The year is 1311, in the highest tower of Cloud of Sparrows Castle, a beautiful woman watches from the window as the city is set alight and a mob runs riot destroying everything they can lay their hands on. She begins to write down the events unfolding around her and the secret history of the Okumichi Clan. Six centuries later the lost scrolls fall into the hands of American missionary Emily Gibson, a new arrival at Edo Harbour and racing from her tragic past. Emily quickly finds herself translating the text, caught up in the gripping tale of ancestry, heroism and forbidden love. At the same time Emily is desperately trying to unravel the complexities in her own life as two men fight for her love. As Emily sifts through the fragile scrolls, she begins to see threads of her own life woven into the ancient writings. As past and present collide, a hidden history comes to life, and with it a secret prophecy that has been shrouded for centuries and may now finally be revealed.
Takashi Matsuoka Books
Takashi Matsuoka crafts historical novels that delve into the experiences of American missionaries in Japan. His writing is often likened to epic sagas, offering readers a profound exploration of cultural and religious encounters. Drawing from a background working at a Zen Buddhist temple, Matsuoka brings a unique perspective to his narratives. His skill in portraying complex characters and historical events makes him a compelling storyteller.



In 1861, after centuries of isolation, Japan finally has opened its doors to the West, and Lord Genji, a young nobleman with a gift for prophecy, joins forces with a group of Christian missionaries, a mysterious geisha, and a legendary swordsman to embark on a harrowing odyssey toward an ultimate battle. A first novel. Reprint.