Asian Studies

The book entitled Samurai and Silk A Japanese and American Heritage is considered to be one of the most informative and genuine readings that mainly tackle the history of modern Japanese society. This book is written by Haru Matsukata-Reischauer, a famous Japanese writer during the mid and late nineteenth century.

She is a granddaughter of the late Masayoshi Matsukata, the fourth and sixth Prime Minister of Japan (Haru Reischauer). Harus grandfather is also a famous liberal finance minister during the Meiji Period. He is one of the most important Japanese leaders who supported the Japanese economic and infrastructure transformation (Haru Reischauer). More so, Harus family is famous for their significant contribution during the period of modernization throughout the whole Japanese country (Haru Reischauer).

Haru Matsukata is the wife of Edwin O. Reischauer, the former United States ambassador to Japan. He is also a renowned American educator and scholar of history as well as Japanese culture.  Born in Japan on the year 1915, Haru attended schools in Tokyo and has finished her college education in Illinois (Haru Reischauer). When World War II has ended, Haru worked in numerous magazine and newspaper publishers in Tokyo. Several years after, she got married to Edwin O. Reischauer in 1956.

As a couple, they have worked together in building a sturdy and respectable Japan-United States relationship in the midst of broad anti-American campaign all over Asia (Haru Reischauer). Soon after the diplomatic engagement of Prof. Edwin Reischauer in Japan, Haru and her husband went back to Cambridge in 1966 and lived a normal life as private citizens.

As a prolific Japanese poet and screenwriter, Haru has made a clear presentation of three different generations from their prominent Japanese clan. As a product of her own personal experiences, Harus book is an exemplar of a genuine depiction of the modernization process that Japan has been through. The book mainly highlights the importance of Meiji era, which is the exact period when Japan started to modernize the whole country and slowly establish its international power.

More so, this book serves as Harus effort in writing a wonderful memoir of her family. Starting off by providing a lucid illustration of her grandfathers, Masayoshi Matsukata (a founding father of the Meiji government) and Ryoichiro Arai (a wealthy entrepreneur in the silk trade), Harus book presents a comprehensive and credible storytelling with regard to Japans renowned financial and industrial success.

Given that Harus book mostly highlights the struggles of Japan towards modernization, the batch of modern Japanese political leaders are targeted as one of the books primary audiences. This is mainly because Haru intends to exemplify how the early Japanese political leaders have sacrificed in order to achieve the highest possible transformation that a country could have. More so, the book intends to draw the attention of recent Japanese leaders as it depicts the main importance of government and political leaders in the progress of a nation.

Furthermore, the book intends to capture the heart and mind of many Japanese in order to remind them of how the early generation of Japanese people strived in order to build a stronger civilization and economy. The book serves as a meaningful account of how the present Japanese generation should protect and value the current state of Japans economy and stability.

On the other hand, Harus book may also serve as a useful reading for most anthropologists. This is mainly because Harus writing lays a weighty elucidation of how different cultures work together under common goals and perspectives. In the book, Haru has made a detailed explanation on how culture diversity played a vital role in the success and establishment of her maternal grandfathers silk business. Though she made it clear that her Arai family side has firm Japanese cultural values, Americanization or adaptation of Western culture has been very indispensable in the overall triumph of their silk business (Reichauer). More so, Harus Samuai and Silk may also serve as a useful reading for the betterment of international relations and most diplomats, as it identifies the importance of strong relationship among the countries around the globe.
From a personal observation, the books main idea is that the road towards modernization is not an easy task at all. It often includes challenges and unavoidable acceptance of numerous changes in order to achieve the greatest possible result. The books main objective is to tell that change and acceptance should not be prevented, more especially when it would bring better results and benefits for the people. All of these ideas and objectives have been accomplished by visibly explaining the triumphs and drawback of Huras family in embracing Japanese and American heritage to their advantage.

In a sense, Hura has used a sound method in presenting information. Given that she wrote Samurai and Silk as a memoir for her family, the book has a credible source of information and data gathering that has lifted its overall quality. Most of the information presented in the book is based on Harus family story, which she has personally experienced. This aspect made the whole book more believable and interesting to read.
From a personal standpoint, the books main strength is its primary storyline, which is purely based on a true to life tale. As a reader, it is always amusing and interesting to read something that has really happened in real life, which could be really informative and a good source of lesson in life. The privilege of knowing the story and life of a prominent individual is always a delightful experience. More so, the values that book has presented is another great strength of Harus masterpiece, as it presents essential lessons that could be really useful and informative in todays modern world.

On the other hand, there are only minimal weaknesses that could be found in the book. One is the tendency of being partial in some part of the books presentation. Given that Samurai and Silk is a story dedicated for Harus family, there are instances that the book is slightly partial in a given topic.

In the end, it is evident that the main motivation of the books research is to state that change is inevitable, more especially when it is driven by time and the situation. Thus, compared to that of the other memoir, Harus Samurai and Silk is more believable and thrilling to read, as it is packed with a lot of personal experiences that are really entertaining.