A samurai without a sword? ありえない！Impossible!
A katana goes missing. A samurai stays calm. Kind of.
In this delightful, beginner-friendly story, a serious samurai loses something very important: a sword. The search leads through mountains, markets, and temples—with plenty of people, but not a lot of swords. Just when all hope is lost, the truth is uncovered... in more ways than one.
Told with just 55 unique words and 25 recycled ones, this story builds confidence, encourages prediction, and ends with a gentle twist that might just change how readers imagine a samurai.
Usage note:
Perfect for pleasure reading and bilingual libraries, this story is also ideal for class reading programs and the Japan under the Shogun unit of study. It serves as a springboard for classroom discussions about samurai culture and values. The book includes four levels of comprehension checks, along with footnotes and a glossary to support ease of understanding and language acquisition.
Scaffolded Edition:
This edition includes carefully selected Romaji support for key words, helping to reduce cognitive load on emergent readers while gradually building up reading fluency and confidence. With furigana, footnotes, and a friendly layout, learners can focus on understanding the story without getting overwhelmed by unfamiliar script. It’s ideal for absolute beginners, mixed-ability classrooms, and those transitioning into Japanese literacy.
