In the late nineteenth century Japan had a special fascination for Americans, primarily because they had opened the country to international commerce, but also because of the complexity of its society and excellence of its arts. Another source of fascination was the speed of Japan's modernization: Japan evolved from a vulnerable, newly-opened outpost to a colonial power in less than 50 years. This, the first set in the Japan in American Fiction series, contains nine of the most important works of this kind written between 1880 and 1905, to which a 1910 second novel by one of the authors (Babcock's Tama) is added for good measure. While most of these books fit loosely into the category of romance, seven of them are serious attempts by early residents to describe, explain, and even defend Japan and the Japanese to American readers. In the remaining three, professional writers of popular fiction (Long and Babcock) take up Japanese themes to entertain and win audiences. From a literary and cultural standpoint, the works selected have 'fixed' and continue to influence popular perceptions in the West of Japan as the land of samurai and geisha. The books also reflect the ambiguity of the American venture in Japan: while there was some desire to exploit the country, there were also moves to 'educate' its people in western ways and welcome them as new members to the family of modern nations - a role that appealed to the self-image held by the intruders. Indeed, when analyzed carefully, the works tell as much about Americans as they do about Japanese. These works present a range of perceptions and opinions. Some encourage Japanese to adopt American models while others warn such imitation will destroy the Japanese culture. Some call for the Japanese to convert to Christianity while others warn that missionary educators may ruin their students, or claim that Christianity has no role if it refuses to acknowledge the worth of Japanese culture. Historical romances alternate with love romances. Japanese women are shown as obedient love objects, as exploited or abused victims, and as loving wives and mothers who have valuable roles within the culture. Males are depicted as brave soldiers and statesmen on the one hand and corrupt tyrants and panderers on the other.
Contents:
Volume 1: Edward Greey, Young Americans in Japan, or the Adventures of the Jewett Family and Their Friend Oto Nambo(1882)
Volume 2: Louis Wertheimber, A Muramasa Blade: A Story of Feudalism in Old Japan (1887); Edward Howard House, Yone Santo: A Child of Japan (1888)
Volume 3: Arthur Collins Maclay, Mito Yashiki: A Tale of Old Japan (1889)
Volume 4: William Elliot Griffis, Honda the Samurai: A Story of Modern Japan(1890)
Volume 5: William Elliot Griffis, In the Mikado's Service: A Story of Two Battle Summers in China (1901)
Volume 6: Winnifred Eaton Babcock, ('Onoto Watanna') A Japanese Nightingale (1901) & Tama (1910)
Volume 7: John Luther Long, Madame Butterfly; Purple Eyes; A Gentleman of Japan and a Lady; Kito; Glory (1898); together with Madam Butterfly: Opera in Three Acts (1904), Italian libretto by L. Illica & G. Giacosa with an English version by R. H. Elkin; Alice Mabel Bacon, In the Land of the Gods: Some Stories of Japan(1905)
