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| Taiko: An Epic Novel of War and Glory in Feudal Japan | 
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Avg. Customer Rating:  (based on 40 reviews)
Sales Rank: 721585
Category: Book
Author: Eiji Yoshikawa
Publisher: Kodansha International (JPN)
Studio: Kodansha International (JPN)
Manufacturer: Kodansha International (JPN)
Label: Kodansha International (JPN)
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1st
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 926
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3.5
Dimensions (in): 9.5 x 8 x 2
ISBN: 4770015704
Dewey Decimal Number: 895.6344
EAN: 9784770015709
ASIN: 4770015704
Publication Date: September 1992
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
In the turbulent closing years of the 16th century, Japan is in chaos as rival warlords battle for supremacy and the right to be Taiko - the undisputed ruler of Japan.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 35 more reviews...
 More than samurais...... February 15, 2008
Sometimes hard going, always engrossing. While there are some artistic licences used, generally it holds true to known history of that period of Japan. I had to pay attention to the writing, as when I speed read, I will jump over some minor plot points. It is a good to read something other then western writing, and on a topic different to what most of us would have a passing familiarity with (At least). Occasionally, there is some insights as to the internal political stances (authors interpretation, based on historical records) of the factions, there are also glimpses of well developed characters also. No one individual is whooly good or bad. Grounds the story, and keeps it real.
Enjoyable, a good reward, not for speed reading.
Taiko...Loved it! December 24, 2007
Well written and translated. Definitely not a book for beginners in this period of Japan. The names alone would baffle someone looking for light reading. Relatively accurate historically with a very compelling "rags to riches" storyline. A good, solid read for deveotees to this time frame.
 One of the best book on Japanese unification history August 20, 2007
I first read this book 20 years ago when I was in the primary school. Of course I did not understand it at that time. I picked it up again when I was in university and since then I have read it 3 times.
This book puts a lot of focus on the live of Toyotomi Hideyoshi from his youth to his rise as one of the powerful figure in Japan political landscape. Hideyoshi lived at the time when the Japanese political power was polarized into three shoguns, Takeda Shingen, Oda Nobunaga and Ieyesu Tokugawa.
The monkey face, this was how the young Hideyoshi being called by others, started his career as the low level servant at Oda Nobunaga clan. He was the personal servant of Oda Nobunaga himself, carrying Nobunaga's sandals. Overtime he rose as one of Nobunaga's trusted general. Hideyoshi's main strenght is his administration skill. He is able to manage people in achieving certain goals. He is also a master negotiator, being able to persuade some of Nobunaga's enemies to switch side. His big break came after Nobunaga's unexpected death. He quickly consolidated the power and basically took over the Nobunaga's clan.
Mr. Yoshikawa is very good in telling the stories and describing the mind and feeling of the characters. He is very good in reliving the heart and soul of the characters involved in the history. That's what make this book is very enjoyable to read. It's not a plain history book but it is more a romantic drama book.
The only set back that I have with this book is the closure or the ending. I feel that Mr Yoshikawa bring this book to an end too fast. The pace of the story is speed up and condensed right after the death of Nobunaga.
To conclude this review, this is one of several books that I read more than once. The other book from Mr Yoshikawa, Musashi, is also very highly recommended.
Awesome August 6, 2007
Extraordinary! I cannot say enough of this novel. It is vast in depth and exposition of this era. The portrayal of Hideyoshi's rise to power is intriguing chapter by chapter.
The novel contains many of the protagonists of this time, all formidable and with many vying for the position of supreme ruler of Japan. Through it all the unassuming monkey-faced soldier with the peasant background rises to the forefront. Hideyoshi is underestimated by his peers, with the exception of those few who see past his mien and recognize the giftedness and genius of this man.
The shortcomings of the novel is its overt romanticism attributed to Hideyoshi. Historically, Hideyoshi was a political animal and during his reign he ordered the disastrous campaign against China and Korean, and his later persecution of Christians. The author does not write about his later life where these events took place. This leads to the second flaw, which is that the story ends too abruptly with Hideyoshi's execution of a political move which places him as the most pre-eminent Lord of Japan. We never see him as he finally rises to the title of Taiko. Yoshikawa tells us (as well as history itself) that Hideyoshi's mastery is inevitable at the point that the novel ends; however, it left me desiring the author to finish the story and that Yoshimoto would have written more. Still it is a novel that I have read again and again despite its length and minor shortcomings.
 A dense but enjoyable book. May 28, 2007
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book is a great read. It is something that can be enjoyed by those who have a interest in samurai literature, or people interested in history. The book at times seems to move slowly to get to something that the reader will know is inevitable. Also worth mentioning, the book has entirely too much emphasis on the names of every character, major and minor. all considered I am not dissapointed that I bought this book.
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