Makiko's Diary: A Merchant Wife in 1910 Kyoto

by Makiko Nakano

This is the intimate and richly informative diary kept in 1910 by the young wife of a bustling merchant household in Kyoto. Makiko's husband was the had of his family's pharmaceutical business, and because the store and the family's living quarters were under one roof, it was a very busy place. Makiko writes perceptively about both special occasions (such as weddings, funerals, ancestral memorial services, and festivals) and the daily routine of the complex household. Almost all of the Japanese women whose accounts of family life are available in English were members of the elite or individuals who distinguish themselves in public life or in the arts. Makiko's Diary differs in that it is a spirited, first-hand account of the domestic world of a housewife, the role played by the vast majority of Japanese women. Makiko herself emerges as an engaging young woman, displaying flashes of sly humor, anger, sarcasm, and self-pity to temper her usual cheerfulness, eagerness to please, and determination to become a better person. Hers is a compelling voice.

Genres: Japan, History, Nonfiction, Biography, Diary

310 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is a year-long diary written by a merchant wife in Kyoto in 1910. While I picked it up thinking it was an example of a strong woman doing business, I was surprised to find that it certainly wasn't - but it was still a very valuable glimpse into everyday life in early twentieth-century Japan. Each entry was supported with footnotes to help explain certain cultural or societal situations as well.

The introduction was helpful, but at 50 pages, far too long. At one point I was tempted to skip it all and just read the diary, and in honesty, that's exactly what you can do without missing much. Going back to read the introduction after finishing the diary might increase understanding in the end.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fascinating insight into an aspect of Japanese history not often reported. The introduction is overly long, and all the Japanese terminology means the reader is constantly checking footnotes, but if you have an interest in history, it's well worth the trouble.

[Toffana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this. It's a very simple thing--just someone's day-to-day life, with weather reports, lists of household guests and correspondence, dinner menus and recipes, art gallery openings and theatrical events, and digressions into the author's inner thoughts and feelings--in pre-World War Japan. I scanned the front material which was helpful in setting the stage, and the epilogue, if somewhat depressing, put everything in perspective from a global standpoint.

[Georgia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The lower ratings on this are odd considering it’s a diary of a housewife/merchant wife. I’m not sure what people expect lol..but I found the introduction to be helpful, as well as the footnotes. If you like history, it’s an interesting read.

[Deborah Schuff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading her diary, because despite the years and the cultural difference between the two of us I connected with her as one woman to another.

[Meaghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The diary of a young Japanese woman, a pharmacist's wife, covering the year 1910. The book was published by her grandson, a historian who recognized the value of such documents. The introduction provides information about the family and the world of Japan at the turn of the century, and there are many photographs throughout. Almost every diary entry has footnotes, defining terms and identifying people Makiko mentions in passing.

Obviously this book would be of interest only to a very specific audience. Like most diaries written by ordinary people leading ordinary lives, it's rather dull. But it does provide a decent window into life in that time and place, and would thus be useful to scholars. I think it would be good for university libraries, particularly those with Asian Studies programs.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

By the end of the diary I felt like I knew Makiko well. I didn't want it to end - I felt like I could just keep on reading the ins and outs of her day, the rounds of visitors and gifts, the meals prepared, her cooking classes, the theater performances she mentioned, and the chores she did. I think there's just something nice about reading something from so long ago and realizing that people have always been people. Makiko was very relatable in a lot of ways. I do think the introduction was a bit on the lengthy side, but it's something I feel like I'd benefit better from reading after the fact with the full contents of the diary in mind.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Japan was modernizing at an almost alarming rate when this diary was being kept. Makiko, a pretty spoiled girl in a well to do family, sometimes takes this modernizing for granted and other times remarks on the new inventions to no end.

[Jenna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this for a class. It was exactly what it sounds like, a journal of a woman's daily activities in 1920s Japan. It wasn't the most exciting thing in the world, but somewhat interesting if you want a picture painted of what regular life was like during the time period.

[EmAr · Rating 5 out of 5]

wonderful! reading accounts of the Japanese life style as described by authors does not compare to Makiko's first hand account. it's expressive and eye opening.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt like Makiko's friend by the end. The pictures of her, her family, and Kyoto included with the text were especially moving.