Japan 1633. Hideki is on his first musha shugyo to sharpen his sword skills. He is now a left-handed swordsman, an oddity in Japan and therefore a target of ridicule. Hideki travels to the southern most Japanese island of Kyushu with his new mentor Yagyu Jubei attempting to learn the techniques of Shinkage-ryu from the former instructor to the shogun. If he can win respect as an elite swordsman again, he may regain his confidence as a martial artist and a man.
Once on Kyushu Island, Hideki and Jubei make some disturbing discoveries. Something is killing Kirishitans (Christians) on Mt. Taro at night. Whole Japanese farming villages are disappearing and Chinese Buddhist Temples are being turned into slaughter houses. No one has a clue who is perpetrating these crimes. On top of this Hideki finds Nagasaki riddled with corruption from top to bottom. Profit is king. Honor and bushido mean nothing. It is a world gone mad.
Before Hideki and his friends are through, his faith in bushido will be stretched as they are attacked by a tengu, tangle with a yellow eyed demon, fight with pirates, help defend a village of Ryukyuan sailors and hire out to protect the hard boiled female owner of a brothel.
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About the Author:
William Marcus Charles II (Marc) is the author of Simplified Self-defense for Women, published by the Marine Corps Association. He has been published in the Marine Corps Gazette and in the Ensign, a global monthly of the LDS Church.Born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Marc spent his formative years in Warren, Michigan. He graduated from boot camp in San Diego at nineteen and for the next twenty-four years wore the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor proudly until retirement as a Lieutenant Colonel of Marines.He has served as an Infantry Rifle Company Executive and Commanding Officer; Company Commander in a Recruit Training Regiment; Commanding Officer of the Marine Detachment USS Midway; Commanding Officer of Company C, Marine Security Guard Battalion; War Planner—US Naval Forces Central Command; and Executive Officer, Marine Barracks, Pearl Harbor. He is a graduate of the US Army Psychological Warfare Course, the US Army Infantry School, and the Marine Corps Command and Staff College.He spent much of his military career in Asia where he studied martial arts. He is a Roku-dan (sixth degree black belt) in Okinawan Kenpo Karate and a Roku-dan in Kobudo (the weapons of Okinawa). He has trained in Aikido, Jujitsu, American Kenpo, Shorinryu, Judo and other lesser known styles. He has founded three martial arts schools in the United States.Marc graduated with honors from Park College with a BS in Management and Finance and has an MBA from National University. He currently resides in Encinitas, California, with his loving wife Sako.