Customer Reviews

The Samurai Banner of Furin Kazan (Tuttle Classics)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Yasushi Inoue's SAMURAI BANNER OF FURIN KAZAN is written from the point of view of a short, old, and ugly samurai named Yamamoto Kansuke who serves as the chief military strategist for Takeda Haronobu, War Lord of Kai. He has an unerring gift of foreseeing how military strategies will turn out, and of fine-tuning the tactics required to position Takeda to win in any given situation.

Well, almost any given situation. Kansuke also advises Takeda on matters of the heart, and here he is on shakier ground. While he has the best interests of the Takeda clan at heart, women have other goals in mind that he perceives only dimly, being a bachelor. As Takeda tires of his marriage. he takes on two concubines in Princes Yuu and Princess Ogoto; and the problems posed by these two beautiful young women almost prove to be his undoing.

The most powerful enemy of the Takeda clan is Uesugi Kenshin of the nearby state of Echigo. His constant feints remind me of a superb defensive chess player who is familiar with the concept of "reculer pour mieux sauter" -- to retreat to gain running room for leaping forward. In the end, there is a final showdown at Kawakajima in the contested province of Shinano.

Inoue ends with an ironic epilogue in which he sees all the efforts of the 16th century war lords come to naught as Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu finally succeed in unifying Japan in the next generation, leading to the 300-year Tokugawa Shogunate that lasted well into the 19th century.

The title of the book comes from Takeda's battle flag, whose Chinese characters say, in effect:

Be as swift as the wind
Be as silent as the wood
Attack as fiercely as fire
Be as composed as the mountain

This is a wonderful historical novel for anyone who, like me, loves the classic samurai films of Japan. It helps to provide the right historical context for the films. Inoue has done better, especially in LOU LAN AND OTHER STORIES, but this one is well worth reading as well.

Although a work of historical fiction, this novel provides an insightful look into one of the most interesting characters during the Sengoku Jidai,Takeda Shingen. It is sad that very little is offered in English regarding the life of one of the most talented generals and administrators of the Warring States Era in the form of a historical text. However, this book allows us to understand the uniqueness of this famous daimyo and one of the key figures that was instrumental in his rise to power:Yamamoto Kansuke. Even less information is available in English regarding this obscure individual, save for his involvement in the Fourth Battle of Kawanakajima. However, amongst Japanese history enthusiasts, Kansuke was the intelligence behind the Takeda and their rise to power during this turbulent era. Kansuke's loyalty to his young lord is similar to that of an overbearing father offering unwanted guidance to a son as he ventures out to battle, whether it is on the field, his own seat of government, or his love affairs. The character of Kansuke is truly an intriguing one, and especially Inoue's depiction of him makes this novel well worth the read.

To supplement your enjoyment of this book, I would also recommend reading Kawanakajima 1553-1564 by Stephen Turnbull.

It is not as easy to find good samurai literaure as one would imagine.
This book- 'The Samurai Banner of Fu Rin Ka Zan' by Yasushi Inoue would be a delightfully fascinating find for anyone truly interested in the genre.
It is written in a such a way that one can visualize the story as vividly as if watching a well made, well acted movie epic, and it is just as engaging. One does not need any previous knowlewdge about who Takeda Shingen or Yamamoto Kantsuke were for one to get drawn into the plot.
It is surely informative, but it is also fun to read, and at the end it leaves the reader wanting for more.
I wholeheartedly recommend it.

This was written in 1958, so it is a modern portrayal of medieval Japan. It presents a main character - a master strategist - who usually has no idea where his good ideas come from, or why he feels so strongly that something should be done, which doesn't make for a very interesting story - there is little development of ideas or reasoning, just sudden intuition. Although he is quite successful militarily, he is totally clueless when it comes to women, and winds up obsessed with putting the children of concubines into positions of power without regard to the needs of the clan as a whole - the clan which he professes to love so deeply.

While this is presented as historical fiction, it is not, as far as I can tell, historically accurate in many ways. It presents Shingen's decision to become a monk as a move to placate his concubines by becoming celibate which seems ridiculous, and it portrays Uesugi Kenshin as the only aggressor in their wars, which I doubt is true. It dramatically understates the ruthlessness of the rulers of this period - Takeda Shingen forced one of his own sons to commit suicide and had criminals boiled alive.

If you are looking for a rousing tale of strategy, intrigue and warfare I think you'll be disappointed, and the book doesn't shed as much light on sengokujidai Japan as I had hoped. A weak plot with two dimensional characters.

I have to say I truly enjoyed this book from cover to cover. If you enjoy Japanese History, or stories of Samurai, I highly recommend this book! While little is truly known about Legendary Ronin Yamamoto Kansuke, to the point many use to ask if he even existed, this book almost makes you feel as if you know him, and you feel for him. This book offers an exciting look via fictional accounts of the real life battes at Kawanakajima between Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin, through the eyes of Yamamoto Kansuke. I give this book an A+!

The Samurai Banner of Furin Kazan has, more or less, the effect that The Da Vinci Code had on me. It absorbs you into the Sengoku era and creates a simulation of how life was back then, except that you feel what certain characters felt up-close and personal. This is a must-read especially for those interested in Takeda's golden era. Don't miss it!

Last year, Furikazan was the main TV show in Japan. After watching the whole 50 episodes, I think I should read the original book.However, to my superise, the book only has 224 pages,which is a little disappointing.The
story is very simpler and the language is pale. If you are really interested in Yamamoto Kansuke and Takeda Shingen in the period of 1541-1561, I strongly recommend you to watch the TV show, which was played in Japan last year. And I do think the show will be on DVDs soon.

Furin Kazan is the story of Yamamoto Kansuke who rose from an obscure background to become the chief advisor to Takeda Shingen one of the most formidable warlords of 16th Century Japan. Kansuke is the quintessential Japanese hero as he is a rags to riches story and a story of overcoming adversity as he is blind in one eye and lame in one leg. Despite his many short comings, Kansuke succeeds which makes him very popular in Japanese culture. Whereas great men like Takeda, Uesugi Kenshin, Oda Nobuga, ect... were great men partly because they had been born into their position in society. Kansuke gives the average Japanese something to aspire to as he is the common man who rises to success on the basis of his determination. He also a true Japanese hero because he is partly a tragic character as the reader will learn.

Furin Kazan is great book for a look into the world of the samurai and a glimpse of a remarkable character who continues to be admired to this day.

The Samurai Banner of Furin Kazan is an exellant story that has some historical basis. I enjoyed the insight to the possible thinking that people had during the feudal times in Japan. I recomend the book to anyone who enjoys history of pre-mondern Japan.