by Unknown
kissaki tip of sword
koan a Buddhist question designed to stimulate intuition
kukai a haiku contest
kuki-nage ‘air’ throw
kunoichi female ninja
Kyosha a competition archery contest on horseback
kyujutsu the Art of the Bow
ma-ai the distance between two opponents
maekuzuke a short two-line verse to which a haiku -style verse is added
manriki-gusari a chain weapon with two steel weights on the ends
menpō protective metal mask covering part or all of face
menuki decorative metal grip under wrapping of sword handle
metsuke technique of ‘looking at a faraway mountain’
mokuso meditation
momiji gari maple-leaf viewing
mon family crest
Mugan Ryū the ‘School of “No Eyes” ’
musha shugyo warrior pilgrimage
naginata a long pole weapon with a curved blade on the end
ninja Japanese assassin
ninjatō ninja sword
ninjutsu the Art of Stealth
Niten Ichi Ryū the ‘One School of Two Heavens’
niwa garden
nobori a long rectangular banner used to identify units within an army
nodaichi a very large two-handed sword
obi belt
ofuro bath
o-goshi hip throw
omamori a Buddhist amulet to grant protection
origami the art of folding paper
rei call to bow
ri traditional Japanese unit of distance, approx 2.44 miles
ronin masterless samurai
Ryōanji the Temple of the Peaceful Dragon sado the Way of Tea
saké rice wine
sakura cherry-blossom tree
samurai Japanese warrior
sashimono small rectangular personal banner worn by samurai in battle
sasori scorpion
satori enlightenment
saya scabbard
sayonara goodbye
seiza sit/kneel
sencha green tea
senryu Japanese verse
sensei teacher
seoi nage shoulder throw
seppuku ritual suicide
shaku a traditional unit of length, approx 30 cm
shinobi shozoku the clothing of a ninja
Shishi-no-ma the Hall of Lions
Shodo the Way of Writing, Japanese calligraphy
shoji Japanese sliding door
shuko climbing claws
shuriken metal throwing stars
sohei warrior monks
surujin rope weapon with weights on each end
sushi raw fish on rice
taijutsu the Art of the Body (hand-to-hand combat)
Taka-no-ma the Hall of the Hawk
tanka a short Japanese poem of around thirty-one syllables
tantō knife
Taryu-Jiai inter-school martial arts competition
tatami floor matting
tessen a Japanese fan with a reinforced metal spine
tetsu-bishi small sharp iron spike
tomoe nage stomach throw
tonfa hand-held baton weapon
torii Japanese gateway
uke training partner who attacks
wakizashi side-arm short sword
washi Japanese paper
Yabusame ritual mounted archery
yakatori grilled chicken on a stick
yame stop!
zabuton cushion
zanshin a state of total awareness; lit.
‘remaining mind’
zazen meditation
zori straw sandals
Japanese names usually consist of a family name (surname) followed by a given name, unlike in the Western world where the given name comes before the surname. In feudal Japan, names reflected a person’s social status and spiritual beliefs. Also, when addressing someone, san is added to that person’s surname (or given names in less formal situations) as a sign of courtesy, in the same way that we use Mr or Mrs in English, and for higher-status people sama is used. In Japan, sensei is usually added after a person’s name if they are a teacher, although in the Young Samurai books a traditional English order has been retained. Boys and girls are usually addressed using kun and chan, respectively.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This third book in the Young Samurai series is about loyalty and sacrifice. The following people have demonstrated immense loyalty to me and many have sacrificed their time, energy and reputation for Young Samurai. I would like to thank them all for their hard work and dedication: Charlie Viney, my agent, for being a valiant and courageous warrior always protecting my rights and fighting for my career; Shannon Park, the commanding daimyo of editing at Puffin, for the respect she’s shown the heart of the story and her sword-like cuts; Wendy Tse for her hawk-like eyes in checking the proof; Louise Heskett, Adele Minchin, Tania Vian-Smith and all the Puffin team for running a successful campaign on the publishing battlefield; Francesca Dow; Pippa Le Quesne; Tessa Girvan at ILA for conquering the world with Young Samurai; Akemi Solloway Sensei for her continued support of the series (readers, please visit: www.solloway.org); Trevor, Paul and Jenny of Authors Abroad for their tireless efforts in managing all my event bookings; David Ansell Sensei of the Shin Ichi Do dojo, an inspiring teacher and a swordsman of great insight and knowledge; Ian, Nikki and Steffi Chapman for spreading the word; Matt, for his enthusiasm; my mum for still being my number-one fan!; my dad, who is the steel behind the sword; and my wife, Sarah, for whom I know this journey has been hard, but the rewards will be lifelong.
Lastly, I offer a bow of respect to all the librarians and teachers who have supported the series (whether you are ninja or samurai!) and all the Young Samurai readers out there – thank you for your loyalty to Jack, Akiko and Yamato. Please keep reading and sending me emails and letters. It makes all the hard work worthwhile. Arigatō gozaimasu.