A Japanese Boy by Himself is an essay written by Shukichi Shigemi when he was a student attending medical school at Yale University in 1889. It was written in English and published by a company in Connecticut, U.S.A. The description of just a common boy's daily life in a countryside contributed to cross-cultural understanding between the two countries at an early stage after the end of the Japanese isolation policy. His book sold well that he could pay for education with this publication to become a qualified doctor.
"This fictionalized autobiography...recreates the boyhood years of the eponymous H or Hajime Senoh. The Senohs, a Kobe family of modest means, were distinguised by their Christian faith and their extensive contact with foreigners....Precocious, inquisitive, and irreverent, H came of age during the dark years of Japan's descent into the abyss of war [World War II] and was a middle-school student during the conflict. The 50 vignettes that comprise this book provide an accessible, unforgettable, and intimate introduction to the effects of the war upon Japanese family life, friendships, school and society." Libr J.
In medieval Japan (14th–16th centuries), it was customary for elite families to entrust their young sons to the care of renowned Buddhist priests from whom they received a premier education in Buddhist scriptures, poetry, music, and dance. When the boys reached adolescence, some underwent coming-of-age rites, others entered the priesthood, and several extended their education, becoming chigo, or Buddhist acolytes. Chigo served their masters as personal attendants and as sexual partners. During religious ceremonies—adorned in colorful robes, their faces made up and hair styled in long ponytails—they entertained local donors and pilgrims with music and dance. Stories of acolytes (chigo monogatari) from the fourteenth to sixteenth centuries form the basis of the present volume, an original and detailed literary analysis of six tales coupled with a thorough examination of the sociopolitical, religious, and cultural matrices that produced these texts. Sachi Schmidt-Hori begins by delineating various dimensions of chigo (the chigo “title,” personal names, gender, sexuality, class, politics, and religiosity) to show the complexity of this cultural construct—the chigo as a triply liminal figure who is neither male nor female, child nor adult, human nor deity. A modern reception history of chigo monogatari follows, revealing, not surprisingly, that the tales have often been interpreted through cultural paradigms rooted in historical moments and worldviews far removed from the original. From the 1950s to 1980s, research on chigo was hindered by widespread homophobic prejudice. More recently, aversion to the age gap in historical master-acolyte relations has prevented scholars from analyzing the religious and political messages underlying the genre. Schmidt-Hori’s work calls for a shift in the hermeneutic strategies applied to chigo and chigo monogatari and puts forth both a nuanced historicization of social constructs such as gender, sexuality, age, and agency, and a mode of reading propelled by curiosity and introspection.
Embark on a Journey Through Time and Culture with the Greatest Collection of All Time Prepare to be transported to different worlds and eras with this extraordinary 2 Ebook collection, featuring "A Japanese Boy" by Shigemi Shiukichi and "How the Other Half Lives: Studies Among the Tenements of New York" by Jacob A. Riis. Book 1: A Japanese Boy by Shigemi Shiukichi Experience the beauty and tradition of Japanese culture through the eyes of a young protagonist in "A Japanese Boy" by Shigemi Shiukichi. This captivating narrative follows the life of a Japanese boy as he navigates the complexities of family, friendship, and identity in a rapidly changing world. Through richly detailed storytelling and vivid imagery, Shiukichi offers readers a glimpse into the customs, values, and traditions of Japan, inviting them on a journey of discovery and enlightenment. Book 2: How the Other Half Lives: Studies Among the Tenements of New York by Jacob A. Riis Explore the harsh realities of urban life in late 19th-century New York City with "How the Other Half Lives" by Jacob A. Riis. Through powerful photojournalism and compelling prose, Riis exposes the squalor and suffering of immigrant communities living in the city's tenements. From overcrowded living conditions to rampant poverty and disease, Riis sheds light on the struggles faced by the marginalized and disenfranchised, sparking a call to action for social reform and change. Discover the Diversity and Complexity of Human Experience: Can Empathy Bridge Cultural Divides? Join the Literary Exploration! As you delve into the pages of these timeless works, ponder the universal themes of resilience, compassion, and the search for belonging. Can the experiences of individuals from vastly different backgrounds and cultures resonate with readers across time and space? Can literature serve as a bridge that connects us all, fostering empathy, understanding, and solidarity? The answers await within this extraordinary collection, inviting you to embark on a journey of discovery and enlightenment. Experience the Power of Literature - Begin Your Journey Today!
This colorfully illustrated multicultural children's book presents several Japanese fairy tales and other folk stories--providing insight into a rich oral culture. Welcome to a fantastic world populated by magical teakettles, long-nosed goblins, brave warriors, and a host of other beloved characters who have lived on for centuries in the traditional tales of Japan. Drawn from Japanese folklore that has been passed down from generation to generation, the nine enchanting stories collected in this volume have been lovingly retold just for today's readers. They make perfect new additions for story time or bedtime reading. Vibrantly illustrated and full of thrilling adventures, funny discoveries and important lessons, they're sure to become story time favorites. Included are some of Japan's best-loving children stories: Peach Boy The Magic Teakettle Monkey-Dance and Sparrow-Dance The Long-Nosed Goblins The Rabbit in the Moon The Rabbit in the Moon The Tongue-Cut Sparrow Sill Saburo The Toothpick Warriors The Sticky-Sticky Pine
It's 1941 and ten-year-old Norman Mineta is a carefree fourth grader in San Jose, California, who loves baseball, hot dogs, and Cub Scouts. But when Japanese forces attack Pearl Harbor, Norm's world is turned upside down. Corecipient of The Flora Stieglitz Straus Award A Horn Book Best Book of the Year One by one, things that he and his Japanese American family took for granted are taken away. In a matter of months they, along with everyone else of Japanese ancestry living on the West Coast, are forced by the government to move to internment camps, leaving everything they have known behind. At the Heart Mountain internment camp in Wyoming, Norm and his family live in one room in a tar paper barracks with no running water. There are lines for the communal bathroom, lines for the mess hall, and they live behind barbed wire and under the scrutiny of armed guards in watchtowers. Meticulously researched and informed by extensive interviews with Mineta himself, Enemy Child sheds light on a little-known subject of American history. Andrea Warren covers the history of early Asian immigration to the United States and provides historical context on the U.S. government's decision to imprison Japanese Americans alongside a deeply personal account of the sobering effects of that policy. Warren takes readers from sunny California to an isolated wartime prison camp and finally to the halls of Congress to tell the true story of a boy who rose from "enemy child" to a distinguished American statesman. Mineta was the first Asian mayor of a major city (San Jose) and was elected ten times to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he worked tirelessly to pass legislation, including the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. He also served as Secretary of Commerce and Secretary of Transportation. He has had requests by other authors to write his biography, but this is the first time he has said yes because he wanted young readers to know the story of America's internment camps. Enemy Child includes more than ninety photos, many provided by Norm himself, chronicling his family history and his life. Extensive backmatter includes an Afterword, bibliography, research notes, and multimedia recommendations for further information on this important topic. A California Reading Association Eureka! Nonfiction Gold Award Winner Winner of the Society of Midland Authors Award’s Children’s Reading Round Table Award for Children’s Nonfiction A Capitol Choices Noteworthy Title A Junior Library Guild Selection A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year A Bank Street Best Book of the Year - Outstanding Merit
When an old couple finds a baby inside a peach floating on the river, they raise him as their son, and he grows up to fight the terrible demons who have terrorized the village for years.
