Letters from China and Japan

A university professor of philosophy and his wife set out in early 1919 for a long‑awaited journey across the Far East, turning a leisurely vacation into an impromptu lecture tour at Japan’s Imperial University. Their letters, written for their children and never meant for publication, capture the immediacy of arrival—mud‑slick streets, dazzling kimonos, rickshaw runners in tight trousers, and the bewildering charm of a city where every passerby seems both a curiosity and a host. Their humor shines through as they describe the clash of Western expectations with the vibrant, sometimes chaotic, rhythms of daily life.

The adventure continues beyond Tokyo as they venture into China, where the pair find themselves drawn into the nation’s struggle for a democratic future. Sharing lectures and dialogues, they attempt to convey the ideas of Western liberty while absorbing the deep cultural currents around them. Their observations offer a thoughtful, lively snapshot of two societies at a pivotal moment, inviting listeners into a personal travel diary that feels both intimate and historically resonant.