Step into the private chambers of the Japanese imperial palace alongside Murasaki Shikibu, the renowned author of “The Tale of Genji,” in her captivating diary. This modern translation of Murasaki Shikibu's Diary preserves the timeless allure of her storytelling while making her intimate reflections accessible to contemporary readers. As you journey through the pages of this literary treasure, prepare to be transported to a world of elegance, intrigue, and profound emotional depth. Experience firsthand the enduring legacy of a literary genius whose words continue to captivate hearts and minds centuries later. This newly translated edition offers readers a rare glimpse into the daily life and innermost thoughts of one of history's most enigmatic figures. In this modern translation of Murasaki Shikibu's Diary, Erick DuPree, reminds us why Murasaki Shikibu’s voice echoes across the ages, inviting us to embark on a journey of discovery and enlightenment. As we immerse ourselves in the luminous prose of this literary luminary, we are reminded of the enduring power of words to illuminate the darkest recesses of the human heart.

This work presents the lives and times of eight prominent Japanese women who epitomize the tragedies and triumphs of eight characteristically female roles. In examining the lives of the mythological Empress Jingu, Jito Tenno (645-702), Murasaki Shikibu (970s-1000s), Tomoe Gozen (12th century), Hojo Masako (1157-1225), Hani Motoko (1873-1957), Takamine Hideko (b.1924) and Ariyoshi Sawako (1931-1984), the contributors provide a mosaic of Japanese history and culture that encompasses issues of women's status in various stages of Japanese history, the social climate conducive to positive female roles, the concept of Japanese womanhood in relation to the male hero types of each age and the popular need for strong female figures.

Throughout history, Japanese women have excelled in poetry-- from the folk songs of the Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters) compiled in 712 and the court poetry of the 9th to the 14th centuries, on through the age of haikai and kanshi to the 19th century, into the contemporary period when books of women's poems have created a sensation. This anthology presents examples of the work of more than 100 Japanese women poets, arranged chronologically, and of all the major verse forms: choka, tanka, haikai (haiku), kanshi (verse written in Chinese), and free verse. The poems describe not just seasonal changes and the vagaries of love--which form the thematic core of traditional Japanese poetry--but also the devastations of war, childbirth, conflicts between child-rearing and work, experiences as refugees, experiences as non-Japanese residents in Japan, and more. Sections of poetry open with headnotes, and the editor has provided explanations of terms and references for those unfamiliar with the Japanese language. Other useful tools include a glossary of poetic terms, a chronology, and a bibliography that points the reader toward other works by and about these poets. There is no comparable collection available in English. Students and anyone who appreciates poetry and Japanese culture will treasure this magnificent anthology. Editor and translator Hiroaki Sato is a past winner of the PEN America translator prize and the Japan-United States Friendship Commission's 1999 literary translation award.