought the US publishing rights in the same year and has published the book in early March 2009. By the time of publication in the UK, the Young Samurai series had sold to over 16 different territories. The TV and film rights have been acquired by Coolabi. Young Samurai: The Way of the Warrior
Young Samurai: The Way of the Warrior
Young Samurai: The Way of the Warrior is a children's historical novel by Chris Bradford, published in 2008. It is the first in a series of action-adventure stories set in 17th century Japan following the exploits of an English boy, Jack Fletcher, as he strives to be the first gaijin samurai.Young...
has been nominated for over 14 major book awards and also Young Samurai: The Ring of Earth has won Northern Ireland Book Award 2011.
Characters (Way of The Warrior, Sword and Dragon)
- Jack Fletcher - Protagonist of the Young Samurai series. Shows affection for Akiko and cares deeply for her.
- Date Akiko – Daughter of Dāte Hiroko and niece of Masamoto. A master archer. Gives Jack a black pearl in Way of the Sword. Shows a lot of affection for Jack, especially in Way of the Dragon.
- Dāte Hiroko – Akiko’s mother and sister of Masamoto.
- Chiro - Maid to Hiroko, deceased
- Masamoto Yamato – Second-born son of Masamoto. Feels like his father does not love him. Presumed to have perished in Way of The Dragon.
- Masamoto Takeshi – Samurai swordmaster and founder of the Niten Ichi-Ryū school. Banished by Kamakura at the conclusion of Way of The Dragon.
- Dokugan Ryu (Hattori Tatsuo) – One-eyed ninjaNinjaA or was a covert agent or mercenary of feudal Japan specializing in unorthodox arts of war. The functions of the ninja included espionage, sabotage, infiltration, and assassination, as well as open combat in certain situations...
and Jack's sworn enemy. Main antagonist in the series. Once a daimyo of Japan's Northern Province and defeated. Seemingly dies in Way of The Dragon... - Taka-san – Samurai warrior in service of Hiroko
- Sensei Hosokawa – SenseiSensei' is a Japanese word that basically means "person born before another." In general usage, it means "master" or "teacher," and the word is used as a title to refer to or address teachers, professors, professionals such as lawyers, CPA and doctors, politicians, clergymen, and other figures of authority...
of KenjutsuKenjutsu, meaning "the method, or technique, of the sword." This is opposed to kendo, which means the way of the sword. Kenjutsu is the umbrella term for all traditional schools of Japanese swordsmanship, in particular those that predate the Meiji Restoration...
. Dies defending Sensei Yosa in Way of The Dragon. - Oda Kazuki – Student rival of Jack. Revealed to be a Red Devil serving Kamakura in Way of The Dragon.
- Sensei Kyuzo – Sensei of TaijutsuTaijutsuis a Japanese blanket term for any combat skill, technique or system of martial art using body movements that are described as an empty-hand combat skill or system. The term is commonly used when referring to a traditional Japanese martial art but has also been used in the naming of modern martial...
. Has a personal hatred for Jack. - Harumi – Girl contender in Circle of 3.
- Saburo – The talkative friend of Jack, who loves eating.
- Kiku – Student at the Niten Ichi-Ryū and friend of Akiko. Daughter of a Zen priest.
- Kuma-san – Masamoto's trusted samurai captain
- Takatomi Hideaki – Daimyo of Kyoto and helps govern Japan on behalf of the future ruler.
- Sensei Yamada – Sensei of ZenZenZen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism founded by the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma. The word Zen is from the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word Chán , which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna, which can be approximately translated as "meditation" or "meditative state."Zen...
, currently accompanying Yori. - Yori – The quiet, mouse-like friend of Jack, who has a profound ability for Kiai-jutsu.
- Sensei Yosa – Sensei of KyujutsuKyujutsuis the traditional Japanese martial art of wielding a bow. Although the samurai of feudal Japan are perhaps best known for their swordsmanship with a katana , kyūjutsu was actually considered a more vital skill for a significant portion of Japanese history...
, female - Father Lucius – Portuguese Jesuit Priest, in poor health and died early in the series.
- Takuan Nakamura – Sensei Nakamura's son, student at the Niten Ichi-Ryū. Gets killed by Dragon Eye's poison dart.
- Tadashi – Student at the Niten Ichi-Ryū
- Sensei Kano – Blind visiting Bojutsu teacher from Mugan Ryu, the Niten Ichi-Ryū's sister school. Ace in a fight against Dragon Eye, carries a white bo staff.
- Emi – Daimyo Takatomi's daughter, student at the Niten Ichi-Ryū. Used to have a slight crush on Jack.
- Moriko – Kazuki's girlfriend, Student at Yagyu Ryu. Burned and crushed by falling building.
- Raiden – Kazuki's cousin, student at Yagyu Ryu
- Toru – Raiden's twin brother, student at Yagyu Ryu
- Nobu – Friend of Kazuki
- Hiroto – Friend of Kazuki
- Goro – Friend of Kazuki
- Father Bobadillo – Portuguese Priest, allied with Dokugan Ryu, killed by his Death Touch.
- Hasegawa Satoshi – Rightful ruler of Japan, committed seppuku in Way of The Dragon.
- Sensei Nakamura – Sensei of haikuHaiku' , plural haiku, is a very short form of Japanese poetry typically characterised by three qualities:* The essence of haiku is "cutting"...
-writing, female. Perished fighting in Way of The Dragon. - Uekiya – Gardener to the Dāte family
- Jiro – Akiko's little brother
- Kamakura Katsuo – Power-hungry daimyoDaimyois a generic term referring to the powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings...
of Edo (Tokyo). Becomes Shogun at the end of Way of The Dragon. Hates foreigners; especially Christians. - Masamoto Tenno – First-born son of Masamoto, murdered by Dokugan Ryu before the main part of the series.
- John Fletcher – Jack's father and navigator of the Alexandria, murdered by Dokugan Ryu early in the series.
- Jess Fletcher - Jack's sister, only heard throughout the series.
Characters in The Ring of Earth
- Soke - NinjaNinjaA or was a covert agent or mercenary of feudal Japan specializing in unorthodox arts of war. The functions of the ninja included espionage, sabotage, infiltration, and assassination, as well as open combat in certain situations...
Grandmaster, and former teacher to Dragon Eye. Took Jack in after realising his plight and hoped to make amends. - Hanzo - Real name Kiyoshi, is Akiko's younger brother. Taken by Dragon Eye during his assault on Tenno.
- Kobei - Hanzo's friend
- Miyuki - Expert Kunoichi who was hostile to Jack at first. Has a hatred of Samurai as her family was killed by them. Eventually warms to Jack, especially at end of Ring of Earth.
- Momochi - Adviser to Shonin. Mistrusts Jack until the end of the book.
- Tenzen - Son of Shonin and an expert with shuriken. Strikes up a quick friendship with Jack. Gives Jack a gift of five shuriken.
- Shonin - Head of the Ninja Village.
- Shiro - Ninja who constantly moans about anything. Betrayed Jack and the rest of his clan to daimyo Akechi and was killed by Gemnan.
- Akechi - Daimyo of the province. Dislikes Ninja to the core. Killed at the end of The Ring of Earth.
- Ishibe - Tenzen's uncle. Beheaded by SamuraiSamuraiis the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
in the assault on the Ninja Village. - Zenjubo - One of the skilled Ninja in the village.
- Kajiya - Blacksmith for the Ninja, forges many of their weapons.
- Gemnan - Cruel Samurai who is daimyo Akechi's right hand man. Was responsible for killing Miyuki's family. Delights in torture.
Characters in the Ring of Water
- Ronin - A washed up samurai Jack has to rely on for help. He apparently has a love for sake, and is also pretty skilled in a fight. He teaches Jack the Drunken Fist and Plum Flower Pole techniques. His last name is Torayasu. In reality, he hated monks for one murdered his father as a spy, of which Ronin was unable to protect his father later, and hence took to drinking sake to forget his guilt at being helpless. This incident also caused him to foster a hatred for monks, which drove him to join Botan's gang upon hearing of a monk (Jack) dressed as a spy in the vicinity after he desperately needed work. What he didn't expect was that Botan would backstab him by drugging his sake and wiping his memory of their trap laid upon Jack for the most part of the book. Eventually becomes Jack's firm friend.
- Hana - A highly skilled thief and also a hinin (outcast) that Ronin and Jack meet on their journey. At first she was an unwilling captive of the two, but quickly proved her worth with her quick wits, especially when Daimyo Sanada tried to take their lives. Jack would eventually entrust her with his inro to warn Akiko that Kazuki was targeting her to kill as well. She was last seen departing for Toba, where Akiko and family reside in. In the Ring of Fire, it was revealed that she got lost in the Iga mountains and chanced upon Shonin's ninja clan. After some explanation as to how she knew Jack, Hanzo was tasked to guide her to Toba.
- Riddling Monk - A devious looking character who was in possession of Jack's rutter . Has a huge following of disciples. He did encounter a drunk Ronin at some point, and took the rutter away from him. Ronin failed to get back the book since he answered the Monk's riddle incorrectly. Jack and Hana would get the rutter back by answering his 3 riddles late in the book. Resides in a ruined temple on a stormy mountaintop.
- Matagoro Araki - Samurai at the Yagyu Ryu who is in possession of Jack's daisho, and challenged him to a duel which Jack won.
- Botan - Skilled and ruthless samurai , leader of the group that assaulted Jack and robbed him of his possessions. He hired Ronin as part of his plan, but drugged his sake as well as cover.
- Sanada - Daimyo of Nara Province. Challenged Jack to a game of go, or Japanese Chess. His flag is black and white checks, as is the rest of his palace and his clothes.
The Ring of Fire (Story Summary and Characters)
Winter 1614.After a snowstorm forces him to take shelter, Jack comes across a village in need of protection from raiding mountain bandits. Torn between moving on or helping, Jack is persuaded to stay and fight their cause.
But Jack is the first and only samurai to do so. Now he must enlist other warriors to the village’s aid before the bandits return to steal their harvest. No easy task when the reward is so little and he is a foreigner. If only he had his friends to call on…
- Hayato - Son of the late daimyo Yukimura and a highly proficient archer.
- Yuudai - Able bodied and immensely strong samurai who wields a nodachi.
- Neko - An orphaned girl who is both deaf and mute. She cooks for Jack's squad and the farmers, and also learns some ninja skills from Miyuki.
- Junichi - Head of the Tamagashi village Jack resides in. He has his Mother living with him .
- Yoshi - Elder of Tamagashi village.
- Toge- One of the village leaders, and highly distrusts Jack, doubting his abilities as a samurai.
- Sora - One of the elderly farmers.
- Akuma "devil" - Main antagonist in the story. Nicknamed "Black Moon", He is an utterly heartless warrior who plunders the villagers' rice for his own once every full moon, leaving them with almost nothing to eat.
- Nakamura "Scarface" - Not to be confused with Sensei Nakamura, Nakamura is one of Akuma's most skilled henchmen, wielding a axe with fierce abandon
- Sayomi - Female Bandit who serves Akuma. Wields a naginata.
- Kurochi - Nicknamed "The Snake". He is highly proficient with using the musket to shoot targets from long range.
The Ring of Wind (Story and Summary)
Spring, 1615.Ambushed by the Shogun’s samurai, Jack and his friends have only one hope of escape – the Seto sea. But with ferocious storms, man-eating sharks and ninja pirates at every turn, their chosen route is fraught with danger. A treacherous crew only adds to their problems as they flee south from a ruthless samurai sea lord. Unless Jack can harness the Ring of Wind, he and his friends are destined for a watery grave…
Characters
- Tatsumaki - A ninja pirate leader. Other than that, nothing is known about him...yet.
Novels
- Young Samurai: The Way of the WarriorYoung Samurai: The Way of the WarriorYoung Samurai: The Way of the Warrior is a children's historical novel by Chris Bradford, published in 2008. It is the first in a series of action-adventure stories set in 17th century Japan following the exploits of an English boy, Jack Fletcher, as he strives to be the first gaijin samurai.Young...
(2008) - Young Samurai: The Way of the SwordYoung Samurai: The Way of the SwordYoung Samurai: The Way of the Sword is a children's historical novel by Chris Bradford, published in 2009. It is the second in a series of action-adventure stories set in 17th century Japan following the exploits of an English boy, Jack Fletcher, as he strives to be the first gaijin samurai.Young...
(2009) - Young Samurai: The Way of the DragonYoung Samurai: The Way of the Dragon-Plot:Japan is threatened with war and samurai are taking sides. As the blood begins to flow, Jack’s warrior training is put to the ultimate test.His survival - and those of his friends - depends upon him mastering the Two Heavens, the secret sword technique of the legendary samurai Masamoto...
(2010)- The conclusion to the Niten Ichi Ryu element of the Young Samurai series - Young Samurai: The Ring of Earth (2010)
- Young Samurai: The Ring of Water (2011)
- Young Samurai: The Ring of Fire (2011)
- Young Samurai: The Ring of Wind (March 2012)
- Young Samurai: The Ring of Sky (August 2012)- The conclusion to the Five Rings element of the Young Samurai series