Diane’s answer to “I'm unclear on the author's background with Japan, how she did her research, and what her qualifica…” > Likes and Comments

I can't imagine how difficult it would have been to translate this book. But I can certainly imagine the Japanese reaction to it if it ever does get translated into Japanese. I feel sorry for the author because she would lose credibility among Japanese readers despite being able to tell a fairly good story. I had to stop reading after the grandmother (with imperial blood) sold her granddaughter to a low-ranking brothel (!!) and when Noriko and the friendly prostitute shook hands with each other the first time they met. I wondered whether or not the author had ever even been to Japan or had done any background reading at all.

The original question posed in this thread was completely legitimate, but some of the responses were so quick to judge the question as an attack on the author's ethnicity and not the author's lack of research.

Diane—with all due respect I feel like your comments are missing some major points in the novel. It seems like maybe you didn’t read it very carefully. The book clearly states that the main character was born BEFORE the war, not during it. Also, it’s a fictional novel, if the author wants to make the family Christian, why is that such a big deal? The former empress came from a Roman Catholic family, she was in fact the first member of the royal family to do so.

While the book was not perfect, as a hafu person, I don’t see the need for all the handwringing (mostly by Caucasians, who seem to always be the only voice in the room when it comes to anything Asian) and frankly I’m weary of white people speaking for me. And if I’m being honest, I *DO* smell racial undertones in some of the comments (but not yours).

The reason the OP was attacked is because she’s doing what a lot of white people do, which is setting themselves up as the loudest voice in the room. The months and months of obsession with bashing the book also comes across as frankly creepy and fetish-like. Other people have stated specific points they take issue with instead of being inflammatory, and not been attacked. I don’t care how much a white person loves Japan, or researches Japan, it’s just not their business to say what is and isn’t offensive.

Honestly, people are free to like or dislike a book as they please, but I’ll just say there is no one way to depict the experience of being mixed race, or of every family in Japan or what they would and wouldn’t do. Not hearing about physical abuse doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen and I can speak to that personally. Anyway, this book is specifically labeled fiction. I am not sure why people are reading something with a premise that’s already historically unlikely to then complain about things happening that are unlikely.

Personally, I was happy to see someone address the colorism in Japan, and I took a lot away from the book.

I wanted a history book I would have read one, but that’s just my take.

Wow, are you a professional critic or something. Can’t you just read a book for entertainment? I loved the book, but did not research every paragraph for authenticity. Actually, you might not know, but this is a work of fiction. The author can write whatever she wants. You could certainly slam her for every little inaccuracy you feel she wrote if this was a nonfiction work. Perhaps you should stick to nonfiction if you are such a picky reader.

Asha, you go girl. Much success to you in your future endeavors.