Heart of a Samurai is all about comparing the 19th-century traditions and customs of Japan to those of America. But there's a larger question that underlies all these comparisons: Is there any kind of connection or bond that can be made between two countries that seem to have such different cultural traditions? Are their ways of life that different? When we dig deeper than the superficial differences, we find that there's perhaps more in common between these two places and cultures than most characters in the book would like to believe.
Questions About Tradition and Customs
- How does technology affect traditional culture in both Japan and America?
- How does bushido, the code of the samurai, influence Manjiro's take on life?
- Does tradition hold a society back or can it help move it forward?
- What is the relationship, if any, between Japan's isolationism and its traditions?
Chew on This
Japanese traditions and customs are great and all, but they totally hold back the advancement of the country.
It is an American tradition and custom to believe that the country is on the forefronts of progress.