A Daughter of the Samurai

Set against the backdrop of a changing Japan post-Meiji Restoration, the memoir recounts Etsu Inagaki Sugimoto's life as she navigates her upbringing in a samurai family in Nagaoka. Initially destined for a religious life, she is arranged to marry a merchant in Cincinnati at twelve. Her journey to America begins with her studies in Tokyo, where she learns English. As she adapts to her new environment, Sugimoto offers keen observations on both Japanese and American cultures, providing a rich, insightful narrative that reflects her unique experiences.