For those familiar with the Russo-Japan War you will be very familiar with the centerpoint of the book: the battle of Port Arthur.

This book is the experiences of some of the soldiers who took part in the battle for Port Arthur. Originally written in Japanese for a Japanese audience, it was translated first in 1907 (?) and rereleased in 1920 in attempt to show the world what Japanese soldiers thought and felt regarding warfare at the time. Japan was being bathed with both admirition and astonishment for being first a nation that had only modernized a handful of decades previous (a mere 40 years) and second the only non-European nation to effectively defeat a modern power.

These are the stories of men that fought in the Japanese army during the Russo-Japan war. Reading this will give the reader a look at how Japanese fighting men saw things, and can serve as a valuable contrast to how warfare was and is viewed in the west.

Written circa 1890, this is a diary-like essay on the lives of Japanese women at the turn of the century. It explains many of the old customs that are still present today among certain classes in Japan and those customs that will be used for the new Princess Royal born in 2001.

For those who know modern Japan, it is a an interesting comparative on the lives of women over time.