Chapter 1 Summary

It is January of 1841. Off the shore of Japan, fishermen are in a boat. After three days of not catching any fish, they are so busy hauling in their catch that they don't notice a storm that is coming upon them. By the time they do notice, it is too late. The boat rudder and sail break and they lose the rowing oars.

Days pass as they drift at sea. The water sloshing into the boat has swept away almost all of the mackerel they had managed to catch. They all talk about the barbarians, which is anyone that is not from Japan. They also know that if and when they reach barbaric land that they will not be welcome back in Japan again.

By the eighth day of drifting out to sea, all of their food and water are gone. The fishermen...