The Samurai and the Prisoner by Honobu Yonezawa, translated by Giuseppe di Martino (Yen On)

The Samurai and the Prisoner by Honobu Yonezawa is the English translation of [黒瘻城] (Kokurojo) which was originally published in the Japanese language in 2021 by Kadokawa Books. The translator, Giuseppe di Martino is an Assistant Language Teacher for the JET program (Japan Exchange and Teaching Program). 

Yonezawa is mostly known for writing his young adult mystery series Kotenbu which is also known as The Classic Literature Club series. The series would be adapted into a television animation program and the first book in the series, Hyokka would be adapted into a movie starring Kento Yamazaki and Alice Hirose. 

The Samurai and the Prisoner is a more adult-oriented story, blending historical fact with fictitious mysteries that occur during the Siege of Itami. Araki Murashige, a samurai lord is defending his castle against the forces of Nobunaga Oda, a daimyo during the Sengoku Period or Warring States Era in Japan. The time is the winter of 1578. It is four years before the Honno-ji Incident results in the assassination of Oda. 

Murashige, who once was an ally of Oda, betrays him and sides with the Mouri who are also fighting against the Oda forces. Oda has sent an envoy named Kanbei Kuroda, one of Oda’s chief strategists, to convince Murashige noto to defect. However, Murashige goes against bushido protocol. Instead of killing the envoy there and then and sending his head back to his master, he imprisons Kuroda in the dungeons of the castle.

As Oda’s forces are closing in on Aroka Castle, Murashige continues to hold them off while waiting for reinforcements from the Mouri or Ishiyama Hongan-ji armies, who never arrive. As Murashige’s men continue to protect the castle, a string of mysterious incidents occur and it appears the only one who can help Murashige solve them is the one man who’s wasting away in the dungeon—Kanbei Kuroda.

The first incident involves a young boy who is killed on the castle grounds. His death spurs rumors about “Divine Intervention”; however, Murashige is a warrior. Although he commanded his retainers to detain the boy and lock him in a room, he is mysteriously killed. Murashige recognizes the wound as an arrow wound, but there’s no arrow to be found. 

Reluctantly, Murashige visits Kuroda in the dungeons to get his advice on how to solve the mystery. Murashige believes that Kuroda cannot resist showing off his deductive skills but speaks to Murashige in riddles. It is later that Murashige understands why Kuroda only gave him a hint because to help Murashige would mean to betray his own master. 

Three other mysterious deaths occur, one in each season of the year. Murashige finds himself consulting with Kuroda after every  incident, since none of his men can answer his inquiries. But, does Kuroda really help Murashige? And if so…why? 

Yonezawa’s blend of historical fact and detective fiction will entertain its readers in highlighting the actions and thoughts that took place during the Warring States Era. The only two flaws in the story are the translator’s assumption that the reader is familiar with Japanese history and his use of archaic words in English such as thee, thou, prithee, which stem the flow of the story. However, the plot twists at the end of the book may surprise you. ~Ernie Hoyt