Taiko

by Eiji Yoshikawa

HIDEYOSHI

stepfather KATO DANJO, Hiyoshi’s uncle

a band

yesterday.

memory, and he took particular care in applying

It was Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa who, late in the previous century, had first practiced the tea ceremony as an aesthetic exercise. It had

for, Hiyoshi crawled quietly from the entrance of the male servants’ quarters into the main house. Once there, he saw that a lamp was

Sutejiro’s room. “Master?” Hiyoshi called out as he seated himself respectfully on the veranda. There was no

said. Husband and wife swallowed

quiet. “Master, why look at it that way? One piece of pottery can finish

independence to the watchful eyes of the lord of Inabayama

shadows

the eye,

Master Pockmark—to the end, if need be. On the day of

When the lids were lifted, the starchy water boiled over

There was one thing that was beyond doubt, though: here was no ordinary young man. He decided

shooting.

and plunged into the river to cool off. —

you!” At least this was what he had meant to say,

He should marry her. He had to marry her.

an endless stream of tiny bubbles, so that one’s life is carved out instant by instant. Right up to the point of his death, a man’s words and actions are decided by this chain of fragments. Ideas that can destroy a man. A day in a man’s life is constructed according to whether he accepts or rejects these flashes of inspiration. In ordinary

in

have to

die fighting,

a truce

defensive

strike

spears

common

of Mount Hiei, and seems to be inciting other religious groups to rebellion.” “Not a pleasant set of circumstances.” “But it’s not worth worrying about. The warrior-monks have seen what happened to

doubt

fate.” “People can’t be reconciled just by saying that it’s fate. The life of a samurai’s wife is

plight of Lord Nobunaga. But also I thought it regrettable that you, a samurai who has shown such

perform

filled with

blade biting against naked blade and warrior grappling

beyond words.

Okubo corps was wiped out almost instantly. The reason

the palisade. Measuring the intervals between

It

smile. — Hideyoshi very quickly demonstrated the

doubt, Ukita Naoie is anticipating that I will attack Kozuki Castle yet again. Only this time he will lead a large army himself, and we

retainers as

southwest by

as a general, he had not the first idea for a strategy.

The

Certainly the Oda would gain the reputation of being unreliable

Avoid the difficult battle, and be victorious over

another plan.” When

ally alike—a warrior of undying devotion and