Daughters of the Samurai: A Journey from East to West and Back

Nonfiction, History, Asian, Japan, Biography & Memoir
Cover of the book Daughters of the Samurai: A Journey from East to West and Back by Janice P. Nimura, W. W. Norton & Company
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Janice P. Nimura ISBN: 9780393248241
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company Publication: May 4, 2015
Imprint: W. W. Norton & Company Language: English
Author: Janice P. Nimura
ISBN: 9780393248241
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Publication: May 4, 2015
Imprint: W. W. Norton & Company
Language: English

"Nimura paints history in cinematic strokes and brings a forgotten story to vivid, unforgettable life." —Arthur Golden, author of Memoirs of a Geisha

In 1871, five young girls were sent by the Japanese government to the United States. Their mission: learn Western ways and return to help nurture a new generation of enlightened men to lead Japan.

Raised in traditional samurai households during the turmoil of civil war, three of these unusual ambassadors—Sutematsu Yamakawa, Shige Nagai, and Ume Tsuda—grew up as typical American schoolgirls. Upon their arrival in San Francisco they became celebrities, their travels and traditional clothing exclaimed over by newspapers across the nation. As they learned English and Western customs, their American friends grew to love them for their high spirits and intellectual brilliance.

The passionate relationships they formed reveal an intimate world of cross-cultural fascination and connection. Ten years later, they returned to Japan—a land grown foreign to them—determined to revolutionize women’s education.

Based on in-depth archival research in Japan and in the United States, including decades of letters from between the three women and their American host families, Daughters of the Samurai is beautifully, cinematically written, a fascinating lens through which to view an extraordinary historical moment.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

"Nimura paints history in cinematic strokes and brings a forgotten story to vivid, unforgettable life." —Arthur Golden, author of Memoirs of a Geisha

In 1871, five young girls were sent by the Japanese government to the United States. Their mission: learn Western ways and return to help nurture a new generation of enlightened men to lead Japan.

Raised in traditional samurai households during the turmoil of civil war, three of these unusual ambassadors—Sutematsu Yamakawa, Shige Nagai, and Ume Tsuda—grew up as typical American schoolgirls. Upon their arrival in San Francisco they became celebrities, their travels and traditional clothing exclaimed over by newspapers across the nation. As they learned English and Western customs, their American friends grew to love them for their high spirits and intellectual brilliance.

The passionate relationships they formed reveal an intimate world of cross-cultural fascination and connection. Ten years later, they returned to Japan—a land grown foreign to them—determined to revolutionize women’s education.

Based on in-depth archival research in Japan and in the United States, including decades of letters from between the three women and their American host families, Daughters of the Samurai is beautifully, cinematically written, a fascinating lens through which to view an extraordinary historical moment.

More books from W. W. Norton & Company

Cover of the book My Father and Atticus Finch: A Lawyer's Fight for Justice in 1930s Alabama by Janice P. Nimura
Cover of the book Yellow: Stories by Janice P. Nimura
Cover of the book The Muslim Discovery of Europe by Janice P. Nimura
Cover of the book The Man Who Knew Too Much: Alan Turing and the Invention of the Computer (Great Discoveries) by Janice P. Nimura
Cover of the book Serious Men: A Novel by Janice P. Nimura
Cover of the book Loud in the House of Myself: Memoir of a Strange Girl by Janice P. Nimura
Cover of the book Poker Face in Mental Health Practice: A Primer on Deception Analysis and Detection by Janice P. Nimura
Cover of the book Fight Club: A Novel by Janice P. Nimura
Cover of the book Posthumous Keats: A Personal Biography by Janice P. Nimura
Cover of the book Socrates in Love: Philosophy for a Passionate Heart by Janice P. Nimura
Cover of the book Portrait with Keys: The City of Johannesburg Unlocked by Janice P. Nimura
Cover of the book The ABCs of How We Learn: 26 Scientifically Proven Approaches, How They Work, and When to Use Them by Janice P. Nimura
Cover of the book Ancient Brews: Rediscovered and Re-created by Janice P. Nimura
Cover of the book Pennsylvania: A History by Janice P. Nimura
Cover of the book The Feeling Brain: The Biology and Psychology of Emotions by Janice P. Nimura
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy