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.

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?

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

Steven Wardell's book is a pure delight and I've recommended itto friends of all ages. In Rising Sons and Daughters, we learn thatJapanese young people are preserving their country's tradition of respect for their elders while also creating their own identity as Japan's "Generation X". Like our own young people, they are bombarded with some of the excesses of "Western culture" - Clothing fads, rock groups, a culture of shopping, etc. What they seem to be developing, however, is a healthy hybrid of old and new that retains a firm foundation in good values. The Ando family members are wonderful, memorable people and Stevern Wardell writes poignantly about their lives and hopes of each of them.

I thoroughly enjoyed Rising Sons and Daughters. I don't know of any other book that looks at Japanese society from the point of view of its young people poised as they are between their parents' age-old Japanese culture of restraint and obedience to the will of the community, and their peers' adulation of Western culture. True to form, the "New Young" of Japan seem to be creating an "international" blend, as the Ando family demonstrates in this beautifully written book of vignettes of the private lives of members of this family. Steven Wardell is clearly a talented young author, adopted for some of his schooling into this family of four teens, and thus able to view family life in Japan from the inside out. A great read!