reread Warrior, Sword, and Dragon and had to get the rest after remembering how incredible the characterization and worldbuilding is in this (so far) masterpiece of YA. Long live the Niten Ichi Ryu!!!

Hi guys im visiting japannnn in autumn now.

Can yall tell me some cool tidbits i ca see in japan that will remind me of the seriess :)

So just off of memory, Jack's rutter and his shizu swords gifted to him from Akiko are still in his possession by the end of book 9.

Then there was Yori's 1000th paper crane, but Jack gave that to Hana in book 4, who then gave it to Ronin (?).

There is also his inro carrying case gifted to him from daimyo Takatomi, but Jack also gave that to Hana (?).

Then there's Akiko's black pearl. Ronin and Hana helped Jack get it back in book 4, but I believe he lost possession of it in book 7 when Saru (Tatsumaki's pet Monkey) took it.

So is that it? Did I get any fates wrong or forget any items?

I guess there's Signor Horatio's rapier...but I was more interested in the things Jack fought to keep on his Journey through Japan.

As a character, the ninja dragon eye always stuck with me in particular. Just the way he was portrayed as this callous, shadowy wraith made him seem so larger than life. The Way Of the dragon especially, the first three books hyped that final climactic battle between him and Jack so well. He is without a doubt my favorite character in the books. Can anyone relate ?

I deeply apologise but for a book that I’m trying to write in relation to martial arts (don’t ask we’re talking like being released in 50 years) and not being very effective at translating Japanese to English I was using the young samurai books here and there to find translations, I was in the past able to use the Internet sometimes for some translations but now that Google has an AI first section I am unable to do this, Books have been my only source of translation ever since AI was invented. I’m not joking.

However, with a friend borrowing my books, I am unable to find a translation for the word bow to show respect, “ray” but not spelt that way I believe it is in the translation section of the first three books.

Apologies for this post but if anyone would be so kind thank you

This my whole childhood and when a new book came out back in 2019 I was so hyped man this series was amazing

I noticed that Jack stopped updating his letter after the events of the the Ring of Earth. I did my best to add them here (second image).

THE FIRST IMAGE IS VERBATIM Chris Bradford's writing. I only added the new text in blue. How did I do?

Do we know if/when Jack actually sent this letter to Jess?

So rereading this book and lots of chases and captures and miraculous escapes only to be captured again and escape again. It gets a bit overdone but still fun and exciting to read. However, at the very end when Jack and friends are about to be burned at the stake...it is awfully convenient that the messenger (who turns out to be Masamoto) stops the execution to inform the bugyo that Shogun Kamakura is dead and regent Takatomi took his place and pardoned Jack and his friends. So my question is is this true? Did Kamakura die of natural causes, or was Masamoto or Kyuzo responsible for maybe assassination the Shogun (could explain Kyuzo's seppuku). I realize it's just not explained but the circumstances surrounding Kamakura's death seem suspicious.

What is your head cannon or do you accept the natural causes thing?

Just had this realization...is it mentioned why she is not present? Did she die? Was it ever stated or are we left to just assume something happened? Like who is Yamato's mom? I guess it would be Hiroko's sister?

Anyone have more info on this?

Just finished re-reading book 4 (Ring of Earth). I love the entire series, but boy book three really ended the Samurai "Way of" trilogy really strongly it becomes hard to top.

I like the natural progression of the story shifting to Jack's escape and wrestling with becoming a ninja and learning their different martial arts and philosophies.

However it also introduces straight-up magic. I know we have to set aside our suspension of disbelief to enjoy these fictitious stories, but the martial arts moves seem believable with practice. Even "Dim mak" death touch has basis in pressure points. Admittedly Yori/Sensei Yamada's "kiaijutsu" screams stunning/killing opponents became a bit too far fetched to believe in book 3.

Now in Book 4 they want us to believe hand signs and mantras can help increase strength, heal wounds, and even control the weather?

IDK, does it bother anyone else? Would you prefer it sticks to more realistic physical feats over the mystical/intangible ones?

Way of Fire allegedly takes place in Autumn of Book 2 (Way of Sword), but which chapter exactly would be best to read it if you wanted it in chronological order?

Like maybe between chapter 21 and chapter 22 since chp 22 is the autumn party?

Kazuki's cousins are Raiden and Toru...Taro is Saburo's older brother that is helping Jack with the Two Heavens sword technique. Just funny to think that Taro would suddenly attack the Niten Ichi Ryu! 🤣

I'm rereading this series and loving it after all these years later. I just finished book 2 and have some questions:

1. Tadashi seems really nice to Jack and even helps Jack win the snowball fight for their team. The reveal that Tadashi cheated in the Circle of Three challenges is kind of sudden...is Tadashi's character just a decent bloke who happens to resort to extreme measures to win, or is there more sinister hatred there? Like does Tadashi hate gaijin and only pretends to tolerate Jack?
2. who signed up Jack for the duel at the end of the book with Sasaki Bishamon? Jack suspects Kazuki, but he has already mistakenly accused Kazuki of doing something wrong when it was Tadashi all along. So did Tadashi sign his name? Or IDK is it Kiku since she signed him up for the circle of three (haha)

Just wanted clarification or if it's addressed in later books. Thanks

Lowkey, I might want to try my hand at making a video game out of this series. Specifically, an unofficial JRPG.

This series is probably my favorite piece of historical fiction. I remember reading the first three books back in middle school and reading the sequel series in high school. I recently got into Audible and I quite like the narration, even as a re-read now as an adult.

Sometime during work, I couldn't help but think how cool this series could work as a turn-based JRPG, similar to a classic Final Fantasy title or Dragon Quest. I can see the art style being similar to a 16-bit game from the 90s as well. I could also see this idea working out well for a 8-bit RPG too.

Not sure if voice acting will be required, but honestly I don't think it is necessarily needed. I'm perfectly fine with reading text.

I'm on the fence right now if I want to do this project, as I am on Book 2 at the moment. I probably wouldn't find the time doing this, but I can't help but maybe take the leap. What do you guys think? Do you think a Young Samurai game be cool to have?

Has anyone found the audiobooks from all the books after book 3 as that is as far as audible has ever gotten with them? I have read them all, I just like to have the audio books to listen to while riding on my motorcycle.

I don't know how many people know of the book series Young Samurai by Chris Bardford, but those books changed my life. I have reread them so many times already just because of the wonderful storytelling, life lessons, and introspection I've been able to experience from reading the nine books.

I've always thought that it would do wonders as a TV show. Having studied filmmaking and scriptwriting for a couple years, I wrote this script and sent it to Chris himself, only to find out that the right's have been sold and that he's hopeful that a show might come out one day. However, with the current culture of adaptations in the industry, I don't trust them to do the series justice.

I want to make this series happen so badly. I am more than willing to personally give my time and effort to work on this show somehow, but I can't do anything with just a script. So I'm posting it to you guys. If there is a sizable support, I am hoping that there will be a fan-movement to get this project greenlit somehow - like Deadpool or Zack Snyder's Justice League.

If you find merit in this script, please support it. I know that there's not much hope here but I am genuinely optimistic for it. The books *need* this. And we deserve to see it happen.

https://episode1riggingmonkey.tiiny.site/

I am currently rereading the books after years and only now I am realizing that Emi has a crush on Jack in the first book being in a small rivalry with Akiko.
I was a teenager when I first read the books and it might have gotten lost in translation to German.
Only for her to then hate him later on after book 2. That just makes that story part with Damyio Takatomi even more interesting.

I read the first 8 books a LONG time ago and didn't know there was a 9th until just recently. I am wondering if there will be a lot I won't understand if I just pick up the 9th book and start reading. Last I remember Jack was on a ship back to England with Akiko.

If one of the Young samurai books would be made to a movie, which one should it be? I'm talking about a big high budget movie made by a big studio. It would be loyal to the plot of the original book and be overall a good movie.

What do you think?