"Dawn Thunder: Doctor Ryoun Takamatsu" Akira Yoshimura Price: ¥1524 Late Edo Period History, Long Novel, Bungeishunju #AkiraYoshimura #Books #JapaneseLiterature/Novels/Stories Author's Introduction Born in Tokyo in 1927. Dropped out of Gakushuin University. Won the Dazai Osamu Prize in 1966 for "Journey to the Stars." Gained attention that year for "Battleship Musashi," and subsequently published "Zero Fighter," "Sinking of the Mutsu," "All Hands Rise," and others. In 1973, he received the 21st Kikuchi Kan Prize for his series of documentary works. Other awards include the Yoshikawa Eiji Literary Prize (1979) for "The Daughter of von Siebold," the Yomiuri Literary Prize and the Minister of Education's Art Encouragement Prize (1984) for "Hagoku," the Mainichi Art Award (1985) for "Cold Summer, Hot Summer," the Japan Art Academy Award in 1987, and the Jiro Osaragi Prize in 1994 for "Tengu War." Member of the Japan Art Academy from 1997. "In the third year of Keio (1867), Dr. Ryoun Takamatsu, a 31-year-old physician, traveled to Europe as the accompanying doctor for Tokugawa Akitake, who was attending the World Exposition. He studied the spirit of sacred medicine at the medical school 'Hôtel-Dieu' in Paris. Upon returning to Japan after the collapse of the shogunate, he, as a former retainer of the shogunate, threw himself into the Hakodate War. This historical long novel depicts the life of a man of philanthropy and righteousness, who provided treatment regardless of friend or foe on the fierce battlefield."