Cherry Blossoms in Twilight: Memories of a Japanese Girl [Paperback]

Linda E. Austin (Author), Yaeko Sugama-Weldon (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 097723231X | ISBN-13: 978-0977232314 | Publication Date: August 15, 2007 | Edition: 2

Yaeko Sugama Weldon's memories of a poor but happy childhood shattered by the destruction of war offer a window to a different culture and an eye-opening look at how civilians survive the fears and horrors of a war they never wanted. Cherry Blossoms in Twilight is a learning experience about the Japanese culture as well as a personal account of WWII in Japan, gently told for a younger audience but nonetheless unflinching in its message of the humanity of all - even the enemy's people.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A cross-cultural jewel, sparkling with private glimpses of what it was like to grow up in Japan during WWII. --Nancy Pugh, President, Japan America Society Women's Association, September 14, 2005

An uplifting story that celebrates the life and customs of a Japanese family from the early 1930's through WWII. --Melissa Aubuchon, Social Studies Teacher, October 4, 2005

A remarkable gift for young people as well as for those who recall this period from their own perspectives. --Frances Benham, PhD, Library Director, Retired, October 13, 2005 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Yaeko Sugama Weldon was born in Japan in 1925. She grew up in a small town near Tokyo and there experienced the Depression years, WWII, and the Occupation. She married an American serviceman and moved to the United States in 1958. Her story is written with the help of her daughter, Linda Emiko Austin. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Moonbridge Publications; 2 edition (August 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 097723231X
• ISBN-13: 978-0977232314
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #428,783 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Cultural Visit to Twentieth Century Japan, March 6, 2008

By 

Story Circle Book Reviews - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cherry Blossoms in Twilight: Memories of a Japanese Girl (Paperback)

Since many of my Japanese friends married American servicemen, I looked forward to reading Cherry Blossoms in Twilight: Memories of a Japanese Girl by Yaeko Sugama Weldon and her daughter, Linda E. Austin. To my delight, it reminded me of the "Little House" books except that rather than being written about nineteenth century rural America, this book was written about twentieth century Japan, set in a small town near Tokyo with Mt. Fuji in the distance.

This gentle book shows how children entertained themselves before the advent of mass media--playing outside, catching snails and tadpoles, using flowers and seeds for pretend play, daring each other to take scary adventures such as fetching something from the graveyard or icehouse where others hid in order to scare them. Illustrations and photographs by the authors add to the interest, as Weldon and Austin describe holidays and festivals such as Boys' Day, Girls' Day and Tsukimi (Full Moon Viewing in September).

Not all of Yaeko's life was happy. She describes sibling rivalry, hunger during the Depression, and hiding in air-raid shelters during the war, although these events inspire the reader by showing how these struggles helped Yaeko become stronger. After reading this book, I now understand why many Japanese women married American men during the U.S. occupation, since many of the Japanese men had died in the war.

Children studying other cultures could identify with Yaeko as they read about her life and adventures, while the glossary of Japanese terms might motivate them to learn some Japanese conversational language. Also in the appendices are some delightful children's songs in both Japanese and English and photographs of Japan during the 1950s. This is a well-designed and edited little book that will educate and entertain both elementary and middle school students.

by Susan M. Andrus
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Charming story written by mother and daughter, ideal for classroom teaching about WWII Japan, February 8, 2011

By 

Rebekah Mullaney (New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cherry Blossoms in Twilight: Memories of a Japanese Girl (Paperback)

Cherry Blossoms in Twilight: Memories of a Japanese Girl by Yaeko Sugama Weldon and Linda Austin is a beautifully written and inspiring story of a girl's life in Japan during the depression era, World War II, and the U.S. occupation. The authors, a mother and daughter team, have carefully and thoughtfully written this true story in a way that completely draws in the reader. I read this book in around 3 hours, I could not put it down. I felt that I was transported to 1930-50s Japan because the story was written with such detail, but it also moves along quickly.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who has lived or travelled in rural Japan, because although it was written about Japan during World War II, some of the traditional customs, especially the holiday celebrations, are still practiced today in much the same way in rural Japan. So this book brought back some happy memories of Japan for me, even though I lived there only 10 years ago.

This is thankfully not one of those books that sensationalize life in Japan and focus on geisha or samurai. This story feels so much more real, and in this way, the reader can relate to and sympathize with the main character, while learning what everyday life was really like in Japan at that time.

In my opinion, this book would be absolutely ideal for school classroom teaching about World War II in Japan, appropriate for lower or middle school kids because it is easy to read, extremely informative covering a wide range of cultural and historical topics of interest, and there is some mention of the violence that did occur at that time, but it is definitely not too graphic for young children.

The book also includes black and white photos of rural Japan in the 1950s, beautiful illustrations by Yaeko Sugama Weldon, and 5 traditional Japanese children's songs, including the musical scores.

In addition, this charming story written by a mother and daughter team would make a lovely mother's day gift, or a gift for a daughter who is interested in Japan.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cherry Blosson Nostalgia, October 27, 2007

By 

Marlys M. Styne "Author of 'Reinventing Mysel... (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cherry Blossoms in Twilight: Memories of a Japanese Girl (Paperback)

"Cherry Blossons in Twilight: Memories of a Japanese Girl," by Yaeko Sugama Weldon, with her daughter, Linda E. Austin, is the charming life story of a Japanese-born senior citizen. It is a book for readers of all ages, from young people learning about history and other cultures to older people who lived through World War II.

Yaeko Sugama was born in 1925 in the small town of Tokorozawa, Japan, where she could see Mt. Fuji and the Chichibu mountain range in the distance. The family was poor, and lived in a typical one-story wooden house with a tin roof. Her father's shoemaking shop was in the front. Yaeko adored her father, but somewhat resented her mother's preference for her brother. "Girls are not so good to have because they marry and leave home, but when a son gets married, he stays to take care of his parents." That was the Japanese custom.

The author describes other customs of the time: the nature celebrations, the making of origami birds and kirigami from colorul paper, Yaeko's pet owl, stories from Japanese folklore. The author's charmingly drawn illustrations from a child's life in Japan are an added bonus.

After "Childhood" comes a section on "School," and then "World War II," "After the War," and "A New Life." The book ends with an appendix of Japanese children's songs, photographs of Japan in the 1950's, and a useful glossary and index of Japanese terms.

World War II disrupted peaceful life in Tokorozawa and brought air raids, bomb shelters, and rationing, leading the children to ask, "Who wants war anyway?" While the war took away the young Japanese men she might have married, it gave Yaeko a view of the outside world. She worked for American military families, eventually married an American soldier, and moved to the Chicago area.

Yaeko Sugama Weldon now lives in St.Louis, Missouri, near her daughter Linda, who helped her put her stories together. This book is a good example of the family memories and experiences we all need to share. While Yaeko expresses her regret that she didn't learn English better, her simple, direct prose is charming. That, as well as the story itself, should make this book especially interesting to young readers. However, I couldn't put it down myself.

Reprinted from "Write Your Life!" at http://www.seniormemoirs.blogspot.com