# The Black Ships explained — A Daughter of the Samurai

> Chapter companion for A Daughter of the Samurai by Etsu Inagaki Sugimoto.

## What happens

On the night before sailing for America, Etsu-bo's uncle brings friendship ribbons for the children, and Chiyo and Hanano express their mixed feelings about leaving Japan. As Etsu-bo packs, she recalls a childhood memory of showing her grandmother a world map and learning about the 'black ships' of the Western barbarians. The grandmother's tale about the need for mutual understanding between East and West echoes as Etsu-bo herself prepares to sail on a black ship to America, carrying a cushion that once belonged to her grandmother.

## Themes in this chapter

### Cultural Transition and Identity

Etsu-bo's journey on a black ship symbolizes her personal transition between Japanese and American worlds, echoing the grandmother's warning about the need for mutual understanding.

### Loss and Memory

The blue brocade cushion triggers a vivid memory of Etsu-bo's grandmother, linking past and present as she leaves Japan.

## Character check-ins

### Etsu Inagaki Sugimoto

Reflects on her childhood memory of the black ships as she prepares to sail to America.

### Chiyo

Excitedly claims friendship ribbons for family and teacher before the departure.

### Hanano

Declares she will hold ribbons for all Japan and hums 'Home, Sweet Home,' unaware of her future dual loyalty.

### Honourable Grandmother

Appears in Etsu-bo's memory, explaining the black ships and the need for hearts to meet across cultures.

### Sudzu

Assists with packing and comments on a loose shawl, unaware of the special cushion Etsu-bo is secretly carrying.

## Key lines

> Unless the red barbarians and the children of the gods learn each other’s hearts, the ships may sail and sail, but the two lands will never be nearer.

True closeness between East and West requires understanding each other's inner lives, not just physical travel.

_The grandmother's wisdom foreshadows Etsu-bo's own discovery that hearts are the same on both sides of the world._

> I’m going to stay forever with Grandma in ‘Home, Sweet Home,’

Hanano intends to remain permanently in America with her grandmother.

_Ironically, Hanano later returns to Japan multiple times, embodying a double loyalty._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/chapters/xxxii-the-black-ships
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/chapters