Diaries of Court Ladies of Old Japan

"Diaries of Court Ladies of Old Japan" translated by Annie Shepley Omori and Kochi Doi, is a collection of diaries that transports readers to the Heian Period of 11th-century Japan, where noblewomen recorded their innermost thoughts and experiences. The book offers personal perspectives on love, grief, and the constraints of their social status, expressed through elegant writing and poetry. The "Sarashina Diary" begins with a young woman's journey from her rural home to the royal capital, detailing her dreams of romance inspired by tales like that of Shining Prince Genji. Her journey showcases her vulnerability and longing for connection, revealed through heartfelt poetry and relationships within her family, as she transitions into adulthood, facing both the beauty and challenges of her world.