John Mung, a Japanese fisherboy, is rescued and adopted by American ship Captain Whittefield. After receiving a Harvard education, Mung returns to 19th century Japan and becomes the bridge for western knowledge into that isolated island kingdom. John Whittefield, Mung's adopted brother, becomes Commodore Perry's liaison between the Japanese Emperor and the United States.John later becomes Secretary of the Navy. Based on the true story.In this 5 book historical fiction series, these two men and their descendants devote their lives to bringing the Japanese people into the twentieth century and to peaceful relations between their countries.