Matsu's sister had commit suicide soon after she got the disease, Sachi realizing the same was happening to her outcast herself from her family. He also learns about himself through the process. Stephen's life seems pretty simple and he even meets up with some sisters (who live down in the village), he feels lonely having little interaction with people his age so he tries his best to keep contact. Stephen had arrived early at the beach, awaiting Keiko, she arrived shortly after alone, which was a relief for Stephen. Prachtig, rustgevend en maakte mij aan het huilen. When Stephen arrives in Tarumi, he's met by Matsu, caretaker of the family property. T he Samurai is a 1980 novel centered on a Japanese samurai and a Spanish priest in the seventeenth century, when Christianity was largely disallowed in Japan. You may hear about legends and heros in your lifetime that have done great deeds to the world. Once seated inside the teahouse, Stephen asked if Kenzo had been Matsus friend for a while and Matsu let him know that they had grown up together. The novel is a portrait of Stephen learning what life will actually feel like, with all its pain, trials, and tragedy. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. We saw the Western influence in this book with Stephen's father and even the names he chooses for his children. I found such peacefulness when reading this story even though much of it is about a village of lepers living in Japan in the 1930s. bringing dishonor and shame to someone when in fact that entirely depends on the individual. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Samurai's Garden by Gail Tsukiyama. He sends a letter back to his mother in Hong Kong assuring her nothing is wrong although it still appears she suspects something. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Samurai's Garden by Gail Tsukiyama. The reforms forced many small farmers to sell their land and work as tenant farmers. He knows that he must return to his mother in Hong Kong, but he has become caught up in his friendships in Tarumi. A Caretaker And Solitary Man Who Is A Close Friend To Sachi. Its about a friendship formed in a oceanside village in Japan between a Chinese student, a Japanese caretaker, and a beautiful Japanese woman disfigured by leprosy during 1937 and 1938 when their countries were at war. Stephen gives Matsu a daruma doll. * located on the beautiful idi, Garde Corps Pas Cher . The Samurai's Garden is often included in required reading lists for high school students,[2] and is considered to be a prime example of using effective figurative language. Matsu is quiet, but has hidden depths of wisdom. Samurai's garden book summary & dialectical journal. Matsu has surprised Stephen with his musical tastes, including the likes of Mozart and Chopin, which also reminded Stephen of Pie and her Russian piano teacher. Sachi's rock garden soon transformed her life, and into it she poured all of her fears and sorrows. She always makes sure that no one can see the left side of her scarred face (the right side is unblemished and Stephen considers it the most beautiful face he has ever seen). Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. His mother sent a telegram to his father in Kobe, Japan about her son. When Stephen asked Matsu about his opinion on the war, he responded indifferently and seemed to have near no interest in the outcome. You can help us out by revising, improving and updating Stephen first believes that his time in Tarumi will be too quiet and expects boredom. The second garden is Sachi's and is, in many ways, the opposite of Matsu's. The violence from Japan has been affecting many lives which include women and children. Stephen's story is long and arduous, because the novel is a portrait of a fledgling adult's first experience of real life. Stephen hears the news of the escalating war between China and Japan. I wanted to accompany Stephen back to Hong Kong to rejoin his mother and sister. Those who don't understand that they have committed themselves to, someone else and continue to walk around with open hearts don't deserve love or compassion, to begin with. Stephan starts the conversation by telling Sachi that he is alone and didn't tell Matsu so she can fell "safe". This feeling had seemed to him, to be amplified by the tranquil serenity of Tarumi village and that even the light had a way of illuminating even the most subtle nuance, which left him to ponder if whether his father felt the same way. A very old-fashioned book - sweet, slow, peaceful, with a gossamer-light style that will not appeal to all. 2. He has made some great progress with Sachi as she finally was comfortable to, show her scarred face openly to him after he touched it and allowed herself to feel at ease. Matsu is a samurai of the soul, a man devoted to doing good and finding beauty in a cruel and arbitrary world, and Stephen is a noble student, learning to appreciate Matsu's generous and nurturing way of life and to love Matsu's soul-mate, gentle Sachi, a woman afflicted with leprosy. Matsu returned to the house later that night and Stephen started a conversation with him in the kitchen. You follow the character stephen through his journal as it skips through the months and seasons. Once he arrived before he had time to get into the water he was alerted to the presence of the two girls by their giggling, so he remained hidden until they were close enough to talk to. Why wouldn't they have a country home somewhere safer? A Chinese young man, Stephen, was sent to his family's vacation home in a coastal town in Japan to recuperate from tuberculosis. Kenzo soon committed suicide himself. Even now, it's a joke between us. The tale is profoundly visual, with definite symbolism uncovering inward and external universes and supporting topics. Over the course of a remarkable year, Stephen . Sachi had returned again to see if Stephen was feeling better, which made Stephen very happy. Slowly, I see more each day. Yamaguchi is alive with celebration, though Sachi's house is more somber with only a shime-nawaa rope of twisted straw thought to keep evil spirits away. Over the course of a remarkable year, Stephen learns Matsu's secret and gains not only physical strength, but also profound spiritual insight. The Samurai's Garden takes place is both the crowded streets of Hong Kong and a small coastal village in Japan, during the time when Japan's Imperial Army was invading China in the late 1930's. The book follows a 20-year-old man named Steven, who is sent from Hong Kong, to his deceased grandfather's beach house in a coastal Japanese village to . March, 1938 summary & analysis. Offers plot summary and brief analysis of book. The epic's suicides of the past - Tomoko's fruitful and Sachi's endeavored - are never a long way from Matsu's, Sachi's, and . Maybe too much politeness, carefulness in Stephen? I would strongly recommend this book..it is an easy book to read and a quick read..one that I hated to see come to an end. Stephen's father visits again for a small time and it appears that Stephen's anger towards him has dissolved for the most part. Rocks are arranged to resemble water and Sachi rearranges the rocks to resemble ripples from a single point or from a wave. Samurai's Garden Winter Summary. This is the author's choice, to show an interlude of the sort that took place for those stricken with TB (rather like the middle class Americans who would retreat to the Catskills in the late 19th C., early 20th C.). around him and hopefully matsu and the others in the future. While they worked on securing the fish in the gardens pond a wave crashed over the fence, drenching them, followed by another that sent Stephen careening against the house leaving him winded and unable to recover; he could hear Matsu's voice but it was muddled and sounded distant. I love learning about other cultures and history. Sachi A family friend to whom Stephen gives one of his beach paintings. He attributes it at least partly to the fact that both Keiko and Sachi have all but vanished from his life. She knows me too well - I do love 'quiet, meditative' books that ripple with stillness and poetry. This left Stephen emotionally wrecked, he snuck back to his room, knowing that once Sachi went to Yamaguchi, she wouldnt return to the house again. The katana, Wakizashi, and the Yari. He arrives safely and reaches Sachi's house. I can't get enough of this kind of book. Sachi's garden is dry and there's a single flower that blooms in the center of her garden. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. As it turns out His dad was having an affair, he randomly shows up to explain the situation, and despite the nonsense you can't help but feel bad for his father (Obviously not a bad person). Matsu claims that it's Sachi's presence that complete the garden. The Japanese culture places an emphasis on respect and peace, but it also strongly encourages valuing nature. The story begins as he becomes ill with tuberculosis while studying at a school in Canton. Free shipping for many products! It was Matsu who helped Sachi find her way to Yamaguchithe Village of the Lepers. He comments on the lack of young men in Tarumi, and Matsu says it's because they've all gone to join the Japanese Imperial Army. He can't quite bring himself to meet them properly and introduce himself. Loneliness, solitude, and isolation are all themes that permeate the novel throughout. Stephen touches Sachi's face and tells her that she doesn't have to hide "from us", referring to (read more from the Winter: December 5 through December 25, 1937 Summary). Sachi says that Kenzo believes they had all deceived him. Summary and Reader Response, Ch.2, Winter, Summary: Stephen would would go see Sachi in Yamaguchi without matsu and without, telling him. He simple lives his life the way he gets the most enjoyment, out of it, and he gets enjoyment and happiness from seeing Sachi and Stephen sees that and, wants to help. The serenity created in Matsu's little haven is contradicted by the military domination of the Japanese over the Chinese and the reclusive leper colony struggling for a peaceful existence in a realm beyond that of war. Course Hero is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university. Matsumoto . When Sachi was younger and "one of the most beautiful girls in Tarumi", she was engaged to Kenzo, a handsome boy who had promise for a great, successful future. An editor He really made the two main male characters come to life for me. The Samurai's Garden tells the story of Stephen Chan, a 20-year-old Chinese painter, writer, and student who, at the urging of his upper-middle-class parents, leaves school in Canton to spend a year recuperating from an undisclosed illness at his family's beach house in Tarumi, Japan. The protagonist somehow does not have a "male literary voice", despite being a 20 year old heterosexual male. Matsu explained what had happened, that Kenzo stopped by to deliver a letter for Sachi, and how he felt he was misled to believe that Sachi would never leave Yamaguchi. Matsu finally came around from the back of the house and informed Stephen that hed been in and out of conscious a couple of times for two days. The girls When Stephen encounters two girls his own age, it's the first time that had happened to him. Along with this, his mother and sister wouldn't be visiting due to the issue between his parents; The situation left him unhappy.