When I Was a Boy in Japan

audiobook

When I Was a Boy in Japan

by Sakae Shioya

EN·~2 hours·14 chapters

Chapters

14 total
1

PREFACE

2:26
2

ILLUSTRATIONS

0:16
3

CHAPTER I MY INFANCY

12:48
4

CHAPTER II AT HOME

11:16
5

CHAPTER III THE VILLAGE SCHOOL

14:43
6

CHAPTER IV IN TOKYO

10:38
7

CHAPTER V MY NEW SCHOOL

12:32
8

CHAPTER VI CHINESE EDUCATION

13:56
9

CHAPTER VII AN EVENING FÊTE

9:58
10

CHAPTER VIII SUMMER DAYS

11:20

Description

The story unfolds through the eyes of a Japanese boy recalling the simple wonders of his earliest years. He shares vivid memories of his plump infant self, the warmth of a wooden bath, and the tender rituals of his family that marked each milestone. With gentle humor, he paints everyday moments—bowing in gratitude, splashing water, and the delighted chatter that filled his home—as a doorway into a world many listeners have never seen.

As he grows, the narrative moves through village schools, lively street festivals, and the bright lights of early‑20th‑century Tokyo, offering a lively portrait of daily life and customs. Friendly classmates, curious teachers, and the excitement of learning English and astronomy pepper his recollections, while seasonal celebrations and modest adventures reveal the rhythm of his community. The book feels like a series of charming snapshots, inviting listeners to experience childhood in Japan through an authentic, heartfelt voice.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~2 hours (137K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Credits

Produced by MFR, David E. Brown, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)

Release date

2017-11-11

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

Sakae Shioya

Sakae Shioya

b. 1873

A Japanese writer, translator, and scholar who brought everyday life in Meiji-era Japan vividly to English-speaking readers. His work blends personal memory with a thoughtful eye for a country changing fast.

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