Matsu was the Samurai in the novel “The Samurai’s Garden”. You may hear about legends and heros in your lifetime that have done great deeds to the world. You will also hear about heros on your local news channel, or even your local newspaper. However, you do not have to be known by everyone around the world to be a hero or a legend. You can be a legend in your state, or even in your local community. Matsu was a legend, hero, and also a warrior in China, in his small town Yamaguchi. After reading the book “The Samurai’s Garden”, you will learn about 3 of the main characters.
Stephen who is young, Sachi who is fragile, and Matsu who is solemn. Each character is different in their own way. Stephen with Tuberculosis, Sachi with Leprosy, and Matsu with an open heart. The man who would always be there if you needed him, or just needed someone to talk to. Although Matsu was quiet, and barely spoke, he always had open words for you, showed hard work, and showed honor. Although Matsu was there to help anyone who needed guidance, he grew to have a strong love and connection for a girl named Sachi. Sachi was a young woman isolated from the world, with a disease called Leprosy.
Her life was not as wonderful. Sadly, it was filled with many hardships. Sachi lost her best friend due to Leprosy, she was rejected by her own fiance, lost all of her freedom to travel, had a miscarriage, and also was rejected by her own parents due to her disease. She felt so alone, and shut out of the world. The only person that she felt a love for was Matsu. Matsu seemed to always be there for Sachi whenever she needed him. All he wished and prayed for was for Sachi to find happiness and also health. In the book, Matsu was the caretaker of the house and garden.
He was very quiet who found a love for gardening, and also a love for Sachi. He was there to comfort and to help Sachi find a piece of mind. Matsu had a very slight interest in the outside world, which may have seem that he did not care about anything or anyone. However, one person that he truly cared about was Sachi. Not only did Matsu care for Sachi, he also cared for other people that lived in his town Yamaguchi with Leporsy. A warrior can be known as a soldier or fighter. Although Matsu wasn’t an actual soldier, he can be compared as a Japanese warrior in the book.
An example that shows how Matsu is a true samurai is the day of Kenzo’s funeral. It is said that samurai’s do not show their emotional pain or weakness to others. At Kenzo’s burial, Matsu simply bowed his head to the people showing sympathy of the lost of Kenzo’s death. That showed Matsu’s strength, which also showed how he can be compared to a samurai. Also, Matsu shows how much he is an honorable man. Stephan had told Matsu “You have a strong face. A face someone doesn’t forget like a samurai” (Page 30). What also makes Matsu a samurai is the tone of his voice, and the way he speaks. Matsu’s words have a certain certainiy to them”. (Page 80). Matsu’s kind words makes the people around him respect him and look up to Matsu as a samurai. Lastly, Matsu’s silence can also be compared to a Samurai. In the book, Sachi says “with Matsu, everything is in what he does not say”. (Page 59). A Samurai is a warrior which was definitely Matsu. Some things that Matsu did to show that he was a Samurai throughout the book was encouraging Sachi to garden and to stay strong, while others abandoned Sachi, and prayed that she would commit suicide.
Matsu also carried materials alone up the mountains for people to build homes who had Leprosy. Not only did he have a love for Sachi, he also had a love and kind heart for people who were affected by the disease just like her. Matsu was a warrior because of the characteristics he exemplifies in the novel such as, loyalty and honor. Loyalty because he was always faithful to Sachi. And honor because he was an honorable man who people looked up too because of his good deeds. People in the town of Yamaguchi looked up to Matsu not only for his carness, but also for his bravery and wisdom.
