Collection of letters from Sadako Sumitomo of Tokyo to Mrs. Clyde R. Joslyn of Minneapolis
Tokyo: 1951-1957. 19 typewritten and manuscript letters on onionskin, 60 pages total, of letters written by Sadako Sumitomo, the wife of Tsutomu Sumitomo, to Mrs. Clyde R. Joslyn, the mother of Captain C. A. Joslyn. Tsutomu Sumitomo was a firstborn son of the Sumitomo mega-conglomerate, and served in the management of its banking branch. His position at the upper echelons of Japanese society put him in a place of some privilege as the country recovered from the Second World War, but Sadako's letters speak often of difficulty in acquiring goods and the comparative poorness of the Japanese population vs. Americans. Sadako herself is highly educated and deliberately Westernizing, her English is fluent, she comments on her favorite classical artists and her disappointment at not seeing the violinist Yudi Menuhin live during his visit to the country, and she describes the family meals as being as American as possible as she considers them denser in nutrition than Japanese food. She mentions often her frustration with Japanese society's attitude towards women, and says that Mrs. Joslyn is one of the few people besides her husband with which she can be frank about such matters. It appears her idea of America is quite idealized. After having read Of Mice and Men, for example, she writes about how the book makes her feel that Americans who work hard can achieve success but for Japanese such a thing isn't possible. It appears that Sadako's letter-writing was initiated by the Sumitomo family's friendship with the Joslyns' son, an American soldier stationed in Japan and then Korea during the course of correspondence. Most letters refer fondly to "Bill" Joslyn, who visits often, is popular with the children, and speaks very good Japanese. His comings and goings are dutifully relayed to his parents, and later letters seem to indicate that Bill finds a civilian position in Japan after having served in Korea after the armistice. Two letters are between the Joslyns and Tsutomu. The Joslyns invite Tsutomu to their home in Minneapolis, and Tsutomu regretfully declines, as his itinerary gives him no room for a detour. We don't know if Sadako and Mrs. Jostlyn ever meet, though Sadako speaks often of her desire to. Little is said of the tumultuous events surrounding Japan in the post-war era. There is mention of the May Day riots of 1952, and of an anticipated armistice in Korea, but the majority of the content is domestic. After giving sympathy to Joslyn for an injury her husband has sustained, Sadako says "It makes me smile to know that wives think alike in spite of their nationality." After its defeat in WW-II Japan rapidly attempted to repair relationships with much of the West, and Japanese companies were quick to expand into what had previously been enemy territory. The relationship between the Sumitomos and the Joslyns and the international business of Tsutomu through Europe and the US reflect that. Item #57489
Price: $750.00
