57 pages 1 hour read

Katsu Kokichi, Transl. Teruko Craig, Illustr. Hiroshige Utagawa

Musui's Story

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1843

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Before You Read

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

Musui’s Story by Katsu Kokichi, translated by Teruko Craig, is an autobiography of a lower-ranking samurai in the late Edo period. The narrative recounts Katsu's life of rebellion, including multiple escapes from home, financial mismanagement, engagement in illegal activities, and interpersonal conflicts, offering an unembellished depiction of ordinary life and social dynamics in Tokugawa Japan. This book includes content related to interpersonal violence.

Reviews & Readership

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Musui's Story by Katsu Kokichi, translated by Teruko Craig and illustrated by Hiroshige Utagawa, offers a captivating glimpse into Edo-period Japan. Reviewers appreciate Craig's fluid translation and Utagawa's evocative illustrations. However, some found the narrative's episodic structure disjointed. Overall, the memoir's vivid depiction of a samurai's rebellious life is compelling.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Musui's Story?

Readers who enjoy memoirs filled with adventure, personal anecdotes, and historical insights will find Musui's Story captivating. Similar in appeal to Shōgun by James Clavell and The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu, this autobiography offers a vivid portrayal of samurai life in Tokugawa Japan.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Topics

History: Asian

Education

History: World

Genre

Japanese Literature

Education

Biography

Themes

Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Society: Community

Relationships: Family

Period

Asian Literature