The Forty-Seven Ronins

By: Takashi Takamia

Narrated by: Walter Covell

This famous story chronicles the end of the lives of the Forty-Seven Ronin, also know as the Forty-Seven Samurai. It is described by one noted Japanese scholar as the country's "national legend". It recounts the most famous case involving the Samurai code of honor, "bushido".

Public Domain (P)1987 Jimcin Recordings

Mixed Feelings

Be warned: if you have any knowledge of Japanese pronunciation, this reading is almost physically painful at times. If you don't know to tell, however, then by all means take a listen. The reading is otherwise very well done, and the story a classic.

Origin of many generations of tales.

It's a good little story about loyalty, honor, courtesy, and respect. It's a simple tale with a fantastic amount of depth to it that allows it to tell much about people and also about Japanese culture.

Walter Covell has a fantastic voice and solid pacing, and told the story well. As this story was originally Japanese, there are many names in it that were untranslated. Covell mispronounced them all. But his mispronunciation was internally consistent, so though it at first made me cringe, knowing the proper names, it isn't something persons who don't know the language would be bothered by.

Enjoyed it

I enjoyed this audio. It is very short and is about a bunch of ronin who avenge their master's death. It was short and to the point. Had it been an hour longer, maybe it would have been too much. For under $2 this story is worth it though.

Japanese pronunciation will make you wince

This is an awful rendition of a classic tale. Don't waste your money. Narration to fall asleep by.

Worst performance on Audible

You know the story. Why else would you be reading reviews. Great book. The performance sucks hippo weinie. It's like the guy's larynx is broken. Or he just got hit in the head with a brick. Listen to the sample, then move on to something else.