The samurai's tale / Erik Christian Haugaard.

In Blood We Are All Born -- The Journey to Kofuchu -- The "Dog" Taro -- The Death of Togan -- The Stable-boy Taro -- A Night at Toko-ji Temple -- Zazen -- On the Road -- Iida Castle -- Yoshitoki -- In the House of a Ghost -- A Name, A Name! -- Rumors of War -- "Master of Rice" -- The Thief -- The Ronin Bandit -- I Gain a Helmet -- The Strategy of War -- The Ninja -- A Trap Is Laid -- A Sortie of Death -- Iwamura Is Ours -- In Search of Supplies -- Aki-hime -- Lord Takeda Shingen -- A Poem for Aki-hime -- Lord Zakoji's Proposal -- The Hunting Party -- Lord Zakoji Becomes a Priest -- The Siege of Iwamura Castle -- I Leave Iwamura Castle -- Takeda Katsuyori -- The Ninja Again -- The End of the Tale.

In turbulent sixteenth-century Japan, orphaned Taro is taken in by a general serving the great warlord Takeda Shingen and grows up to become a samurai fighting for the enemies of his dead family.