Heart of a Samurai

In1841,aJapanesefishingvesselsinks.Itscrewisforcedtoswimtoasmall,unknownisland,wheretheyarerescuedbyapassingAmericanship.Japan\'sbordersremainclosedtoallWesternnations,sothecrewsetsofftoAmerica,learningEnglishontheway.Manjiro,afourteen-year-oldboy,iscuriousandeagertolearneverythinghecanaboutthisnewculture.EventuallythecaptainadoptsManjiroandtakeshimtohishomeinNewEngland.TheboylivesforsometimeinNewEngland,andthenheadstoSanFranciscotopanforgold.Aftermanyyears,hemakesitbacktoJapan,onlytobeimprisonedasanoutsider.Withhishard-wonknowledgeoftheWest,ManjiroisinauniquepositiontopersuadetheshoguntoeaseopentheboundariesaroundJapan;hemayevenachievehisunlikelydreamofbecomingasamurai.