Samurai and Silk (Paperback)

~ Haru Reischauer (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Reischauer, wife of a noted Japanese historian and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, tells the story of her two grandfathers: the famous Meiji statesman Matsukata Masayoshi, whose stringent financial policies are credited with steering Japan safely through its first economic crisis, and Arai Rioichiro, who helped develop Japan's silk exports to the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Their lives, inextricably interwoven with modern Japanese history, are vividly presented, along with fascinating glimpses of the family life of Japan's upper class in this period. The book should be popular with general readers as well as specialists. Evelyn S. Rawski, History Dept., Univ. of Pittsburgh
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

[Haru Reischauer] is a sensitive and skilled biographer and storyteller. Full of charm and insight..."Samurai and Silk" is at once an autobiography, a double biography, and a family saga covering three generations. It is a treat to read..."Samurai and Silk" may be the Japan book of the year, and one does not have to be an old Japan hand to savor its pleasures. -- David S. Williams "Los Angeles Times Book Review" --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback
• ISBN-10: 4805305053
• ISBN-13: 978-4805305058
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #4,215,442 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great perspective on the history of modern Japan, January 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Samurai and Silk: A Japanese and American Heritage (Paperback)

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

4.0 out of 5 stars Memoir of merchant and samuri families in Meiji-era Japan., December 22, 1998

By	[e-mail] (Anchorage, Alaska, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Samurai and Silk: A Japanese and American Heritage (Paperback)

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.

0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mistresses and Concubines, September 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Samurai and Silk: A Japanese and American Heritage (Paperback)

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?