This volume offers invaluable new insights into the controversial lives and history of Prince and Princess Chichibu - two high-profile members of the Japanese imperial family, both before and after the Pacific War. Their lives were lived both above and below ‘the clouds’, with the princess a commoner in an arranged marriage and the popular ‘sporting prince’, dogged by ill health and his association with the Japanese Imperial Army. At the heart of the book is a complete translation of Princess Chichibu’s original autobiography, first published in a shorter, condensed version in 1996 under the title The Silver Drum, together with a short biography of Prince Chichibu supported by important new data on his role in the war years, thanks to recent access to new studies as well as the prince’s own writings. Also included for the first time is a translation of most of Princess Chichibu’s collection of poems which formed part of the original memoir.

New insights into the controversial lives of Prince and Princess Chichibu - two high-profile members of the Japanese imperial family. Their lives were lived both above and below 'the clouds', with the princess a commoner in an arranged marriage and the popular 'sporting prince' dogged by ill health and his association with the Imperial Army.

Japan: Courts and Culture tells the story of three centuries of British royal contact with Japan, from 1603 to c.1937, when the exchange of exquisite works of art was central to both diplomatic relations and cultural communication. With discussions of courtly rituals, trade relationships, treaties, and other matters of concern between the two nations, this book provides important historical and political context in addition to granting a new look at the works of art in question. Featuring new research on previously unpublished works, including porcelain, lacquer, armor, embroidery, metalwork, and works on paper, this book showcases the unparalleled craftsmanship of these objects, and the local materials, techniques, and traditions behind them. Japan: Courts and Culture is published to accompany a spectacular exhibition of the same name, which opens at The Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace, in June 2020. The book's stunning photography, contextual essays, and historical insights offer a highly visual record of a royal narrative and history that has not yet been widely documented.

New insights into the controversial lives of Prince and Princess Chichibu - two high-profile members of the Japanese imperial family. Their lives were lived both above and below 'the clouds', with the princess a commoner in an arranged marriage and the popular 'sporting prince' dogged by ill health and his association with the Imperial Army.

This new study examines the history of the relations between the British and Japanese monarchies over the past 150 years. Complemented by a significant plate section, with many rarely seen historical photographs and illustrations, together with supporting chronologies, this volume will become a benchmark reference on the subject.

This book sheds light on a little-known aspect of the Imperial family of Japan: For three generations, members of the family have devoted themselves to biological research. Emperor Showa (Hirohito) was an expert on hydrozoans and slime molds. His son, Emperor Akihito, is an ichthyologist specializing in gobioid fishes, and his research is highly respected in the field. Prince Akishino, Emperor Akihito’s son, is known for his research on giant catfish and the domestication of fowl, while Prince Hitachi, Emperor Akihito’s brother, has conducted research on cancer in animals. The book shows how they became interested in biology, how seriously they were committed to their research, what their main scientific contributions are, and how their achievements are valued by experts at home and abroad. To commemorate the 60-year reign of Emperor Showa and his longtime devotion to biology, the International Prize for Biology was founded in 1985. The prize seeks to recognize and encourage researches in basic biology. A list of winners and a summary of their research are presented in the last part of the book. The author, an eminent biologist who has given lectures to the Imperial Family, explains their research and tells the fascinating story of biology and the Imperial Family of Japan. The book is a valuable resource, not only for biology students and researchers, but also for historians and anyone interested in science and the Royal and Imperial families.

This second collection under the 'Biographical Portraits' title, incorporates a further 20 studies of key personalities, including Edmund Morel, pioneer railway builder in Meiji Japan, Alexander Shand, an important figure in the development of Japanese banking, Lafcadio Hearn, the great interpreter of Japanese culture, Rev. Dr. John Batchelor whose work with the Ainu people of northern Japan is legendary and, more recently, Shigeru Yoshida, Japan's first post-war prime minister and Christmas Humphreys, founder of the Buddhist Society.