Noguchi the Samurai

By Burt Konzak

On a ferry plying the waters off the coast of Japan, the bully Noguchi is terrorizing his fellow passengers. When he drops his pipe into the sea, his mood becomes even fiercer. The passengers, afraid for their lives, turn to an elderly samurai, Michihara, to intervene and save them from Noguchi's wrath.

Using the best weapon of all, his wits, Michihara is able to defeat the young warrior and teach him the true meaning of being a samurai.

For centuries, stories like Noguchi the Samurai have helped students of Karate to understand that ancient and dignified martial art. This retelling will appeal to anyone who is interested in Karate or has ever had to ward off a bully.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 189555554X
• ISBN13: 9781895555547
• Release Date: April 1994
• Publisher: Fitzhenry & Whiteside
• Length: 26 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 10.3" x 8.7"
• Age Range: 5 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Kindergarten to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

Ancient Samurai secrets of winning finally revealed!

The illustrations are worth the price of the book and are sophisticated, from an opening aerial view of an 18th century Japanese loading dock with ship's masts and kites pushing up into the reader's face, to the softening and touching face of the big, tough Samurai bully enlightened by defeat at the hands of a wizened old Samurai. The story is simple and straightforward: often the case with children's books that have a powerful but simple message. Now, rereading the book a decade later, for the first time I spot a gentle Japanese water spirit off the bow of the boat, as intrigued by the confrontation as the rest of us. I read this book to my children when it was new in 1994, delighting in its reinforcement of the small kindnesses of daily living. Now I seek it out as a gift for my fifth Dan Sensei as my 16-year-old daughter and I study for our black belts in Aikido.

Not your average children's book

I gave this book to a 7 year old badly in need of some courage in the face of bullies. She loved it! I have no doubt that when she's an adult, and someone asks her "What was the first book you remember reading?", she'll say "Noguchi the Samurai". A special book. Beautifully illustrated, too.