Heart of a Samurai

The fishermen scrape by on the desolate island by hunting birds and raiding their nests. Manjiro attempts to be creative with how they prepare birds to make their meals more enjoyable. Eventually, the birds leave, making food harder to come by; the boys survive on rainwater.

Manjiro and Goemon discuss becoming samurai, and Manjiro clarifies that he wants to be a good, honorable samurai, not a cruel one. Goemon crushes his dreams by reminding him they can never return due to Japan’s isolationist policies. Manjiro and Goemon title themselves the Samurai of Bird Island and use sticks as their wakizashi and katana (short and long swords) until Denzo scolds them.

Manjiro and Denzo find graves and realize that people have occupied the island. Food and water continue to dwindle. Manjiro watches a snail trace the shape of a face and contemplates the unknown world beyond the island. When he lifts his head, he sees a ship in the distance. He swims to it in desperation.

The sailors terrify Manjiro, but he convinces them to help rescue his friends. The sailors help them onto their gigantic whaling ship, the John Howland, and they meet and bow before Captain Whitfield, who commands the ship.

The fishermen adapt, however unwillingly, to Western customs, including sitting on benches, wearing clothes with buttons, and eating with forks. Manjiro attempts to learn the language despite warnings from the others. He tries to stay quiet but cannot stop himself from asking questions. At night, Jolly, a prejudiced and cruel sailor, glares at him, and Manjiro tries to remember words from his father to comfort himself: “He could not possibly be afraid, he reminded himself, for his heart was in order” (36).

Manjiro adapts to life on the ship better than his companions, who remain wary and desperate to return home. The captain tells him to ask whatever questions he likes.

Manjiro sneaks aboard a whaling dory as a whaling expedition begins. The captain allows him to help, instructing him how to row, much to the irritation of Jolly, who mutters uncouth and cruel things under his breath. Manjiro bails out the boat when the whale sends water into it, earning the captain’s praise; to stave off Jolly’s cruelty, the captain renames Manjiro “John Mung” and declares him a whaler like the rest. The whale’s unceremonious death disturbs him as he is a Buddhist.

Manjiro watches the whalers harvest blubber and oil from the whale corpse and puzzles at their delight and the English words they use to describe the whale parts. He watches until he is so tired he nearly falls over, and the whalers send him to bed.

Denzo is disappointed that he took part in the whale hunt and reminds Manjiro that their countrymen do not let so much whale meat go to waste. After Manjiro tries to help the sailors clean the bloody deck, Denzo says that he is worried the American whalers are corrupting Manjiro, as he has started adopting their customs and way of speaking.

Jolly robs Manjiro’s box of trinkets and threatens him, telling him he will never make it back to Japan. Manjiro decides he should not associate with the sailors, but the captain invites him to tea soon after. The captain explains that he cannot return him to Japan because the country’s isolationist policies mean approaching the coast would risk the ship and the lives of the crew. Manjiro relates his family situation. And while he cannot find words to describe his homeland, he feels the captain understands. The captain plays the violin and explains that he lost his wife some years ago. Manjiro notes, “You have no childrens; I have no father” (65), and they make eye contact. Manjiro leaves the interaction with positive emotion, less afraid of the Americans.

Manjiro continues to learn English; he also learns the names of and details about the sailors. The sailors teach him about America. Captain Whitfield explains that America is the land of opportunity, and Manjiro contemplates his future now that he cannot return to Japan.

The John Howland lands in Honolulu, and the Japanese boys choose to stay, hoping to catch a ship to Japan. Manjiro learns that Captain Whitfield has requested him to stay on the ship as his adopted son. Now convinced of the man’s goodness, Manjiro is delighted by the offer but torn by the opportunity Honolulu presents to return home. The other boys allow Manjiro to make his own decision.

Manjiro and Goemon discuss—and disagree on—their potential to rise above being fishermen and accomplish something. Manjiro realizes that he has changed significantly, which only complicates his feelings.

The fishermen meet Dr. Judd, who collects Japanese artifacts. Dr. Judd and Whitfield show them a world map, and the fishermen are shocked by how small Japan is compared to the rest of the world. Manjiro attempts to explain that Japan’s size does not equate to insignificance. Manjiro views the map as an invitation to see the world. Remembering his mother’s advice, he takes seven deep breaths and makes his decision: he will go to America.

The captain gives the fishermen new clothes and five half-dollars a piece to help them start life in Honolulu. Manjiro watches the native Hawaiians dance and notes that Western missionaries are suppressing the Indigenous culture; he understands Japan’s choice to isolate itself. Still, he finds value and delight in Western culture and people, which he and Goemon argue about. A whaler approaches them and grabs Manjiro by the neck before he can escape.

A drunk and angry Jolly leads the group that captured the boys. He accuses Manjiro and Goemon of being thieves and threatens Manjiro, saying he will frame him for stealing the captain’s silver pocket watch. The whalers try to rob Manjiro and Goemon, but when Jolly moves to shake the coins out of his pockets, Manjiro grabs a burning piece of driftwood and sets Jolly’s alcohol-soaked beard on fire. Manjiro takes the pocket watch and runs.

After they escape, Manjiro gives Goemon his coins and says he is joining the John Howland’s crew. Goemon disapproves and warns Manjiro that others like Jolly will abuse him, but Manjiro is not discouraged. He promises Goemon that they will see each other again.

Manjiro is exultant as the ship leaves, overwhelmed by the possibility of the open ocean. He leaps to duty and contemplates how he will return the pocket watch to the captain while avoiding Jolly, who mysteriously seems to be absent.

Manjiro learns that Jolly never made it on board the ship, which the other crewmates do not mind at all. Manjiro feels guilty for Jolly’s fate and the pocket watch’s theft. Desperate to learn how the watch works, he decides to put himself at the captain’s mercy—but before he can, he drops the watch into the sea.

The crew brings Manjiro, who they have dubbed a lucky charm for the number of whales they have caught, out to a floating whale corpse. They explain that ambergris, from the whale’s head, is a treasure worth a guinea per ounce. Manjiro does not understand their explanation. Immediately afterward, a crew member named Biscuit pulls the silver pocket watch out of the whale’s belly.

Manjiro is ashamed and goes to the captain to explain how he lost the watch. He expects punishment, but the captain laughs. He explains that the crew played a prank on Manjiro by hiding the watch, which had fallen into the lifeboats, in the whale, and then he states that he had discharged Jolly even before he assaulted Manjiro and Goemon. Manjiro and the captain then discuss how their respective countries keep time.