This is the story of a Japanese Princesss and is the first autobiography by a member of the Japanese Imperial family to be published in English. Her name was Setsuko, Princess Chichibu, who was born in England in 1909, the daughter of the Japanese Ambassador who was later transferred to Washington. At the age of 18, she was unexpectedly "urged" to marry Prince Chichibu, younger brother of Emperor Hirohito. She accepted with reluctance, they were married within the year and she was "reborn" into the isolated and archaic life of the Japanese Imperial Court. Surprisingly, it turned out to be a remarkable "fairy" story and the Prince and princess became an adoring couple, only to be parted by the premature death of the Prince in 1953. Sadly, too, their story was set in the wrong epoch. Both self-declared Anglophiles, maintaining close links with the United States, when Japan entered the Second World War they had to endure the appalling nightmare of their mother country having declared war on their adopted countries. In the post-war years, now widowed, the Princess made numerous trips to Europe in an attempt to rebuild old friendships. She was greatly loved and admired. This autobiography, written when the Princess was already over 80 years of age, is full of nostalgia and detail yet as she herself notes, "...there were some things I could not bring myself to recount".
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
This personal and subjective memoir by the wife of Prince Chichibu, the younger brother of Emperor Hirohito, rarely gives a close look at life in the court. Setsuko instead chronicles her early life; birth in England in 1909, school in the United States, marriage at 18, lessons in imperial behavior with some feeling. Later chapters chronicle various official and semiofficial visits. Reverentially, she tells of her husband's battle with tuberculosis, from which he succumbed at age 50. Setsuko lived another 30 years, occupied by visits and her rose garden. Of interest is her regret that World War II strained her relations with English and American friends. An old friend of Setsuko, Britton did the translation at her request. For general readers. Kitty Chen Dean, Nassau Coll., Garden City, N.Y.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
In this first memoir ever published in English by a member of the Japanese imperial family, the wife of Emperor Hirohito's brother tells of her life as an imperial consort during the turbulent twentieth century. She was born Setsuko Matsudaira and spent her early years in Washington, D.C., where her father was Japanese ambassador. In September 1928 she married Prince Chichibu; and she died in August 1995 at the age of 85. Hers is a remarkable story of a happy childhood in Japan and the U.S., of a severely restricted life as a member of the Japanese imperial family, and of a happy marriage despite those restrictions. She also discusses the impact of World War II on the imperial family and her life since her husband's premature death in 1953 from tuberculosis. Although definitely more a personal recollection than a historical, fact-filled account, Princess Chichibu's book is fascinating for its portrayal of ancient Japanese imperial traditions and for her unique insider's perspective of the momentous, historical events that transpired during her life. Kathleen Hughes
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Reader's Review of 'The Silver Drum.',
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This review is from: The Silver Drum: A Japanese Imperial Memoir (Global Oriental Series) (Hardcover)
This is the English translation of a book written by a Japanese princess. Born a 'commoner' and educated in America, she was unexpectedly chosen to marry Prince Chichibu, younger brother of Emperor Hirohito. The story of her early life set mainly in America is interesting, and her description of the days leading up to her wedding, and the wedding itself, are a fascinating account to anyone interested in Japanese royalty and tradition. After that her discussion of married life becomes more of a diary of events which covers the war and post war years in Japan. To those interested in Japanese life, her recount of these years will seem rather stiff and factual and not embellished with interesting aspects of royal life, or even her married life. It is obvious she was very fond of her husband but never really opens up on any very personal feelings, as a Western writer might. She avoids any criticism of either side in the war years, but makes it clear that she was sad to see her birth country fighting with her 'adopted countries', as both herself and the Prince had close ties with England and America. The reason for this impartiality of course is that the book was originally written for Japanese readers and this is reflected in the style of writing which is largely impersonal and factual. Still, the story of her husband's attempts to beat turbuculosis and their lives in postwar Japan make interesting reading. It is obvious that even though their lives were privileged as Japanese Royalty, they were always concerned with the plight of ordinary people everywhere. After her husband's death the Princess became very involved with charities and social welfare organisations, and was very much loved and admired .
5.0 out of 5 stars
charming; an engagine memoir by a sweet princess,
By Karen Post (Westminster, CO) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Silver Drum: A Japanese Imperial Memoir (Global Oriental Series) (Hardcover)
Princess Chichibu's memoir. A princess by marriage, she tells about her days before she married into the Japanese royal family and then her life as a member of the imperial court. While she intentionally avoids commenting on most political affairs, she still paints a captivating picture of her world(s). Very re-readable!
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Glossing Over an Imperial Life,
By A Customer
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This review is from: The Silver Drum: A Japanese Imperial Memoir (Global Oriental Series) (Hardcover)
While I enjoyed this quick, easy memoire of Japan's Princess Chichibu, sister-in-law to Emperor Hirihito, I couldn't help but be accutely aware of the glaring ommisions the Princess (or the Japanese Imperial Family) chose to make. For instance, the events of World War II are mentioned almost casually. While the Princess admits to being concerned for her country and for her American and British friends during this period, she appears cold and out-of-touch in relation to current events. Granted, this lack of emotion and information is most definitely due to censorship by the Japanese Imperial Family, who have for centuries made an impressive show of unemotional disconnectedness with their people. The princess does admit at the end of the book that she feared the Imperial Family was out of touch with real people, and this statement helps the reader to better understand why the Princess behaved as she did throughout her life. Dorothy Britton's translation of the Princess' memoire is halting and riddled with typographical errors. However, these faults do not impose too much upon the story - they almost help to bring the voice of the princess alive, as one can imagine Princess Chichibu reading her story aloud in hesitant English. As a whole, this glimpse into the daily life of a member of Japanese royalty is very interesting, even if it appears to only scratch the surface. It is understandable that the Princess was restricted in what she was able to portray regarding political sentiments and other members of the royal family. She does her best to give an honest account of her own personal life, and chooses to focus on details of cermonies and her day-to-day activities. I believe that "The Silver Drum" is the only memoire of a member of the modern Japanese royal family, and the princess was a pioneer in reaching out to the public to make the aloof family more accessible.
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