The Tokaido Road: A Novel of Feudal Japan

by Lucia St. Clair Robson

Book Overview

After the execution of her father, the young and beautiful Lady Asano is in grave danger from the powerful lord Kira. In order to save herself, she must find Oishi, the leader of the fighting men of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345370260
• ISBN13: 9780345370266
• Release Date: January 1991
• Publisher: Ballantine Books
• Length: 513 Pages
• Weight: 2.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.6" x 6.6" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

The Tokaido Road

If the person who thinks I lifted scenes from Oliver Statler's Japanese Inn had read more than two books on the subject--Statler's and mine--- she would have realized that he and I probably used many of the same sources in our research. Since both our books are fiction neither of us included a complete bibliography. However, in the Author's Notes I did list several of the 188 sources I consulted while writing The Tokaido Road.

fabulous look at early eighteenth century Japan

In 1702, betrayed and dishonored by Lord Kira, Lord Asaro commits suicide. Kira's warriors force Kasana, daughter of Asaro via an outside-wife, to become a courtesan in Edo. She vows vengeance starting with restoring her father's name and honor; she wait for the opportune moment to flee the brothel that imprisons her so she can journey along the Tokaido Road to find and obtain the support of her late father's chief samurai Oishi Kuranosuke. Disguising herself as a poor priest she escapes the brothel and begins her quest to travel from Edo to Kyoto with Kira's minion pursuing her. Also assigned to bring her back to her brothel is Ronan Hanshiro. As he watches her perform in disguise and as good as any samurai, Hanshiro falls in love with the runaway whom he has not yet met. However, he knows she has no reason to trust him and besides honor calls for him to fulfill his contract of returning her to her master. THE TOKAIDO ROAD is a fabulous look at early eighteenth century Japan in which aristocratic and samurai classes adhere to a deep rooted honor system that include suicide when one "breaks" the code and a need for offspring to do whatever is necessary to regain lost respect, as without honor there is no esteem. The action takes a back seat to the historical details of feudal caste Japan so that the audience obtains a better understanding of Zen philosophy and the rigid rules of society that places honor above all else. More historical fiction (based on a real account) than a thriller, fans who appreciate a vivid powerful look into a different culture will appreciate this glimpse at a bygone era in Japan. Harriet Klausner

Exquisitely Beautiful Road Trip to Revenge

"The Tokaido Road" is, at first glance, a road trip wrapped around a tale of revenge . . . and a beautiful one, at that. Lady Asano, nicknamed "Cat," is a gorgeous, refined daughter of a samurai lord who was betrayed and forced to commit suicide. We first meet Cat, who has been forced to work as a courtesan thanks to her family's disgrace, as she stares at a dead "client," who died eating a poisoned dish meant for her. Within moments, Cat uses her ingenuity to escape her brothel and begin her journey down the Tokaido Road, which shall end with her death -- either by her failure, or by her own hand after her success. Along the way, Ms. St. Clair Robson throws the reader back into feudal Japan, untarnished by Western influence (although there is an entertaining scene where the Japanese vie to catch a glimpse of the "orangutans," which were the red-headed Dutch traders who had very limited access to the Japanese mainland). Robson does a masterful job of putting the reader inside the Asian mind, where poetry transcends all, and the mournful beauty of a landscape can be the transcendant moment of a lifetime. Other writers would have been tempted to make "The Tokaido Road" into a chop-socky action piece. To be sure, Cat is an expert with the Japanese sword/spear, the naginata, and we see her use it to lethal effect. We also see the ronin, Hanshiro, swordsman extraordinaire, mete out lethal justice with "Barber." But it is a mark of Robson's appropriate restraint that Hanshiro's most powerful demonstration of swordsmanship is used to prevent a swordfight, rather than win one. Hanshiro is one heck of a character, by the way. A masterless samurai, Hanshiro is charged by the holder of Cat's courtesan contract to track Cat down. Initially convinced that this is just another hum-drum assignment, the noble Hanshiro eventually sees through the fog of Cat's various disguises and counterfeits to see the steel-strong will and razor-sharp mind behind the gorgeous facade, and he falls in love with Cat even before they have their first conversation. As unbelievable as this poorly written review makes that plot line, Robson pulls it off masterfully, again by placing us so well inside the thoughts, values, and motivations of these characters. We also get to meet Kasane, the peasant girl who latches on to Cat with a zeal that is at first annoying, but soon is cherished. Kasane's home-spun simplicity is charming, and her love-letter romance with the star-struck Traveler brings any number of smiles. Structured around the journey along the Tokaido Road, the major highway in Japan, the book undeniably has an episodic feel, as minor characters make brief appearances and depart, but most leave quite an impression. Robson also shows the harsh world of feudal Japan, where peasants and farmers live on a razor's edge between sustenance and starvation, and samurai are always struggling to maintain honor when disgrace is always lurking. Robson is unflinching

A Walk Through Feudal Japan

All the research that Lucia St. Clair Robson has done for this book pays huge dividends for her readers. The journey down "Tokaido Road" is a page-turning adventure, a good read; but the real thrill is that the author pulls the reader into feudal Japan in an unforgetable historical experience. I was so taken with the novel that I followed up by looking for other things written by Lucia St. Clair Robson and came across "Ride the Wind," the story of Cynthia Ann Parker, a woman raised by a Comanche tribe. It was another incredible culture experience. I learned more about Plains Indian culture in "Ride the Wind" than in all my other combined experiences about Indians. While I read "Tokaido Road" several years ago, my memories of it are still crystal clear, a sure sign that this is one of the best books I've ever read.

Historical, moving and captivating tale of adventure.

Not to go on too long, this book has to be in the top 10 best books I've ever read. Very sorry to see that it's out of print, very glad I have a copy. Wonderful. Thank you.