"The Boshin war did not leave us unmolested," Ikue told Noriko. The old woman, tough as an ancient wisteria vine in winter, sat bolt upright on her cushion. "There was fighting here." She added charcoal to the fire in the brazier. It was dark in her cave shelter, the brazier needed for light as well as heat. Noriko waited patiently for her old teacher to continue.

"There were forces loyal to the Shogunate who went north, to Hokkaido, where they eventually established the Ezo ...