New York: Delacorte, (2002) dj. Hardcover first edition - The first novel by this Japanese-American writer, an historical epic which opens in 1861 as Japan, after two centuries of isolation, has been forced to open its doors to the West, igniting a clash of cultures and generations. "As foreign ships threaten to rain destruction on the ShogunÕs castle in Edo, a small group of American missionaries has chosen this time to spread the word of their God. Among them, Emily Gibson, a woman seeking redemption from a tormented past, and Matthew Stark, a cold-eyed killer with one more death on his mind. Neither realizes that their future in Japan has already been foreseen. For a young nobleman, Lord Genji, has dreamt that his life will be saved by an outsider in the New Year. " 405 pp. Map endpapers. ISBN: 0-385336403.