Kimono

"Kimono" by John Paris is a story set in the early 1900s that follows the marriage of Geoffrey Barrington, an Englishman, and Asako Fujinami, a Japanese woman with a large inheritance. Their wedding day is a spectacle in London, full of wondering and doubt about how their cultures will mix, launching a tale that looks at their relationship in the face of what their families and societies expect. Asako's European upbringing adds a layer of complexity, as she feels conflicted about her Japanese roots. The celebrations mix Eastern and Western traditions, but tension bubbles beneath the surface as the book begins to address important questions around who they are, how cultures come together, and the power play within their marriage, preparing the reader for an interesting look at the relationship between East and West as seen through the Barringtons' experiences in Japan.