To my Father and Mother
Itsuji and Shizuko Kumoi
This book is about a family whose traditional home is by the Seto Inland Sea in Southern Japan.
There is a saying that the best fish in Japan comes from here because, as is quoted in the book, the rapid flow of water in many places in the sea makes the fish especially firm and good.
These qualities seem to mirror the strength and resilience shown by the three generations of women of the Shirai family.
HARUKOâS FAMILY TREE
THE SANJOS (Harukoâs in-laws)
CONTENTS
11 The Chief Engineer Sanâs Friend
18 The Chinese and the Russians
Shobei Miwa was a rich landowner. His land spread far beyond the village of Takao. He could walk from his house for about forty minutes to the nearest railway station without stepping on anyone elseâs land. In fact, it was Shobei who had sold the land for the railway and station to the government.
Shobei Miwa had two sons, Shintaro and Rinji. His elder son, Shintaro, was sent to Tokyo at the age of fourteen before the railway had been built. He was accompanied by a servant and walked on the trunk road to Tokyo, taking nearly a month. The servant carried his money, including his school fees, in a bundle firmly tied around his waist which he did not take off even when he slept at night. The rooms of the inns had sliding doors and no locks. There were many thieves. The young master and