Book Break

The Last Concubine: Secrets of the Women's Palace

By Lesley Downer

Friday, June 13, 2008. 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM

(The speech and Q & A will be in English)

In 1861 Princess Kazu, half-sister of the emperor, set out from Kyoto to marry
the shogun. They were both fifteen. She travelled in a magnificent procession
of 10,000 ladies-in-waiting, guards and attendants - so many that it took four
days to wind its way through any one village. Three weeks later she arrived in
Edo (now Tokyo), passed through the great gates of Edo Castle and disappeared
into the Women's Palace.　Home to 3,000 women and only one man - the shogun -
the Women's Palace, the ooku, was akin to a middle eastern harem. There the women spent their days beautifying themselves, practising the halberd (to defend the shogun if required; there were no male guards), performing plays, playing the shell matching game and the incense game and engaging in personal and political intrigue. They lived surrounded by luxury and treasures; it was a
golden cage.
When Edo Castle was handed over to the emperor in 1868, the women were dispersed. Sworn to silence, most never spoke of how their lives had been. To research this novel, author Lesley Downer collected all the information she could about this secret and fascinating world. She'll talk about the customs and stories of the women's palace, the shoguns and their decadent lives and (usually) suspicious deaths; and a little about how and why it all came to an end. To illustrate the talk there are woodblock prints and photographs of the
gorgeous kimonos and other treasures of the women’s palace, and pictures of the shoguns and much else.

Downer first came to Japan nearly thirty years ago and her life has revolved
around Japan ever since. She is the author of many books, including Geisha: The Secret History of a Vanishing World and Madame Sadayakko: The Geisha who Seduced the West. Her latest, her first novel, The Last Concubine, revolves around the Women’s Palace in Edo Castle.

A dinner will be served at a cost of 1,750 yen (including tax). Sign up now at
the reception desk (3211-3161) or online at http://www.fccj.or.jp. To help us
plan proper seating and food preparation, please reserve in advance, preferably
by noon of the day of the event. Those without reservations will be turned away
once available seats are filled.

Reservations cancelled less than 24 hours in advance will be charged in full.

Library Committee,
THE FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS' CLUB OF JAPAN