Thu - February 22, 2007

Kamato and the Series Cancelled



Sad news I'm afraid. The series i was planning on writing this year has been cancelled. I am working on rewriting the Demon series instead for now. But who knows, i may be back in a year to write this one once I'm done with my current project. Until then, you won't be hearing anything more about this series.

Posted at 12:02 AM    

Sun - January 21, 2007

The Fallen Shogun Update



I thought i would be this series off to a good start, but i failed. I still want to make it, i have researched a lot of Japan in the late 1500s and hope to use it in making this historical fiction short story. I will try and put it together this year, along with a couple other books i still have planned as well.

Posted at 10:31 PM    

Tue - May 9, 2006

Update On The Kamato Book



I am sorry it has been awhile since you have heard anything about my new book series of Japan. I have been very busy lately, but i have been able to complete a few chapters of the first book. Besides that i have not gotten much else work done, but i will soon start back up again. I should have the first book completed this Summer. That is my plan at least.

Posted at 04:04 AM    

Wed - January 11, 2006

Kamato And The Overview



The Books:
Kamato and The Fallen Shogun (1582-1583)
Kamato and The Judge (1583-1587)
Kamato and The Siege Of Odawara (1588-1590)
Kamato and The Battle Of Sekigahara (1591-1600)
Kamato and The Period Of Change (1600-1610)
Kamato and The Osaka Winter (1611-1616)

The Setting:
Japan, 1582 – 1616

The Book Summaries:
- These are just breif summaries, a general overview, a lot more happens in each book than the summeries tell. Just wanted to let you know.

Kamato and The Fallen Shogun (1582-1583):
When Oda Nobunaga is tricked into heading out for war he makes himself vulnerable Akechi surrounded his palace and forces him to commit seppuku. Hideyoshi learns of his Lords death and leads his army in and destroys Akechi. With Nobunaga gone Hideyoshi gains his thrown and becomes the new shogun to take Nobunaga’s place. During this uproar Kamato a young samurai in training loses his father who had marched off into battle with Nobunaga’s army. After hearing of his father’s death Kamato is even more determined to finish training and seek his father’s killer. Because of this Kamato becomes strong. Hideyoshi, Kamato’s new Shogun uses Kamato as a weapon and a tool in battle. Kamato’s name gets known and he becomes one of the greatest samurai’s in Japan.

Kamato and The Judge (1583-1587):
With Kamato and his rising reputation as a great and powerful Samurai, Hideyoshi suspects that Kamato will try and use his power to overthrow him, though that is not the case. Hideyoshi talks with Kamato and gives him a new duty to accomplish. He is to be a servant of one of the greatest judges in Japan, Judge Tadasuke. Kamato feels like he is being held back because he is getting to strong. Hideyoshi is holding him back because he thinks he will try and overpower him. Kamato tries to make the best of it by telling the judge of his fallen father. He agrees to help him figure out how Kamato’s father died, but before they can begin a mystery turns up and Hideyoshi calls on the Judge to solve it.

Kamato and The Siege Of Odawara (1588-1590):
Hideyoshi felt the need to eliminate the Hōjō clan. The months leading up to it saw hasty but major improvements in the defense of the castle, as Hideyoshi's intentions became clear. Thus, despite the overwhelming force brought to bear by Hideyoshi, the siege saw little actual fighting. The massive army of Toyotomi Hideyoshi surrounded the castle in what has been called "the most unconventional siege lines in samurai history." The samurai were entertained by everything from concubines, prostitutes and musicians to acrobats, fire-eaters, and jugglers. The defending force slept on the ramparts with their arquebuses and armor; despite their smaller numbers, they discouraged Hideyoshi from attacking. Hideyoshi felt the need to bring in the one and only weapon he had, Kamato. Kamato left the Judge and road to Odawara and assist Hideyoshi in the battle. After three months, the Hōjō surrendered, facing overwhelming numbers and, presumably, an impending shortage of food and supplies Tokugawa, one of Hideyoshi's top generals, was given the Hōjō lands. Though Hideyoshi could not have guessed it at the time, this would turn out to be a great stepping-stone towards Tokugawa's attempts at conquest and the office of Shogun. Also in 1587 Hideyoshi’s 170,000 army against Simazu’s 5,000 army met at Satsuma where Kamato charged in battle and dueled with Shimazu one on one. Kamato would win, but spared his life.

Kamato and The Battle Of Sekigahara (1591-1600):
With Hideyoshi dead in 1598, Toyotomi's underaged son and designated successor Hideyori lost the claim to the power his father once held, and Tokugawa Ieyasu was declared Shogun following the Battle of Sekigahara. In 1600 The Battle of Sekigahara or popularly known as the Realm Divide was a decisive battle that cleared the path to the Shogunate for Tokugawa.

Kamato and The Period Of Change (1600-1610):
With Tokugawa now Shogun it marked a change in history. The Warring States were over, for the most part. There were still some loyal to Hideyoshi’s clan that still tried to fight back. Kamato changed sides because he disgusted Hideyoshi and his rule, and become loyal to Tokugawa. Kamato had to leave behind his friend Kieoto who would not become loyal to Tokkugawa. It would be at the battle of Osaka that Kamato would finally meet up with his old friend again, but as enemies. Tokugawa saw Kamato as being a symbol to the people of Japan, and to other Samurai. Tokugawa sent Kamato wherever there was a battle against the Hideyoshi clan. Tokugawa’s reign widened and he soon controlled most of Japan with only a few regiments of Hideyoshi’s clan still around, with Kamato was out destroying them.

Kamato and The Osaka Winter (1611-1616):
It was Winter of 1614 the battle of Osaka began, Tokugawa and his 194,000 army against the remaining Hideyoshi clan’s 113,000. Kamato was given the duty of leading the charge to the castle. It was horrific battle, where at last Tokugawa defeated the Hideyoshi clan and then began the age of peace in the Edo period. It is during this battle that Kamato finally meets up with his old friend Kieoto but this time they are enemies. They fight to the finish, but seeing as Kamato is the stronger one, he is able to strike down Kieoto. Tokugawa destroys the rest of his enemies and now the time of peace can begin. After the battle Kamato heads back to Edo with Tokugawa. Kamato now is known throughout entire Japan as one of the strongest and most cunning samurai’s ever. With the Warring States over Kamato decided to lay low, and get away form the Samurai life, he went back to Judge Tadasuke and become his loyal servant and both went on to solve more mysteries during the Edo Period.

The Characters:
Kamato Shosai
Appears in:
Kamato and The Fallen Shogun
Kamato and The Judge
Kamato and The Siege Of Odawara
Kamato and The Battle Of Sekigahara
Kamato and The Period Of Change
Kamato and The Osaka Winter

Raiden (Kamato's Mentor, Trainer)
Appears in:
Kamato and The Fallen Shogun
Kamato and The Judge
Kamato and The Siege Of Odawara
Kamato and The Battle Of Sekigahara

Kamieta Shosai (Kamato’s Mother)
Appears in:
Kamato and The Fallen Shogun
Kamato and The Judge

Otari Shosai (Kamato’s Father)
Appears in:
Kamato and The Fallen Shogun

Oda Nobunaga
Appears in:
Kamato and The Fallen Shogun

Akechi Mitsuhide
Appears in:
Kamato and The Fallen Shogun

Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Appears in:
Kamato and The Fallen Shogun
Kamato and The Judge
Kamato and The Siege Of Odawara
Kamato and The Battle Of Sekigahara

Tokugawa Ieyasu
Appears in:
Kamato and The Fallen Shogun
Kamato and The Judge
Kamato and The Siege Of Odawara
Kamato and The Battle Of Sekigahara
Kamato and The Period Of Change
Kamato and The Osaka Winter

Tokugawa Hidetada
Appears in:
Kamato and The Period Of Change
Kamato and The Osaka Winter

Toyotomi Hideyori
Appears in:
Kamato and The Battle Of Sekigahara
Kamato and The Period Of Change
Kamato and The Osaka Winter

Judge Tadasuke
Appears in:
Kamato and The Judge
Kamato and The Siege Of Odawara

Kieoto (Kamato’s Friend)
Appears in:
Kamato and The Fallen Shogun
Kamato and The Judge
Kamato and The Siege Of Odawara
Kamato and The Battle Of Sekigahara


- Remember some of this stuff may change.

Posted at 07:09 PM    

Tue - December 20, 2005

Story Took In Books



The story i plan on telling will be not just one book, but man and below is the list of books that they will probably be called from first to last book.

1. Seasons of Death (years 1582-1583)
2. Clash Between Samurai (years 1583-1587)
3. Siege of Odawara (years 1588-1590)
4. Battle of Sekigahara (years 1590-1600)
5. Sengoku's End, Edo's Beginning (years 1601-1610)
6. Osaka Winter (years 1611-1615)

These are working titles, though probably and most of them will be the titles of the books, but i may change some when time goes on.

Posted at 07:09 PM    

Summary Of The Series



It will start with a messenger arriving at Gifu to tell Nobunaga that Toyotomi Hideyoshi wo invaded the Bitchu province laying siege to Takamatsu castle needed reinforcements. Though it seemed Toyotomi Hideyoshi did not need any reinforcements he asked for them anyways. In any case, Nobunaga ordered Niwa Nagahide to prepare for an invasion of Shikoku and Akechi Mitsuhide to assist Hideyoshi. En route to Chugoku region, Nobunaga stayed at Honnoji, a temple in Kyoto. Since Nobunaga would not expect an attack in the middle of his firmly-controlled territories, he was guarded by only a few dozen personal servants and bodyguards. Nevertheless, Akechi Mitsuhide suddenly had Honnoji surrounded in a coup, forcing Oda Nobunaga to commit suicide. Toyotomi Hideyoshi who learned of Oda's death got the Mori at Takamatsu to surrender to terms so he could deal with Akechi Mitsuhide. Akechi Mitsuhide road with his army to the Omi province and attcked Oda's castle which was built in 1578 and was Japan's greatest castles. Akechi Mitsuhide in rage burned it to the ground. When they found out about the assassination, both Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu rushed to be the first to avenge Nobunaga and take his place. Hideyoshi got to Mitsuhide first. Mitsuhide survived for 13 days, until he was defeated by Hideyoshi at the Battle of Yamazaki, where Toyotomi Hideyoshi attacked Akechi Mitsuhide with 36,000 samurai. Toyotomi Hideyoshi won the battle and took Nobunaga's place, though he did not become a shogun. He became a kampaku instead, though he was not s shogun he had emense power. Tokugawa Ieyasu played the waiting game until Toyotomi Hideyoshi retired in 1591, and when Toyotomi Hideyoshi died in 1598 Toyotomi Hideyori succeeded him. In 1600, after his victory over the others at the Battle of Sekigahara, Tokugawa Ieyasu seized control. Hideyori married the seven year old granddaughter of Ieyasu, Senhime, to ensure his loyalty towards the Tokugawa clan. However Ieyasu continued to view the young Hideyori as a potential threat, and attacked Hideyori in the Siege of Osaka in winter 1614. The attack failed, but Hideyori was induced to sign a truce and dismantle the defenses of his stronghold Osaka Castle. In 1615, Ieyasu betrayed the truce and attacked again. Hideyori was forced to flee to the mountains, where he committed suicide at the age of 22, putting an end to the Toyotomi clan and paving the way for the 250-year Tokugawa Shogunate.

That is kind of how it will be told, and Kamato will be in the lol somewhere in his fictional story. Though all of that will happen. Kamato will be in battles and everything, but i still have to figure out a few points. Who will he be loyal to after Nobunaga and will he die in the Osaka Winter battle and what side he will be on. So i may need help with that and stuff... That is a little more outline to the non-fictional story that will be taking place. I will be writing a new outline soon with Kamato in it and what he will be going through during this and his role in things. There will be mre battles than what i have described, but those will be the main battles. There is one battle that i will enjoy writing aabot that i did not mention, the battle of Sendaigawa. This was the last engagement in Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s Kyûshu Campaign and was highlighted by a suicidal Shimazu charge and a one-on-one duel between Niiro Tadamoto and Kato Kiyomasa. Kato won but spared Niiro’s life. That will be fun to write about i think.

Posted at 07:08 PM    

Fri - December 16, 2005

The Battles Of My Story



Through out my story there will be real battles that will happen during my fictional story. Below is the list of battles that happened during the period in which my story is to be told in. Ones with * symbol next to it will be told in my book in detail and if it is ** then Kamato will be in the battle as well.

Miki 1578-1580
Uzu 1582
Takamatsu 1582*
Yamazaki 1582*
Shizugatake 1583
Nagakute 1584
Sendaigawa 1587**
Odawara 1590**
Sekigahara 1600*
Osaka Winter 1614**

• Kamato will probably be in a lot of these battles, some he won't, some will happen, but all you will hear is that they are happening, you won't see them happen in my book, but you will see some. Those i still have to choose.


To learn of these battles you can find them here with a lot of other battles too.... http://www.samurai-archives.com/battles.html

Posted at 07:05 PM    

Wed - December 14, 2005

A New Book Series In The Works



Well i haven't written any books in over a year! Now i have come back from hiding and have a whole new idea and have already begun getting ready to write it. I have been doing research on Japanese history and i have decided to make a Historical-Fiction series of books that i hope to have done by the end of this year or sometime during next year at the latest. It involves an old character form my other series the Demon Series, but in this series Kamato will be a completely different person with a whole different life. I want to get as much truth and facts in to these books as possible, unlike what i did with the Demon Series. My knowledge on Samurai's and Japan was very little, but now i have learned enough to the point where i really think i can pull this off. I get some outlines and summaries of the books as soon as possible. It's great to be back after so long!

Posted at 07:04 PM    

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