The American Diary of a Japanese Girl - (Mint Editions (Voices from Api)) by Yone Noguchi (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The American Diary of a Japanese Girl (1901) is a novel by Yone Noguchi. Published in New York alongside illustrations by Genjiro Yeto, the novel was styled as a fascinating tell-all written by a young Japanese tourist. Composed with the assistance of Léonie Gilmour and Blanche Partington, The American Diary of a Japanese Girl was Noguchi's first novel and a major departure from his poetry at the time. An 18-year-old Japanese woman going by the name Miss Morning Glory embarks on a journey from her native country to the United States. Accompanied by her uncle, a wealthy industrialist, Morning Glory arrives in San Francisco via steamship. She soon befriends the American wife of a Japanese diplomat, who introduces her to minstrel shows and vaudeville. Left to her own devices, Morning Glory takes over a local cigar shop in Chinatown and begins to assimilate into American life and culture. When she meets Heine, an older poet from Oakland, Morning Glory is inspired to pursue a career as a writer. As she travels across the expansive American landscape with her uncle, she comments on the people and places she encounters along the way. Through her eyes we see the country in a strange new light, perhaps more truth than fiction. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Yone Noguchi's The American Diary of a Japanese Girl is a classic of Japanese American literature reimagined for modern readers.

From the Back Cover

Miss Morning Glory, a young Japanese girl, moves to America at the age of 18 with her wealthy uncle. As she travels across the country from San Francisco to New York, she makes friends with an aspiring actress and comments on the diverse culture of the nation. The American Diary of a Japanese Girl is a novel by Yone Noguchi.