Women of the Mito Domain: Recollections of Samurai Family Life Book

One of the most important books ever written for scholars of Japanese history and culture. It gives a better image of Japanese family life during the late Tokugawa era than anything else out there. No matter what your discipline is, history, culture, feminist studies, sociology, Asian studies, or anthropology this book is absolutely essential to enrich your existing understanding of 19th century Japan. If you're not a scholar with an interest in Japan and simply looking for a good read, it is fantastically written and filled with endearing and enchanting stories about the family of Yamakawa Kikue. There are a bevy of interesting characters and amusing anecdotes. Bottom line is, it is essential if you're studying Japanese culture and history and enjoyable even if you aren't. Fully recommend.