Ostrze Muramasy

TO

MY DEAR SISTEREMILIE

With lovefrom your brother

THIS BOOKIS FOR YOU

FROM THE AUTHOR

PREFACE.

This storyis a new taleabout Old Japan.

I wrote itlike a Japanese person.

Someonecould translate itinto that language.

A personcould read itin a book.

A storytelleron a street cornercould tell it.

The reader or listenerwould thinkit fits the old traditionsperfectly.

I do not knowif people herewill like this style.

The publicmust decide.

Some famous writer friendsgave me advice.

They wanted me to changethe style and the story.