Heart of a Samurai Chapter 32 Summary

The Whale

  • Manjiro doesn't really even have time to think about his new position; they're off to get the whale.
  • When they see the whale, Manjiro throws the harpoon and hits the whale.
  • But it's a weird moment for him: He can't help but think back to the first time he saw a whale die; it was a barbaric, cruel death and now he's doing the same thing.
  • It's time for him to go home. And by home, he means Japan.
  • But he has a vision: America wasn't exactly what he expected, but if he could change people's minds about him—like Jolly for example—then maybe he can do that in Japan, too. Maybe he can get the Japanese to open up to America.
  • But he'll need money for that.
  • And he needs to pick up his old Japanese pals in Oahu.
  • After that, it's homeward-bound for all of them.