Late last year, we had pulled The Setting Sun: Death and Deception on the Bakumatsu Trail for a major re-edit and reformat. New editing software and improved techniques allowed us to go back and fix this story. What's changed is the cover and the book title which has been streamlined to just The Setting Sun. There is also a change in the overall length of the story. We also removed some of the Japanese dialog as well as some other elements which took away from the story. We at American Mishima hope you will give this epic tale set in 1860's Japan by American Mishima author Louis Edward Rosas a second chance for we believe you will enjoy this improved story now available on Paperback and eBook. An Audiobook will also be available soon. To get your copy, please visit the following link for THE SETTING SUN. Thank you!
We have re-released our original epic The Soldier and the Samurai. Thanks to some new editing software and newly aquired skills, we were able to go back and make some fixes on our first ever if we dare say ambitious generational epic. For those unfamiliar with our story, it is based on a real life rumor that surfaced in 1965 about a reported encounter with the famous lost Samurai Harada Sanosuke of Shinsengumi fame. Where rumor meets imagine, fiction takes over and the result is a generational tale of adventure and one of grattitude. Please enjoy!
Our American Mishima Author Web Series is back with another installment. Episode 3 decodes our newly re-released revised edition of our Samurai Short Story Hatamoto. This episode discusses in brief details about the story's origins and newly added content.
This week, we at American Mishima are proud to announce the re-release of our Samurai short story Hatamoto by author Louis Edward Rosas. Originally published in 2014, this newly revised edition features new formatting, new characters, and added content. At the time of the book's initial release, the author’s style and format had not been firmly established. New editorial software and enhancements in writing have made this revision possible. It is the author’s hope that this revised story with added content is now suitable for readership and your enjoyment.
To acquire your copy of Hatamoto, please visit us at Amazon.com
Seen Here: American Mishima author Louis Edward Rosas unveils our latest Samurai Action/Adventure novel THE SETTING SUN: Death and Deception on the Bakumatsu Trail at Vroman's Bookstore & Hastings Ranch in Pasadena California. in our first ever bookstore debut for any of our American Mishima titles. This book is available in both store locations for the next three months (or longer depending on the popularity) and on their website. You can also find our book on Amazon but if you live locally, please support us at Vroman's. Thank you!
We at American Mishima are pleased to announce the release of our latest historical fiction novel THE SETTING SUN - Death and Deception on The Bakumatsu Trail. Set in 1966 Japan, this story traverses time going back to the Mexican-American War, to the adventures of John Manjiro, and ultimately to the seeds of revolt in the closing days of the Tokugawa Shogunate! Please read our story Synopsis below:
When William Merrick of the U.S. Consulate in Hakodate Japan is tasked
to rescue a group of shipwrecked Americans en route to the Shogunate
Capital of Edo, he unwittingly becomes swept up in a deadly plot by the
secretive Itabashi Faction in their scheme to overthrow the Old Order of
the Tokugawa Shogunate whose dwindling 266 year rule is under threat
from open rebellion and all out civil war. In a feudal land ruled by
powerful Samurai Warlords divided by loyalties between their Emperor and
Shogun, the balance of power and the future of an Empire rests with one
man under The Setting Sun.
Seen here is the first Promotional Trailer for American Mishima's epic generational saga: THE SOLDIER AND THE SAMURAI by Louis Edward Rosas.This book is available on Amazon.com While this is is only a visual representation made from an earlier film, we hope that this book will one day be made into a full length feature film that will convey the story's epic scale for all to behold!
Our long awaited Historical epic has finally been published!
Story Synopsis:
When the Elite Corps of Samurai known as the Shinsengumi were driven from their base in Kyoto, they were branded Imperial Rebels. Of their 300 members, few survived. Of its three famous surviving Captains, no one knows for certain what became of 10th Unit Captain Harada Sanosuke. Based on a real life 1965 rumor that surfaced in Japanese newspapers, The Soldier and the Samurai is a tale of gratitude and redemption that tells the story of a mysterious old man who claimed to be the famous lost Samurai who surfaced in 1895 Manchuria saving the lives of three Japanese Soldiers during the first Sino-Japan War before disappearing again. It will be up to Nishida Keisuke who must return to Manchuria during the Japan-Russo War to solve the mystery of the elderly Japanese man’s identity who saved him and that of a mysterious inscription written on the back of a Tanto knife that will alter the course of his life and that of the Nishida family for generations to come!
Our latest book has just been released on Amazon! It is available in traditional paperback & Kindle formats. Available on Amazon US / Brazil / India / Europe / Mexico / and Japan!
The long awaited first novel by American Mishima has been completed and ready for publiscation. This is an original work of historical fiction which our plot goes as follows: When
Nishida Keisuke, a Lieutenant in the Imperial Japanese Army, is
caught in a deadly ambush during the First Sino-Japan War in
Manchuria 1895, he is rescued by a mysterious old man rumored to be
the famous lost samurai Harada Sanosuke of The Shinsengumi who will
pass onto him a legacy that will alter the course of his life and
that of his family for generations to come.
We are looking for a Literary Agent or Publisher that would be interested in publishing our work.
ありがとうございます!
Please contact us here or at through our email at lrosashiro@gmail.com
In our last article commemorating the 4th Battle of Kawanakajima, we discussed the notion of Samurai Nobility. Such ideals written after the Sengoku Jidai or Warring States Period were not lost onto the peaceful Edo Period. Rather, the bar was somewhat raised in the matter best illustrated in the works such as the Hagakure and Yojokun and that of the actions of the 47 Ako Ronin. It is often said by those of us who lived during the Cold War of the 20th Century that it was easier because you knew who your enemies were unlike today. Much like the Edo Period of Japan, peaceful times are only an illusion if not a luxury of those unconcerned about the world around them for there are always plots and planners of chaos to be told. One could only imagine such logic be it or real or perceived could have both existed and played out in the cruelest of terms behind the partitions and sliding doors of the Edo Period. As such, Treachery, and Samurai Nobility have made for our feature film we have chosen to present you the 2010 Toei Studios Samurai Drama: The Sword of Desperation.
In the fictional fiefdom of the Unasaka Clan, the powerful Daimyo Tabu Ukyou ( played by Jun Murakami) lives an opulent lifestyle that one could say rivals that of the Shogun. Complete with an inner sanctum he is swayed into the manipulations of his consort Renko (played by Megumi Seki) whose capricious whims have driven the Unasaka Clan to near financial ruin. Having the Clan's best swordsman Obiya Hayatonosho (played by Kikkawa Koji ) failed mission to reason with the Daimyo, cruelty and oppression is levied against the farmers and those serving his lordship under the indignities and falsehoods of the evil Renko. As the last straw is drawn following the execution of farmers who threatened to report the Daimyo's excesses to Edo, it is up to the Captain of the Infantry Sanzaemon Kanemi (played by Toyokawa Etsushi) to take matters into his own hands and save his clan by assassinating Renko.
In a tale of treachery and great self sacrifice, Director of the Oba The Last Samurai Hirayama Hideyuki brings us Hisshiken Torisashi aka The Sword of Desperation. In the great tradition of Samurai films such as The Twilight Samurai and The Hidden Blade, The Sword of Desperation reveals the idealized Samurai nobility that emphasizes the nature of what it was to be of the Samurai Warrior Caste in the mid Edo Period of Japan which was to serve to one's Clan and to one's Lord. Such loyalty as seen in this film is not the sole domain to one's lordship but to that other Samurai virtue of being Just with Absolute Sincerity. As revealed, the story does not end with the assassination of the evil Renko but continues on to reveal the nature of Captain Sanzaemon Kanemi who had previously lost his wife Mutsue to illness and sought to look out for the future of Mutsue's niece Satoo (played by Ikewaki Chizuru) who has come to care for him during his period of house arrest.
As such the device in recent Samurai classics, Sanzaemon is the holder of a secret invincible technique known as “Bird Spearing or the Sword of Desperation.” Without giving away the entire movie here we will just say that the treachery and manipulations do not end with Renko's death for situations and plots come to a crescendo complete with realistic sword fighting where the true manipulators are revealed whose betrayal is put to the test. As anyone who loves Bushido in action, we guarantee, you will not be disappointed.
We shall continue our series on Samurai Nobility and other topics on American Mishima that are featured in other films from Japan. We highly recommend The Sword of Desperation and feel it will compliment any Samurai Film Library. If you are unable to find this film for rent, you can acquire an inexpensive copy of The Sword of Desperation complete with English Subtitles and other great Samurai films through our friends over at Japanese Samurai DVD. Until then, please watch this trailer and enjoy!
This is the latest promo image from my latest script Ginjiro Hatamoto. This poster depicts the Shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu's escape from Osaka Bay aboard the American Warship USS Iroquois. Finding a decent image of Osaka Bay to make this was a task & a half but it works to convey this scene in the script. As soon as I can get my hands on some funds I will make a dedicated film site for American Mishima / Rosasfilm projects.
This is the first test poster for Gingiro Hatamoto. We are still looking for an executive producer, and a couple line producers to help make this film. We are looking to make this in both English and Japanese with planned subtitles. The planned running time will be 25 minutes and will be done under 25k.
Ginjiro Hatamoto is set in 1867-1868 during the turbulent Boshin War. See our earlier post for a full synopsis. So far, we have a director, production designer, weapons consultant, one script, two actors, two posters, and no money. If you would like to help us get this made, let us know!
During yesterday's Hoshi Matsuri, another story came to me. I haven't written a screen play since I started writing the first act of Dorama Haiku until now. It's enough for a short thirteen minute film and I believe we could film it here with many of the Interior scenes shot on a sound stage. Here's a breif synopsis in case anyone wants to help me produce this screenplay.
Ginjiro Hatamoto is the tale of a foreign mercenary who comes to the service of the 15th Tokugawa Shogun. He is mostly accepted by his Clan's Retainers but one. Nobutomo stands opposed to Ginjiro's title as an affront to Samurai Tradition. He is the Clan's best swordsmen and the brother of Ginijo's new wife the Lady Kusaga. Division erupts within the Clan as the country becomes embroiled in the heat of the Boshin War. Ginjiro is sworn to serve his Lord who favors the Shogunate while Nobutomo now an Officer in the Imperialist Forces hunts the Loyalist Forces in their long retreat North. Honor knows no birthright.
It’s been an interesting Ichi-Gatsu of 2010. I started this year as I do every year in Little Tokyo. Every year I run into this same girl who wears a light green kimono who sells fortunes out of a wooden box. I dreaded her appearance this year given that I received a bad fortune from her last year. 2009 was a terrible year for me. I should have known given that the girl did not smile as she moved around Little Tokyo until she was selling fortunes. That’s a red flag I should have paid attention to last year. This year I was on guard. I received a good Omikuji fortune at the Koyasan Temple so I was not about to press my luck. It’s hard to say where I am at with it so early in the year so I thought I would reflect on that for a moment. I’m not sleeping very much which has played havoc on my Shinkendo training and progress writing my book. Despite my participation in all of the New Years events I’m still living on the edge since losing my unemployment last December. But all is not lost. For the first time in months my phone has been ringing with potential work prospects things are starting to pick up. Computer work is not what I really want to do but until I can get back into the film industry and write books and screenplays, this will have to do to help me back on my feet so one day I can live by my creativity.
The Year of the Tiger is supposed to be one of intense creative energies and so far But before I celebrate my lucky arrows I will remain cautious and continue to hunt for work while I continue to write my book. My book has undergone some major revisions since its initial thirty page screen play first printed last June of 2009. It has gone from screen play to full blow historical novel with close to eighty characters to which some are actual historical figures from Japan’s history of the late Bakumatsu Period. Where I am at right now is where my protagonist William Merrick has boarded the Japanese Warship Kaiten with the Elder Superintendant Okuda. They have set sail steaming out of Hakodate and on through the Tsugaru Straits to open seas heading South by Southwest to their clandestine rendezvous in Shimoda before the Kaiten will sail off to join the 2nd Choshu Expedition. My selected quote for this chapter comes from Captain Ikunosuke; “Today we fight for the Shogun. Tomorrow we may fight for our very lives.” It is a scene I could easily envision. I will reveal more of my story later for there is much writing ahead. This has proved to be a daunting challenge. Not only must I take care when my fictional characters interact with historical figures the story must also follow a degree of respect towards those figures as well as their logistical disposition corresponding with their recorded whereabouts of the time. So much to consider knowing that anyone who would be remotely interested in my work will be well versed in history so there is no margin for error because I know they will call me on it. So to avoid having my novel being panned as a literary suppository careful attention to detail and above all historical plausibility is a must.
So there we go. Ni-Gatsu is coming and I will hopefully gain some worthwhile employment. Juggling the time between work, Shinkendo, writing, and my relationship will be task. I am not sure how I will do it considering the slow progress I have made with my story. Up until now, the stress of unemployment and now the added stress of the Shinkendo Honbu Dojo’s potential move out of Little Tokyo has me on edge. The new Korean owners are forcing the Obata’s out of their dojo to make way for one more restaurant in the Little Tokyo Galleria. Not knowing where we will relocate has stressed me out. We have until mid February to find a new location. This is no good. Especially, when you are trying to write. That feeling of being constricted comes into mind. That makes it impossible to write with such distractions. My work search alone has eaten away at my writing time which only applies when I am motivated to write. The story has to flow and come alive for me in order to tell it. I just can’t set aside a narrow time slot in my day to churn out pages. I can do that with a screen play but not with a novel. It just doesn’t work that way for me.
There is just so much to consider when writing historical fiction. I not only have to go back in time but to a place and a culture that no longer exists. It would help if I could magically pull a rabbit out of my hat and fly to the West Izu peninsula but this is not possible. This adds to the complexity of writing a novel set in a country that I have never set foot in. However I will remain optimistic and hopefully find a way to complete this project and get it published. It will likely take place after I copy write and register my “Little Tokyo” comedy screen play with the WGA. Meanwhile I will continue to train and write until I can live off my creativity and make my way to the Land of the Rising Sun. Japan will be there for me. At least that’s what I have to tell myself. One way or another I will get there. And the girl in the green kimono? Well just like the year before she did not smile until she sold her fortunes. This time I smiled and walked away. I’m really superstitious about these things. I got my good fortune at the Temple and I enjoyed the good fortune of being around my Japanese friends and those I am close to. In that sense I did have some good fortune and perhaps there is more to come. I think this Tora no Toshi has some potential. We’ll see what comes next. We're only getting started!
I have been working on my current novel for some time now. Originally I wrote the first Act of Dorama Haiku - Gaikoku no Higeki aka a Foreign Tragedy as a thirty page screen play. Over the last six months it has evolved into a three story screen play and then a full blown novel in three acts. By mid September 2009 I had Dorama Haiku read by a copy editor who advised me to rework it and lengthen the story. I am happy to have taken this advice for I now have a stronger and far more detailed first act. It was my original intention to release A Foreign Tragedy as a stand alone book. After much addition and major rework I have decided to return to that plan. Dorama Haiku will just be known as a trilogy in which each act will be released as it's own book in the series. Otherwise it will take me another year to have all three books ready for publication and I don't want to wait that long. And for my friends who have been waiting for me to complete this I am sure they don't want to wait that long either. The Depth of Echoes and IISHIMARU for the time being will have to wait.
The Complexities of Man have lead to tragedies far and abound.
Time bears no malice for Ego is the fodder of Great Deception.
I'm pleased to present as my first official post a preview of my debut novel Dorama Haiku. My book is set in three acts in three different time periods covering three different dramas.
Act I - Kaikoku no Higeki - A Foreign Tragedy.
This is a historical drama set in Japan of 1866 during the last days of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Tragedy Needs No Translation.
Act II - The Depth of Echoes aka The Passenger
Is a modern day ghost story set in contemporary times in New York City. A requiem for the restless!
Act III - IISHIMARU
Is a Science Fiction story set in the far reaches of space dealing with love, and loss that only desolation knows.
I've been working on it all summer and some of you have been dying to read it so here is just a preview from the latest draft from Act I : Kaikoku no Higeki - A Foreign Tragedy.
I hope you enjoy!
*L*
- One paragrah from Chapter 3 - Kaikoku no Higeki - A Foreign Tragedy
This scene takes place at the American Consulate in Hakodate' Ezo May 1866. In this scene William Merrick who works as a translator for the American Consulate is briefed on his precarious new assignment. His mission is to escort the stranded Wayfield Party safely from Shimoda to the capitol in Edo. What complicates his task is the newly imposed state of martial law implimented by the Bakufu Government in Edo. This has restricted travel to and from Edo while the Shogun leads a doomed army to attack the powerful Choshu Clan. This story is set during the Second Choshu Expedition of 1966.
- From Chapter 3
A look of concern appeared on Merrick’s face as he looked around the room as the men understood the serious implications of the situation. “What of the Bakufu Navy?” inquired Merrick. 1st Officer Ichiro looked to Superintendant Okuda who nodded with caution. “The battle will be on land. There is little we can do,” expressed 1st Officer Ichiro as the Elder Okuda sat in silence. Vice Consul Bertrand interjected; “There are many factions in Edo and Kyoto that are aligning against the Tokugawa Shogun.” The grim faced Colburn added; “The Bakufu assures us they have control of the situation but the reality is that the Bakufu in Edo may collapse and the consequence of that collapse could have serious implications for all westerners here.” Merrick had seen the banners reading “Sonno-jōi” – Expel the Barbarian’ along the outskirts of the foreign quarters of Edo. He had been well aware of the anti-western sentiments that existed in various parts of the country. Merrick could only look around then room and come to ask the most dreadful of possibilities. “And what if the Shogun is killed?” asked Merrick. “Chaos,” replied the Elder Okuda in a deep reserved voice. “Absolute Chaos.”
“American Mishima” is the work of Louis Rosas, the son of Mexican Immigrants, whose father served in Vietnam for the US Army and who grew up on glamorized war films and military aviation in the sleepy seaside plains of Oxnard, Calif. With an early fascination of the Second World War embedded in his young mind during the post-Vietnam era, it was his exposure to Akira Kurosawa's samurai epic Ran (Toho, 1985) that changed his views of war while creating a lasting impression of Japanese culture and history. Further inspired by the works of Japanese writer Yukio Mishima, Rosas would go on to study Japanese language and swordsmanship, which led him to the practice of Shingon Buddhism and Shinto. Rosas is also a former student of Shinkendo, the ideal and practice of the samurai code of Bushido in the modern world, which helped shape the creative force that is “American Mishima.”
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