Falling Blossom [Hardcover]

This is a fascinating true story, based on a vast collection of love letters sent by a British army officer to his Japanese lover over many, many years of separation. It is deeply moving without ever being over-sentimental, and the devotion of the 2 central characters to each other is inspirational. The authors have clearly researched the book meticulously and include many fascinating details about life in both Europe and Asia in the early 20th century- this never reads like a dry historical text. Highly recommended.

This true story is constructed from the letters of a British army officer sent to a Japanese woman. Captain Arthur Hart-Synnot belonged to the English aristocracy, he came from a military family with an estate in Ireland. Already decorated for his bravery fighting in India and South Africa, when in 1903 he was selected to train as a translator and interface to the Japanese army, the British and Japanese governments having signed an alliance the previous year. Thus his journey to Japan and his meeting with Masa Suzuki. She, by contrast, came from a large working class family, her father ran a barber-shop in central Tokyo, and at the age of 22 was already divorced, losing her only child to her ex-husband, and left with few prospects for the future. However, whatever natural beauty or personality she had was enough to attract the Captain, and love blossomed.
All may have gone smoothly, but the army had a habit of intervening - first Arthur is posted to China to follow the Russo-Japanese war, then to Hong Kong, then Burma, then India and finally returning to Europe during World War I. So time with Masa was restricted to his leave or Masa's trips to Hong Kong, giving rise to the birth of their two sons, but it was the exchange of letters which became central to the survival of their relationship, if, sadly, not enough to create a family.

Credit must go to all the research and contributions towards filling in the history - and there was a considerable amount of it between 1880 and the 1960's. The social conventions of Britain and Japan 100 years ago and their impact are harder to explain and grasp. But through it all comes this amazing story of two people....

I have my gripes - information has comes from many sources and sometimes the joins are plain to see, in one section towards the end the history goes on rather too long, one sentence struck me as being translated by a computer, and I found too many obscure words - so unnecessary and pompous when dragging letters written in limited Japanese from another age! The letters don't explain all, and therein lies part of the charm and mystery. Some of the interpretation put on events, and the true feelings behind them (which cannot be known), I find also questionable.

Despite these crimes, there is a spirit in the story which cannot be extinguished, like a light which cannot be touched, be it love or trust, or....

So my stars are for the story, and while I am grateful to all those who have made it visible, I cannot applaud all they have done.

{I DO NOT WISH TO SPOIL ANYONE'S ENJOYMENT OF THE STORY, SO I'D ADVISE YOU TO READ THE BOOK BEFORE READING FUTHER MY COMMENTS. When Arthur is wounded in France he recuperates first at a hospital nearby and then in England. During this time he seems determined to get walking again as that seems the only remaining obstacle to him making the journey to Japan and a reunion with Masa. When he is moved to a third hospital in the south of France things quickly change - finally he can escape the horrors of war, relax and socialise with the middle-class volunteer nurses, and, within two months of meeting, he had become engaged to one of them. He "asked Masa to understand his loneliness," and in his marriage to the nurse it is explained that Arthur had won a "companion and helpmate." Perhaps Arthur did need help, but that is such a huge change for this once proud and independent man, a leader and explorer by nature and training. If his body was shattered is it not likely his mind was also? How could he be confident Masa would still receive him as before? How could he know she could cope with the changes in him? Or perhaps he realised those perfect memories he had of their carefree times together travelling around Japan, would never be repeated. Perhaps you can find another interpretation ....}

From the first chapter, I was hooked. Every chapter from then on, drew me deeper. It was on my mind night and day. Masterfully researched, written with great skill, thoughts of this book will remain with me for life. And it made me cry. Thoroughly recommended.