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Return To Japan
- GenresNonfictionMemoirJapan
285 pages, Hardback
First published January 1, 1960
13 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Gray Vining
56 books15 followersElizabeth Gray Vining began her distinguished writing career with children's books because she said "they enjoy their books so much, read and re-read them—which is satisfying to a hard-working author." Later she began to write for adults as well, and they, too, read and re-read her books. among the most popular of these books are Windows for the Crown Prince, The Virginia Exiles, Friend of Life, Take Heed of Loving Me, and Flora.
—From the back of "Return To Japan"
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Elizabeth Janet Gray, also known as Elizabeth Gray Vining, was a prominent Quaker, known for having gone to Japan after World War II to tutor Emperor Akihito of Japan in English while he was the Crown Prince. She was a graduate of Bryn Mawr College, and a noted author of children's and adult literature. She won the Newbery Award for Adam of the Road, published in 1942.
—From the back of "Return To Japan"
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Elizabeth Janet Gray, also known as Elizabeth Gray Vining, was a prominent Quaker, known for having gone to Japan after World War II to tutor Emperor Akihito of Japan in English while he was the Crown Prince. She was a graduate of Bryn Mawr College, and a noted author of children's and adult literature. She won the Newbery Award for Adam of the Road, published in 1942.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 12, 2021
Who would have thought a diary-style travelogue of a visit to Japan written 50 years ago could be so interesting, but it was. Perhaps because it was written by the once-upon-a-time Crown Prince Akihito's American Quaker tutor (Elizabeth Gray Vining), who was his tutor from 1946 to 1950 during the American post-war Occupation and who, because of that status, had access to not only many VIPs but also some extraordinary experiences--for example, being one of four foreigners at his wedding to commoner Michiko Shoda on April 10, 1959. (He became Emperor in 1989 following the death of his father, the Emperor Hirohito, and in 2019 abdicated in favour of his eldest son, Naruhito.) But it was not for a history of the Japanese imperial family that this book was so captivating.
It was for the author's insights into traditional Japanese life--for example, that in Japan, members of the royal family were never referred to by their names (Akihito or Hirohito, for example), but only by their titles. Or her descriptions of some of post-war Japan's most famous temples, lakes and sites; the protocol demands that surrounded the imperial family; the just-restored Noh and Kabuki theatre performances; and the rationing and hardships of the country that continued for many years.
I personally found her chapter on :"Genji the Shining One" one of the best descriptions of the nature and importance of this classic eleventh-century novel (once considered the oldest in the world), one of the best I have ever read. As she writes, "The extraordinary thing about Genji is its reality and the psychological truth of its characterizations, the humanity of these imaginary people of an age and civilization so far removed from our own, the humor, the freshness, and the enduring interest of the book" (p. 105). Her summary of the plot and characters, and subsequent visit to some of the sites featured in the novel reinforced the importance of this classic novel to me. It was (and in many cases) remains one of the most popular inspirations for decorative art motifs in Japan.
It was for the author's insights into traditional Japanese life--for example, that in Japan, members of the royal family were never referred to by their names (Akihito or Hirohito, for example), but only by their titles. Or her descriptions of some of post-war Japan's most famous temples, lakes and sites; the protocol demands that surrounded the imperial family; the just-restored Noh and Kabuki theatre performances; and the rationing and hardships of the country that continued for many years.
I personally found her chapter on :"Genji the Shining One" one of the best descriptions of the nature and importance of this classic eleventh-century novel (once considered the oldest in the world), one of the best I have ever read. As she writes, "The extraordinary thing about Genji is its reality and the psychological truth of its characterizations, the humanity of these imaginary people of an age and civilization so far removed from our own, the humor, the freshness, and the enduring interest of the book" (p. 105). Her summary of the plot and characters, and subsequent visit to some of the sites featured in the novel reinforced the importance of this classic novel to me. It was (and in many cases) remains one of the most popular inspirations for decorative art motifs in Japan.
July 25, 2025
Elizabeth Gray Vining was the American tutor to the Prince of Japan from 1946-1950. She was there during the occupation. All of that was covered in another book titled Windows for a Crown Prince.
This volume talks about her return visits to Japan in 1957 and in 1959. The first trip was for a P.E.N. congress meeting, and the second was for the Crown Prince’s wedding.
While I very much enjoyed reading about the Crown Prince and his chosen Princess, that doesn’t come until the last 80 pages or so. The first 200 pages are filled with Mrs. Vining reacquainting herself with different people from the past.
The writing has some glaring issues. It goes from present to past with no warning. She’ll be talking about her trip, and then say, “One day, a Tuesday, we went …”, and the reader has to use context clues to figure out when any of this took place.
She also goes off on tangents of history, often naming every committee, position, and job each individual held, and possibly a story related to it. It becomes a circuitous route that leaves the reader, this reader at least, bleary eyed.
I was, however, interested in what had ever become of the Crown Prince and his bride. Turns out that as I’m writing this review, they are still alive and ‘retired’. Technically, abdicated. The Princess/Empress is said to have had a hard time of it because the Prince’s mother, the Empress, did not approve of her because she is the first commoner to marry into the royal family. To me, the Princess sounds like a sweet, talented, and beautiful woman. I wish her much happiness!
This volume talks about her return visits to Japan in 1957 and in 1959. The first trip was for a P.E.N. congress meeting, and the second was for the Crown Prince’s wedding.
While I very much enjoyed reading about the Crown Prince and his chosen Princess, that doesn’t come until the last 80 pages or so. The first 200 pages are filled with Mrs. Vining reacquainting herself with different people from the past.
The writing has some glaring issues. It goes from present to past with no warning. She’ll be talking about her trip, and then say, “One day, a Tuesday, we went …”, and the reader has to use context clues to figure out when any of this took place.
She also goes off on tangents of history, often naming every committee, position, and job each individual held, and possibly a story related to it. It becomes a circuitous route that leaves the reader, this reader at least, bleary eyed.
I was, however, interested in what had ever become of the Crown Prince and his bride. Turns out that as I’m writing this review, they are still alive and ‘retired’. Technically, abdicated. The Princess/Empress is said to have had a hard time of it because the Prince’s mother, the Empress, did not approve of her because she is the first commoner to marry into the royal family. To me, the Princess sounds like a sweet, talented, and beautiful woman. I wish her much happiness!
November 8, 2019
The main reasons I enjoyed this book was because of how much I have in common with the author, having also spent many years teaching English in Japan (though not to royalty). My experience was in the 2000's, so it was interesting to read about her experience in the 1940's and 50's and hear what has changed and what is still the same. At one point she briefly mentions a trip to Kurashiki and describes the unique black and white tile architecture of the warehouses, which made my heart ache with nostalgia because that's where I used the live and that's how the historical district still looks.
To be honest, though, it took me forever to finish this book because it did not keep my attention. I was determined to, since it was recommended, and literally placed in my hands, by an elderly Quaker gentleman who sadly passed away not long after. He had a wealth of knowledge about the history of Quakers, having written a book on the topic himself (History of San Jose Quakers, West Coast Friends by Tom King), and as soon as he heard that I used to be an English teach in Japan he immediately asked if I had heard of Elizabeth Gray Vining. What an amazing connection to make, and it was for him that I continued reading.
The author writes in great detail, but it seems disjointed and without any real story. Mostly it's like reading someone's journal, expect not even in chronological order because it is her looking back and remember her time in Japan.
To be honest, though, it took me forever to finish this book because it did not keep my attention. I was determined to, since it was recommended, and literally placed in my hands, by an elderly Quaker gentleman who sadly passed away not long after. He had a wealth of knowledge about the history of Quakers, having written a book on the topic himself (History of San Jose Quakers, West Coast Friends by Tom King), and as soon as he heard that I used to be an English teach in Japan he immediately asked if I had heard of Elizabeth Gray Vining. What an amazing connection to make, and it was for him that I continued reading.
The author writes in great detail, but it seems disjointed and without any real story. Mostly it's like reading someone's journal, expect not even in chronological order because it is her looking back and remember her time in Japan.
September 25, 2020
A delightful slice of life in japan shortly after WWII. It is surprising to find that Vining’s opinions and descriptions of life in japan mirror so much of my own after living there for a number of years myself, though separated by sixty years.
November 18, 2015
What a great look at the personal life of the current Emperor of Japan. It is not indepth about him but it is the experiences of his American tutor who was a woman from my area. The insights she gives to the culture make this a great read. The bonus was she was actually allowed to go to the Shinto wedding of the then Prince which no foreigner had been allowed to do before. I am looking forward to find her other two books on her time in Japan.
September 12, 2013
Vining continues her relationship with the Emperor's family and returns to Japan to attend Prince Akihito's wedding.
April 10, 2018
It was very interesting with a good depth of the Japanise culture
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews