David Kudler
The idea for Risuko: A Kunoichi Tale came from a few different sources.
One was my house growing up, which was full of memorabilia from my parents' three years living in northern Japan before I was born — including books, figurines (including The Seven Gods of Luck), and my father's abiding love of samurai movies.
More specifically, I read an article a few years ago in New Moon Magazine, which my daughters subscribed to, called "Deadly Accessories." It told the story of a historical figure named Chiyome Mochizuki who started a school at her estate during the Japanese Civil War era (the sixteenth century). Supposedly, she was training miko — shrine maidens, as anyone familiar with Shinto (or Inuyasha) knows. In fact, Lady Chiyome was training an army of kunoichi: female spies, bodyguards, and assassins. I thought, Wow! That's an amazing story! Someone should write that!
Not long afterward, I was watching my younger daughter and her friend Lucas at a local park. Lucas's mom and I were talking about something engaging when suddenly we noticed that the kids weren't on the playground. We called to them; they called back from high up in a pine tree on the edge of the park. We asked them to come down, which they did. Once my heart was out of my throat, I put that image — the girl up in the tree — with the story of Lady Chiyome's school and wrote the first notes for what would become Risuko!
One was my house growing up, which was full of memorabilia from my parents' three years living in northern Japan before I was born — including books, figurines (including The Seven Gods of Luck), and my father's abiding love of samurai movies.
More specifically, I read an article a few years ago in New Moon Magazine, which my daughters subscribed to, called "Deadly Accessories." It told the story of a historical figure named Chiyome Mochizuki who started a school at her estate during the Japanese Civil War era (the sixteenth century). Supposedly, she was training miko — shrine maidens, as anyone familiar with Shinto (or Inuyasha) knows. In fact, Lady Chiyome was training an army of kunoichi: female spies, bodyguards, and assassins. I thought, Wow! That's an amazing story! Someone should write that!
Not long afterward, I was watching my younger daughter and her friend Lucas at a local park. Lucas's mom and I were talking about something engaging when suddenly we noticed that the kids weren't on the playground. We called to them; they called back from high up in a pine tree on the edge of the park. We asked them to come down, which they did. Once my heart was out of my throat, I put that image — the girl up in the tree — with the story of Lady Chiyome's school and wrote the first notes for what would become Risuko!
More Answered Questions
Steve Sarner
asked
David Kudler:
Hi David - enjoyed Risuko and will be adding my review soon. Curious about the Korean cook and the odd way he speaks. Is that on purpose to indicate he might have some type of accent? Also, is there any particular reason for him not being Japanese? Perhaps I missed something :)
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