
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
Raised in a samurai family during a time of huge change in Japan, she later introduced English-language readers to Japanese life through memoir and fiction. Her best-known work, A Daughter of the Samurai, helped make her a memorable cultural bridge between Japan and the United States.
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