
PREFACE
ILLUSTRATIONS
CHAPTER I MY INFANCY
CHAPTER II AT HOME
CHAPTER III THE VILLAGE SCHOOL
CHAPTER IV IN TOKYO
CHAPTER V MY NEW SCHOOL
CHAPTER VI CHINESE EDUCATION
CHAPTER VII AN EVENING FÊTE
CHAPTER VIII SUMMER DAYS
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.
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
Nov 11, 2017
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

b. 1873
Best known for sharing Japanese childhood and everyday life with English-language readers, this early 20th-century writer and translator helped open a window between cultures. His work blends memoir, observation, and a clear wish to make Japan feel vivid and familiar.
View all books
by Herodotus

by Maria Edgeworth

by John Gibson Paton

by Ernest Thompson Seton

by S. O. Susag

by Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jr. Joseph Smith

by I. T. (Ida Treadwell) Thurston

by Patrick MacGill