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A warm and vivid memoir, this work follows the early life of a young girl raised in the disciplined world of feudal Japan. Through charming anecdotes—like the mischievous dog Shiro, the curiosity about her curly hair, and the gentle rituals of temple visits—she paints a picture of a childhood steeped in tradition yet full of playful wonder. Her observations of everyday moments reveal the quiet strength of samurai values and the subtle humor that threads through family life.
When she later steps onto American soil, the narrative gently explores the clash and blend of two very different cultures. The author’s keen eye captures both the awe of new freedoms and the lingering ties to her heritage, offering listeners a heartfelt glimpse into the challenges of bridging past and present. It’s an intimate portrait of a girl’s journey toward self‑discovery, inviting listeners to reflect on identity, resilience, and the timeless search for belonging.
Language
en
Duration
~9 hours (532K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
United States: Doubleday, Page & Company, 1925.
Credits
Emmanuel Ackerman, Graeme Mackreth and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from images made available by the HathiTrust Digital Library.)
Release date
2023-05-15
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1873–1950
A Japanese-born writer who helped American readers see daily life, family duty, and change through the eyes of a woman raised in the last years of the samurai era. Her best-known book blends memoir and cultural reflection in a way that still feels vivid and personal.
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