Tales From Edo High - A Modern Retelling of Bakumatsu Era Japan

Preface

Hello everyone. It's rather odd to see a fanfiction writer publishing historical fiction. I know.

For those that don't already know. I'm a history fanatic, so much so that I'm going to college as a history major. Recently, I've been hyper fixating on Japanese History. One of the periods that specifically stood out to me was the Bakumatsu Era, or the events during the late Edo Period that brought about the Meiji Restoration.

One of the key figures in this period, is a young Tosa samurai, by the name of Ryoma Sakamoto. He specifically drew my interest, as it was a lot of his ideas that made Japan what it is today. In fact, as far as my research goes, Ryoma's "Eight Proposals While Shipboard" held the first written mention of a lot of key aspects of the modern Japanese Government (the abolishment of the caste system, the writing of a constitution, etc.). It's also the general aura that Ryoma has about him, even after his death. The master swordsman who deserted his clan but almost never saw battle, the man who had two attempts on his life made, and lastly, the man who can't even choose a side during one of Japan's key conflicts.

I wrote this book as a love letter, to not only Japanese History but to Ryoma, who isn't paid enough attention in modern media.

I hope you enjoy this rather modern take on a key period in Japanese History.

To D.G., J.S., and G.Y. you have my utmost respect.