The Samurai's Tale

The Samurai’s Tale, by Erik Christian Haugaard, is a young adult historical novel published in 1984. Haugaard was a Danish author best known for children’s literature and translations of Hans Christian Anderson, who spent a year in Japan studying the Takeda family of warlords. His research formed the basis for the novel, set in the 1500s during the Sengoku—or warring states—period of Japanese history.

The novel is a coming-of-age story that follows Murakami Harutomo, the orphaned son of a samurai, as he strives to advance from a position as a servant to that of a respected warrior amid the constant bloodshed of the era’s civil wars. As Harutomo works to find his way in the world, mentors help him understand the samurai ideals of honor and loyalty.

While the story is fictional, much of the context is historically accurate. Many warlords and generals described in the novel were real people. The military campaigns and political machinations that drive the plot are also drawn from the historical record.

The source text for this guide is the edition published by Houghton Mifflin in 2005.

Content Warnings: The source text and this guide include depictions of warfare and violence consistent with samurai battles, as well as representations of a feudal caste system with inherent social inequalities.

Plot Summary

Harutomo is not quite five years old when his father, a samurai, is killed in a battle against the warlord Takeda Shingen during Japan’s “Warring States” period in the 1500s. Takeda’s army then takes over his family’s estate, killing his mother and older brothers. When the boy impresses the conquering warlord by trying to defend himself with a bamboo sword, Takeda spares his life and gives him to one of his generals, Lord Akiyama, as a servant. Akiyama names him Taro, which is common for servants. Taro becomes obsessed with rising back to the status of a samurai.

Taro is assigned to Akiyama’s cookhouse, where the cook, Togan, takes him under his wing. After Togan is killed in a fight, Taro is moved to a position in Akiyama’s stables, where he develops a skill for working with horses. After working his way up the ranks of the stable, Akiyama promotes him to a messenger.

In his new position, Taro meets Yoshitoki, a fellow messenger who becomes his best friend. Yoshitoki helps Taro understand the harsh realities of their world. With Yoshitoki’s help, Taro gains Akiyama’s favor and becomes a samurai with the name Harutomo.

Though he yearns to earn glory in battle, Harutomo is assigned to be the supply train commander in charge of feeding the warriors. In this position, Harutomo matures and becomes a thoughtful officer who cares for his men.

While serving on the supply train, Harutomo defeats a masterless samurai and earns the respect of his superiors. He proves himself in battle when Akiyama assigns him to lead a small group to draw out defenders from a castle they are attacking. After they take the castle, Harutomo earns more recognition by spearheading a mission to gather desperately needed supplies.

Upon his return, Harutomo falls in love with Aki-hime, the daughter of a wealthy samurai named Zakoji, who becomes another mentor. He courts the young woman with poetry and earns Zakoji’s respect. Meanwhile, Takeda is ailing, and turmoil grows when the warlord dies.

When Takeda’s son Katsuyori takes over, he leads his army into a catastrophic defeat. Two of Harutomo’s closest friends and mentors die in the battle. After Katsuyori’s defeat, one of the Takeda clan’s main rivals—Oda Nobunaga—lays siege to their castle. Vastly outnumbered and with food and water in limited supply, Akiyama sends Harutomo on a dangerous mission to seek help from Katsuyori.

Harutomo succeeds in getting the message past the enemy army to Katsuyori, but the young warlord refuses to help, ordering the castle defenders to surrender. Despite the danger, Harutomo rushes back to the castle. He is approaching his destination when he learns that Oda killed the castle defenders.

After risking himself by paying respects to his murdered mentors, Harutomo finds that his servant Yochi escaped the castle with Aki-hime. The three escape to begin a new life. The novel ends with Harutomo’s reflection that love can be an oasis from the violence of the world.