Moves by Douglas C Horn

Moves is the story of Hiro, from Nagoya, Japan, who comes to a small town in Montana when his father is sent to run a company-owned cattle ranch. Hiro quickly becomes the favorite target of the school bully, but feels he cannot talk about his problems with his parents, who are already discussing sending him back to Japan and feeling their own, individual, problems with American society.

A source of comfort to Hiro, in the privacy of his own room, is his Aikido equipment and training. He quickly adapts to Judo lessons taught by a black sensei, who is as sensitive to Hiro’s needs as much as he is strong. Hiro’s Judo lessons catapult him to peer acceptance, and help him to establish an important first friendship. He learns to confront his problem but with temperance and understanding. He understands too, the psychological pressure on his father, whose concept of leadership is colored by his social separation. His mother suffers from loneliness and boredom until she takes an active role in seeking a friend—in spite of the language barrier.

Douglas Horn calls upon his experiences in living in Japan and the American West in creating Hiro’s world. The Judo scenes in the novel reflect his own familiarity with Judo and the related discipline of Aikido, which he teaches in his free time.

Mr. Horn is a writer and consultant. He resides in Washington state.