My Life Between Japan and America

by Edwin O. Reischauer

The author, son of American missionaries, describes his childhood in Japan, his work as a Harvard professor, his term as U.S. ambassador to Japan, and his efforts to promote U.S.-Japanese understanding

Genres: Japan, Biography, Nonfiction

367 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Edwin Oldfather Reischauer was an American diplomat, educator, and professor at Harvard University. Born in Tokyo to American educational missionaries, he became a leading scholar of the history and culture of Japan and East Asia. Together with George M. McCune, a scholar of Korea, in 1939 he developed the McCune–Reischauer romanization of the Korean language.

Reischauer became involved in helping create US policy toward East Asia during and after World War II. President John F. Kennedy appointed Reischauer as the United States Ambassador to Japan, where he served from 1961 to 1966. Reischauer founded the Japan Institute at Harvard University in 1973 and was its founding director. It was later named in honor of him.

Reviews

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing book. Someone gave this to me and the name caught my eye because Reischauer was an alumnus of my alma mater. He served as the United States Ambassador to Japan during a rocky time in Japanese-American relations and had the singular, unique perspective of having been raised in the country of his assignment. Fascinating reading both as an historical account of the postwar era and as a story of a remarkable life lived well.