Very detailed, slow start to an engrossing and well-written book.

So interesting and entertaining. It’s so good you wish it was longer.

You definitely get your money’s worth with Clavell’s novels. So many characters and subplots, I found it difficult to follow at times. Shogun was much easier to follow (the recent series a big let down). But if you’re not intent in reading entirety in a few sittings, you will learn much of late 1800s Japanese customs, culture, and mindset -even some useful Japanese words.