Soichi Yamaoka's masterpiece comes to life in your ears! Experience the essence of 'patience' to survive turbulent times with the Audible version of 'Tokugawa Ieyasu (1): The Volume of Birth and Chaos'

"I know the name, but I can't bring myself to start such a long 26-volume series..."

"I don't have much time to read, but I want to touch upon the essence of Japanese history and leadership."

Do you have such concerns?

Soichi Yamaoka's 'Tokugawa Ieyasu' is a masterpiece of Japanese historical fiction. This epic novel, which has been a pillar of support for post-war Japanese people and has been loved by many business leaders and executives, has now been revived in the modern age in the best possible form: Audible.

In this article, we will thoroughly explain why the Audible version of 'Tokugawa Ieyasu (1): The Volume of Birth and Chaos' is essential for busy modern people, and the secret to the overwhelming immersion that can only be experienced through 'listening to books'.

1. Why the pinnacle of historical fiction, 'Tokugawa Ieyasu', should be listened to on Audible

Soichi Yamaoka's 'Tokugawa Ieyasu' is not just a historical record. It is the ultimate human anthem that depicts how one person, while being tossed about by a harsh fate, managed to build an era of peace.

Why 'listen' instead of 'read'?

The greatest appeal of this work lies in its rich psychological descriptions that capture the nuances of the characters' hearts, and its dignified prose that makes the scenes of the time come to life before your eyes. However, it is also true that many people give up on finishing it due to its overwhelming volume.

The Audible version provides the following benefits through the 'soulful narration' of professional narrators:

• Turn housework and commuting time into a superb historical experience

• Difficult names and old-fashioned phrasing can be intuitively understood by listening to them

• By having the characters' emotions conveyed through voice, you feel the drama more closely than through text

In particular, this first volume, 'The Volume of Birth and Chaos', begins with the tragedy of Ieyasu's mother, Odai no Kata. Even scenes that are painful to follow in text should resonate more deeply in your heart through her strength and compassion when heard in a warm voice.

2. The intense background of Ieyasu's birth depicted in 'The Volume of Birth and Chaos'

The first volume depicts the period from just before Tokugawa Ieyasu (Takechiyo) was born into this world until his early childhood.

The philosophy contained in the single character 'Shin' (Patience)

If there is one word that is synonymous with the future ruler Ieyasu, it is 'patience', and the roots of that are all packed into this first volume. What awaited Takechiyo, born as the heir to the minor Matsudaira clan, was a harsh life as a hostage caught between the powerful Oda and Imagawa clans.

Points to focus on in this article:

• Parting with his mother, Odai: The fate of being separated from his mother at just three years old.

• The ruthlessness of the Warring States period: The poignancy of an era where even the bonds between parents and children, or husbands and wives, were used as political tools.

The Audible narration masterfully expresses this 'quiet sorrow' through pauses and changes in tone.
The information entering through your ears creates vivid images in your brain, transporting the reader back to 16th-century Mikawa.

3. The 'power of words' brought out by professional narration

The biggest reason for the high praise of the Audible version of 'Tokugawa Ieyasu' lies in its high quality of narration.

Overwhelming presence and expressive power

When listening to a long novel, the quality of the narrator's voice is extremely important.
In this work, a voice that is both profound and easy to listen to is used, and the character portrayals are superb.

• The voice of a dignified warlord

• The whispers of strong-willed women

• The innocent way a child speaks

There is such a sense of realism that you wouldn't believe these are all performed by one person.
In particular, the weight of Sohachi Yamaoka's unique, philosophical, and beautiful monologues is multiplied by the voice.
The feeling of deep lessons, which you might skip over when 'reading,' sinking straight into your heart is an experience unique to Audible.

4. Three reasons why modern business people need 'Ieyasu'

Why do we need to learn from a person who lived over 400 years ago?
It is because the modern era is an 'uncertain age' comparable to the Warring States period.

① Mental control in adversity

Ieyasu's childhood started literally from 'rock bottom.'
However, instead of cursing his environment, he thought through what he could do within it.
This 'resilience' is one of the most sought-after skills in the modern business scene.

② Strategic planning from a long-term perspective

As symbolized by the saying 'If the bird doesn't sing, wait until it does,' Ieyasu did not get distracted by immediate gains but acted with an eye on the decades ahead.
In an era where short-term results are often demanded, this long-term thinking becomes a major differentiator.

③ Understanding human nature and organizational management

Why was Ieyasu able to unite the strong-willed Mikawa samurai?
This work depicts in detail how he captured people's hearts and built trust.
For those who want to learn the essence of leadership, there is no better textbook than this.

5. A guide to using 'Tokugawa Ieyasu' on Audible

For those who are worried, wondering, 'How can I possibly get through all 26 volumes?', I propose a concrete way to utilize it so you won't get discouraged.

First, listen with the intention of completing only 'Volume 1'

There is no need to aim for the entire series from the start.
First, please enjoy this 'Birth and Chaos' volume as an independent story.
Just knowing the background of Ieyasu's birth will dramatically deepen your understanding of Japanese history.

Customize the playback speed

Audible allows you to adjust the playback speed from 0.5x to 3.5x.

• Normal time: 1.2x to 1.5x (increases information absorption efficiency)

• Emotional scenes: 1.0x (savor the emotions thoroughly)

Utilize the bookmark function

Save parts you think are 'great quotes' or scenes that resonate with you using the bookmark function in the app. By reviewing them later, you can create your own 'Ieyasu Quote Collection'.

6. Reader feedback: How the reading experience changes with the Audible version

We have received the following surprising feedback from users who have actually adopted the Audible version.

As you can see, many people are enjoying a new encounter with the figure of Ieyasu through 'sound'.

7. Conclusion: Enter the world of 'Tokugawa Ieyasu' now. Your 'patience' will turn into 'strength'

Sohachi Yamaoka's 'Tokugawa Ieyasu (1): Birth and Chaos' goes beyond the framework of a mere historical novel; it is a gem of a book that asks us 'how to live'.

Born in the harsh era of the Warring States period, Ieyasu took his first steps toward unifying the country from a desperate situation. His journey powerfully encourages us who live in the modern age.

With the Audible version, you get all of the following:

• An overwhelming immersive experience that transcends the wall of printed text

• Deep satisfaction of intellectual curiosity brought about by professional expression

• A smart reading method to turn spare time into 'self-improvement'

Even masterpieces that require courage to read in text will naturally melt into your heart when heard through your ears. Why not start your grand historical journey with this first volume?

Come, let us take up the wisdom to survive turbulent times together with Ieyasu.

Why not start by using the Audible free trial to listen to this 'Volume of Birth and Turmoil'? The profound and beautiful world of the story, woven by professional narration, is sure to enrich your daily life.

Next, expectations for the second volume grow as we wonder how Ieyasu will grow from his status as a 'hostage.' First, please confirm this moving experience with your own ears.

For those who think, 'I want to listen!': 3 steps to start Audible

For those who say, 'I want to feel the atmosphere of the Sengoku period with my ears' or 'I want to turn my housework or commuting time into reading time,' I will explain how to start Amazon Audible in an easy-to-understand way.

Step 1: Register as a member from the official website

First, access the Amazon Audible official website. If you have an Amazon account, you can register immediately.

Step 2: Install the app

Download the 'Audible app' to your smartphone or tablet.

• iOS (App Store)

• Android (Google Play)

Step 3: Find and play the work

Open the app and search for 'Okatte no An' or 'Yoshiki Shibata' in the search window.

Once you find it, just 'Add to Library' and press the play button! If you download it, you can immerse yourself in the story without interruption even when offline.

The 'all-you-can-listen' feature of Audible is great

Many volumes of the 'Tokugawa Ieyasu' series are included in the all-you-can-listen eligible works. Within the monthly fee, it is possible to read (listen) through all volumes at once.

Why not start a new reading experience today?

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