A daughter of the Samurai

"A Daughter of the Samurai" by Etsu Inagaki Sugimoto is a memoir that transports readers to early 20th-century Japan and America, recounting the author’s life as a girl raised in a traditional samurai household and her later experiences in America, highlighting the striking cultural differences between her homeland and her new environment. The narrative shares a glimpse into the customs and social expectations of feudal Japan, with a focus on the struggles and changes faced by women during that era. The memoir opens with her childhood winters in Echigo, filled with heavy snowfall, family traditions, and preparations for surviving the harsh season, detailing the warm and complex dynamics of her home life, including interactions with family members and the household staff, to reveal its close-knit nature. The author shares her family's history and the significance of their samurai legacy, portraying both the fond memories of the past and the shifts brought about by modernization, her early life painting a vibrant image of her upbringing, leading readers to discover the blending of her samurai identity and her growing understanding of the world as she adapts to American society.