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Rise of the Monkey (Book one on the rags to riches story of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and feudal Japan.) Paperback – January 17, 2022

by Christopher Glen (Author)
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Born a peasant in Nakamura village, Owari Province, in 1530s Japan, Kotake – who would become the future Toyotomi Hideyoshi – struggles to find a path in life. He is unable to settle down to study, or hold down a job of any kind, and spends most of his time playing war-games with other boys in the village, and outsmarting bullies – who call him “Monkey”.
Matters are exacerbated by tensions between him and his step-father, who resents the added burden that his unruly step-son is placing on the family. After numerous violent beatings, his mother decides that it is time for Kotake to leave home.
Kotake has other ideas, and decides to make his own way in life. At first, he falls in with a group of highway men for a time – and becomes fast friends. Throughout, he has a burning ambition to enter the service of a great lord, and make his way to the top.
Japan at the time, was a socially-fluid society, and a peasant or even merchant could become a samurai - if fortune favoured him. It is this ambition that sees him set out on the road again - and enter the service of a retainer of the Imagawa clan, Lord Matsushita. At first, things go well. He learns the game of go, manages the warehouse competently, receives the new family name of “Kinoshita”, meaning under the tree, and even finds his soulmate – Sugihara Nene.
But his success - despite his peasant origins, arouses the envy of those less talented. A false accusation by a jealous Matsushita retainer, sees him evicted from the Matsushita household, badly beaten and Nene taken from him.
Undeterred, he sets out to find a new lord to serve. By utilising an acquaintance made in childhood, he is able to ascertain the whereabouts of Oda Nobunaga – and approach him with a view to joining his service. Nobunaga was the first of the “3 unifiers of Japan”, who would ultimately bring the century of civil war, which had begun in 1467 – to an end. The decision of Tokichiro to join Nobunaga’s service would have deep consequences for the future of Japan.
For Nobunaga was a man who valued talent above pedigree; under him a man could rise no matter where he had started in life. Despite finding a new enemy in the form of Shibata Katsuie, a senior Oda clan retainer, Kotake begins to come into his own in Nobunaga’s service. His willingness to devote himself to any task, and use his own initiative, begins to be noticed.
At the Battle of Okehazama, Nobunaga attacks the army of Imagawa Yoshimoto, despite being outnumbered at least ten to one. Tokichiro – now in the regular infantry, finds an opportunity to gain revenge on an old enemy, and reclaim Nene.
The consequences of this battle would have significant repercussions for both the future of Nobunaga – and Kotake.
For the destinies of both men, along with Matsudaira Motoyasu - the future Tokugawa Ieyasu - lie intertwined.
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Previous page
  1. Book 1 of 1
    Book one on the rags to riches story of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and feudal Japan.
  2. Print length
    496 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    January 17, 2022
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 1.12 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-13
    979-8443691787
  7. See all details
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09WZ294M5
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (January 17, 2022)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 496 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8443691787
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.82 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.12 x 9 inches

About the author

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Christopher Glen

Christopher Glen

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I'm from Perth, Western Australia. After completing my university studies, including Japanese, I moved to Japan in 2003, and have lived there (while taking sabbaticals back to Australia periodically) ever since.

I have a keen interest in languages and history - particularly the Samurai period - and the castles associated with it.

My work is aimed at those with an interest in the country. The books I've published are intended to inform those who have an interest in Japan and its culture. Those expats who are already in Japan will also find them useful.

I've just published a book about Toyotomi Hideyoshi - a samurai warlord who was similar to Napoleon in some respects. I plan to write several sequels.

I hope you enjoy my books.

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