Princess Kiku: A Japanese Romance. A Play for Girls

"Princess Kiku: A Japanese Romance. A Play for Girls" by M. F. Hutchinson is a dramatic story set in Japan where themes of love, devotion, and cultural clashes take center stage. The story introduces Princess Kiku, cherished by the Emperor, and her companions as they grapple with old traditions and encounter unfamiliar influences. A shadowy curse hangs over her, making her believe that she brings misfortune. The start of the play unfolds in the Chrysanthemum Garden, where Princess Kiku and her friends deal with a scary dream about serpents, highlighting her worries and preparing for an upcoming festival and the arrival of foreign visitors. Ito, a young boy, is introduced, hinting at the clash between Japanese ways and the new, foreign changes to come, while the conversations reveal Japanese charm, respect, and a connection to nature, revealing the brewing tensions between the old ways and the future.