Tsu-Yu-Ko (Little Sister of the Dew): A Page from Life
United States (?): Ca. 1912. Wraps. 6.75 x 4 inches, softcover, very good, some tanning, soil, scattered rubbing and surface abrasions to covers, contents very good, light vertical crease to first few pages, inscribed in pencil, in Japanese, to an "M. T. Yamamoto" -- the inscription is possibly authorial. 23 pp, with photo frontispiece of a young Japanese woman. The author, Toshi, of Yamagachi, writes of his cousin, Tsuyuko, the daughter of a wealthy and noble Samurai family, who returned to Japan after schooling in New England, and inspired Toshi to want to go to America himself. Tsuyuko fell in love with the son of a blacksmith, from a suburb of Yamagachi, a match that her parents disapproved of. They married, causing Tsuyuko's mother to disown her, and shortly after that Hidewo left to participate in the siege at Port Arthur (1904-1905), where he distinguished himself in battle and returned as a hero; one of the first to welcome him back was Tsuyuko's mother, who accepted him fully as her son-in-law. In the meantime, Toshi fulfilled his dream of coming to America, where he lived for a while in poverty. Hidewo sent him an encouraging letter and enclosed five dollars, a fortune back then. This book, probably published in America, is Toshi's expression of love and indebtedness to his cousin and her husband for their friendship and support. Worldcat locates no copies of this, there is nary a mention of this book on the internet -- it appears to be a unique survivor! Although the book is authored by "Toshi and Mori" we don't know who Mori was or his/her role in this book's composition. Very good. Item #h44704
Price: $200.00