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"S" is for Samurai Trivia Quiz

Laura Joh Rowland writes mysteries set in feudal Japan. There is a question here for every book published as of July 2006 and some general questions.

A multiple-choice quiz by catamount. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
catamount

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
235,550

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
10 / 15

Plays
175

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. Japan was ruled by shoguns (military rulers) several times in its history. Which shogunate is the setting for Rowland's novels? Hint

Muromachi Shogunate

Kamakura Shogunate

Tokugawa Shogunate

Ashikaga Shogunate

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Question 2 of 15

2. What is the name of the detective hero?

Answer: (One Word (first name) or two words (full name) - no honorific)

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Question 3 of 15

3. In the first book, "Shinju", the hero saves the shogun's life and gets promoted into a new position. What is the Japanese term for his position? Hint

eta

sosakan

doshin

yoriki

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Question 4 of 15

4. The second book's title is "Bundori". What's a bundori? Hint

A samurai weapon

A war trophy

A martial arts skill

A prostitute

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Question 5 of 15

5. The villains of the third book, "The Way of the Traitor", include some foreigners. Which foreigners are they? Hint

Portuguese and Koreans

French and Germans

English and Spanish

Dutch and Chinese

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Question 6 of 15

6. The hero gets married in the fourth book, "The Concubine's Tattoo". What is his bride's name? Hint

Kozeri

Aio

Reiko

Midori

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Question 7 of 15

7. True or false: the tattoo in "The Concubine's Tattoo" means "revenge".

True

False

8. Most of the events in the "Samurai" series take place in Edo. The fifth book, "The Samurai's Wife", is the second one where the detective must travel to a different city. Which city is it? Hint

Sasebo

Miyako

Odawara

Nagasaki

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Question 9 of 15

9. The murderer in "The Samurai's Wife" uses a very unusual weapon: the "spirit cry", an ancient martial art. It is also known by another name, "the power of _ "?

Answer: (One Word, 4 letters, associated with martial arts)

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Question 10 of 15

10. Who is the samurai detective's nemesis throughout the first nine books? Hint

Chamberlain Yanagisawa

Treasury Minister Nitta

Lord Matsudaira

Prince Momozono

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Question 11 of 15

11. The sixth book in the "Samurai" series is called "Black Lotus". Who or what is the Black Lotus? Hint

A poison

A religious sect

A ninja

An elite guard

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Question 12 of 15

12. The seventh book is called "The Pillow Book of Lady Wisteria". The murder victim in this book is Lord Mitsuyoshi, the shogun's appointed heir. Several people are falsely accused of conspiracy to murder him, and executed before the hero discovers the real villain. Fujio, one of the accused, does something unusual at his trial; what does he do? Hint

He dies from fright

He reveals that he is a woman

He shows up in women's clothing

He sings his confession

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Question 13 of 15

13. The shogun's mother plays an important role in "The Dragon King's Palace". What is her name? Hint

Taeko

Keisho-in

Momoko

Yugao

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Question 14 of 15

14. The ninth book "The Perfumed Sleeve" ends with the hero's promotion to an important position in the bakufu, the shogun's court. What is it? Hint

Prime minister

Chamberlain

Daimyo

General

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Question 15 of 15

15. In the tenth book, "The Assassin's Touch", the hero's faithful retainer and sidekick assumes the hero's former position of investigator. What is his name? Hint

Kobori

Hoshina

Hirata

Ueda

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Japan was ruled by shoguns (military rulers) several times in its history. Which shogunate is the setting for Rowland's novels?

Answer: Tokugawa Shogunate

The Tokugawa clan held the shogunate from 1603-1868. This period is also known as the Edo Period. Rowland is using real historical characters, with some poetic license.

2. What is the name of the detective hero?

Answer: sano

Sano is a samurai who originally was a teacher, but made a deathbed promise to his father to join the police force.

3. In the first book, "Shinju", the hero saves the shogun's life and gets promoted into a new position. What is the Japanese term for his position?

Answer: sosakan

Sosakan or sosakan-sama means "Most Honourable Investigator of Events, Situations and People".

4. The second book's title is "Bundori". What's a bundori?

Answer: A war trophy

A bundori is the head of a slain enemy, mounted on a board and made up in a special way. This very old tradition has become almost forgotten in Sano's time.

5. The villains of the third book, "The Way of the Traitor", include some foreigners. Which foreigners are they?

Answer: Dutch and Chinese

During the Edo period Japan assumed a policy of seclusion, largely because the shoguns felt that Christianity was having a destabilizing effect on Japanese society. Over a number of years foreigners were expelled; in 1635 an edict forbade Japanese to travel outside the country, and by 1636 only Dutch and Chinese traders remained - they were restricted to the small artificial island of Dejima in Nagasaki harbour.

6. The hero gets married in the fourth book, "The Concubine's Tattoo". What is his bride's name?

Answer: Reiko

Rowland's description of the Shinto wedding ceremony is truly beautiful. However Reiko is not a "traditional" wife; as the only daughter of a high-ranking official she has received all the education and training that is normally reserved for sons, including martial arts training. Those skills serve her well when she sets out to investigate cases together with her husband.

7. True or false: the tattoo in "The Concubine's Tattoo" means "revenge".

Answer: False

In fact, it is the character for "Love". Like many other activities, prostitution was strictly regulated by tradition in ancient Japan. It was the custom for some concubines to tattoo this character onto a private area of their body.

8. Most of the events in the "Samurai" series take place in Edo. The fifth book, "The Samurai's Wife", is the second one where the detective must travel to a different city. Which city is it?

Answer: Miyako

Miyako, the "Imperial City", is the seat of the emperor. In addition to a good mystery, the book also explores the relation between the emperor and the shogun; an interesting read for history and politics buffs.

9. The murderer in "The Samurai's Wife" uses a very unusual weapon: the "spirit cry", an ancient martial art. It is also known by another name, "the power of _ "?

Answer: kiai

Sano thinks only a very highly trained martial arts expert can master the art of kiai, but he's in for a surprise.

10. Who is the samurai detective's nemesis throughout the first nine books?

Answer: Chamberlain Yanagisawa

Yanagisawa, closest advisor and paramour of the shogun, considers Sano a serious rival in his ambition to rule Japan. He constantly interferes with his investigations in the hope to dishonour him in the eyes of the shogun.

11. The sixth book in the "Samurai" series is called "Black Lotus". Who or what is the Black Lotus?

Answer: A religious sect

The "Black Lotus" sect claims to be a peaceful religious order but its true purpose is much more sinister.

Answer: He sings his confession

Tragically, his confession is as false as it is beautiful. He claims to have murdered Lady Wisteria to cover up the earlier crime, but the lady is in fact still alive.

13. The shogun's mother plays an important role in "The Dragon King's Palace". What is her name?

Answer: Keisho-in

In the novels, Keisho-in is arrogant, moody and power-hungry, the real force behind the shogun. The historical Tokugawa Tsunayoshi was indeed strongly influenced by his mother and had the Gokokuji Temple built on her behalf.

14. The ninth book "The Perfumed Sleeve" ends with the hero's promotion to an important position in the bakufu, the shogun's court. What is it?

Answer: Chamberlain

Sano's nemesis, Chamberlain Yanagisawa, loses the battle with Lord Matsuidara, his chief rival for the succession of the shogun. He is stripped of his post and exiled.

15. In the tenth book, "The Assassin's Touch", the hero's faithful retainer and sidekick assumes the hero's former position of investigator. What is his name?

Answer: Hirata

Hirata has some big shoes to fill, and police commander Hoshina is not going to make it easy for him. We'll see how things turn out in the November 2006 book, "Red Chrysanthemum."

Source: Author catamount

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