Tenchi Meisatsu: Volumes 1 & 2

A story set in the Edo period about people appointed by the shogunate who use arithmetic to decipher the movements of the stars and dedicate their lives to 'calendar reform.' The way they confront the heavens and earth is just too cool. A young Go player meets a genius in arithmetic and, under a secret mission, travels across Japan to measure latitude. Enduring partings with loved ones, forging bonds, and overcoming defeat to achieve a grand comeback with the meticulously crafted Yamato calendar. This is just too interesting! The climax towards the end is incredible, and it's a super enjoyable novel that's easy to read with almost none of the difficult phrasing typical of historical fiction! It's a work that will make you want to look up at the starry sky after finishing it. I especially want to recommend it to those who liked "Chi."