The
memoir of a low-ranking
samurai in the late
Tokugawa era of
Japan (1600-1860something),
translated and annotated by
Teruko Craig, this book is an excellent
portrayal of
everyday life in
Edo, the
city that would become
Tokyo.
It also rather brutally shatters the stereotype of the pristine honor of the samurai, since Katsu Kokichi (1802-1850), the samurai in question, engages in all sorts of nastiness, from extortion to organized crime to outright robbery. Still, he has good moments as well, and it's oddly not difficult to start liking Kokichi, his boorish approach to life notwithstanding.
This book is an excellent reference for anybody interested in Edo culture, and would probably make good reading for anybody running a Japan-themed RPG.
Confidence Index: 5