Underdogs of Japanese History: 11 tales of iconic characters who prevailed against odds... or didn't

A samurai prison guard who saw the humanity in even the most savage prisoners,
An untalented warlord relentlessly obsessed with protecting his people,
A lady-in-waiting of ancient Japanese court who turned herself from a single-mom bookworm into a best-selling author and savior of the ruler of Japan,
An impoverished samurai clan that overthrew two centuries of oppression…

Japanese history holds a wealth of underrated figures, each with an inspiring story of perseverance and determination that remains untold. Embark on a journey to relive eleven life stories of resilience and triumph of eleven remarkable underdogs.

A fascinating collection of new perspectives for understanding Japanese values and traditions through underdog stories.

Chapters

The Prisoners of Kodenmachō - the out-of-the-ordinary decision of Samurai prison guard Ishide Tatewaki in the wake of a city-wide fire Maeda Keiji - the life of a delinquent warrior of the Maeda samurai clan during the Sengoku Period Oharu of Jakarta - the comeback of a half-Japanese/half-Italian girl in the Edo Period after being exiled from Japan Imagawa Ujizane - the story of overcoming the dilemmas of being the son of Imagawa Yoshimoto, the legendary warlord who perished in battle unexpectedly Ejima - the struggles of the ladies-in-waiting in an all-woman battleground in the Shogun's harem Yagyū Sekishūsai - a sword master who chose not to draw his sword and his quest for redeeming the family's good name  Iwasa Matabei - the artist life of the son of a villain warlord of the Sengoku Period Oda Ujiharu - the losing streak of an untalented warlord obsessed with protecting his people Murasaki Shikibu - the power of the pen proven by the author of The Tale of Genji Sengoku Hidehisa - the roller-coaster ride of a samurai underdog who lived a dramatic life of success, failure, and then redemption   The Satsuma Samurai - the Edo Period, the ambitions and downfall of the last Shogun, the Meiji Restoration, and the Satsuma Rebellion told in the eyes of the Satsuma samurai clan