Samurai and Silk: A Japanese and American Heritage,

by Haru Matsukata Reischauer

Book Overview

Samurai and Silk is a rare treasure: a book of penetrating insight into the Japanese character and the forging of modern Japan from the feudal Tokugawa shoguns to present day economic titans. Only Haru Reischauer could have written this extraordinary family account, beginning with her two illustrious grandfathers: one, a provincial samurai who became a founding father of the Meiji government; the other, a scion of a wealthy and enterprising peasant...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0674788001
• ISBN13: 9780674788008
• Release Date: March 1986
• Publisher: Belknap Press
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 2.50 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Mistresses and Concubines

This book gets a 5 because of the number of light bulbs that turned on. I have always wondered what the difference was between a mistress and a concubine. This book clears the mystery. The difference between the initial driving forces for Japanese immigrants is apparent today. One group came develop business and trade, the other came as contract labor. I wonder if there are parallels or similarities between Meiji reformers and Scotch Presbyterians?

Great perspective on the history of modern Japan

I found this book particularly well written, as it "filled in the blanks" for me, having visited Japan on business numerous times and having studied the language for about 2 years. I used the Internet to find the author's son to say how heart warming and enlightening I found the book. I also learned that the author is currently writing another book and hope to meet her soon. Regards, Rich Blish, Saratoga CA

Memoir of merchant and samuri families in Meiji-era Japan.

This book gives a wonderful view of Meiji-era Japan. The Meiji era started, I believe, in the 1870's and extended to 1912[?]. During the reign of the Meiji Emperor, Japan first opened itself to Western culture and trade.One of Haru Matsukata Reischauer's grandfathers was an early silk merchant who journeyed to the United States. He came from a merchant/farmer family. Her other grandfather was a prominent Meiji-era statesman of the samuri class. (I believe a marriage from these two families could only have occurred after the opening of the Meiji-era.)This wonderfully written, elegant memoir gives an intimate portrayal not only of the Meiji era, but of the author's own experiences as her prominent family courageously distanced itself from the rising Japanese militartism that resulted in World War II.The author is the wife of Edmund O. Reischauer, Professor of History at Harvard University and Ambassador to Japan during the Kennedy administration.