sentences:  A new English translation by Ann Goldstein was published in 2006.The novel tells the story of a French silkworm merchant-turned-smuggler named Hervé Joncour in 19th century France who travels to Japan for his town's supply of silkworms after a disease wipes out their African supply.His first trip to Japan takes place in the Bakumatsu period, when Japan was still largely closed to foreigners.