Poppy Kuroki’s Gate to Kagoshima opens with a banger of a line: “I’m descended of samurai”. You either love it or absolutely hate it, but it’s effective and sets the tone quite well for the rest of the novel. The book follows Isla McKenzie as she makes her way through Japan, particularly Kagoshima, looking for records of her third-great-grandfather. Isla’s grandfather suspected their ancestor was a samurai—hence the opening line.
The book plays with a sense of nostalgia for two different eras: 2005 and 1877. It evoques the early aughts really well through the casual mention of outdated technology and the simplicity of meeting people the old-fashioned way. The novel is also really quick to establish time traveling to the past and dive head first into traditional Japanese culture. Isla manages to travel to 1877 through a torii gate to witness the last samurai war against the emperor’s army. She stands out like a sore thumb and she’s constantly torn between going back to her time and normalcy and staying out of curiosity and love.
To my liking, Isla is too boy-crazy. She arrived to Japan to forget her ex-boyfriend who cheated on her to immediately have a crush on a barista. Though maybe it’s because I went in expecting more of a historical fiction novel and not a romantasy-style novel. I’m not used to these narrative, so the plot felt a little flimsy to me, like glossing over scenes and moments. I certainly would’ve liked a more in-depth look at life in Kagoshima in the 19th century, but the plot falls immediately into the samurai-empire war timeline and sprinkles in a little of star-crossed lovers trope.
However, there’s plenty of story set in 1877 with Isla assimilating into the traditional community and encountering historical figures. The book does a good job at de-mythifying historical figures and presenting them as, yes, pillars of their community, but also as humans. Humans who laugh at dogs being silly and humans who learn and teach. Additionally, the star-crossed romance is what I would call a medium burn with some blunders caused by assumptions. For some readers, this might make the “just kiss already” moments sweeter.
As for the cast of supporting characters, dare I say they’re more intriguing than Isla and her love interest and they even try to steal the show. Even though they are not protagonists, the secondary characters are funny, relatable, and keep the action interesting. I was robbed of a perfectly good and lovely romance between two samurai—robbed, I’m telling you.
The 1877 plot feels a little romanticized with the samurai and their honorable code. However, that tone soon gives way to the horrors of war and death. The toll war takes on the characters is not fully explored, but its hinted at alongside the trauma of leaving a place you managed to fit in at long last. The commentary on war, assimilation and migration, and the Westernization of Japan falls a little flat.
Kuroki’s book has romance, a little glimpse at the past, and a main character that is easy to project into. Overall, this is a short ride through Japanese history and the last of the samurai’s greatness. If you’re looking for a romantasy between a character out of time and another one ruled by honor and discipline, this book will surely hit the spot.
Adriana Acevedo is an editor, writer, and sleep paralysis demon. She's been published in magazines like samfiftyfour and Impostor. She's bilingual and living in the monstrous Mexico City. Whenever she's not reading horror stories or watching horror movies, she's baking sourdough bread. Read more of her writing here.