Write two sentences that explain what this evidence tells you about Manjiro’s culture. Paragraph: “Oh, honored friend,” he said, “I present your katana – your long sword. And your wakizashi – your short knife.”
Then he took two smooth pieces of driftwood of unequal length for himself. He shoved the short piece into the cloth belt he wore around his waist and waved the other one like a sword, challenging Goemon.
“We can’t carry swords,” Goemon said. “You know that.”
“May I humbly suggest,” Manjiro said, “that on this island, we are the rulers – we are the Samurai of Bird Island.”
—Heart of a Samurai,
Margi Preus