Claire Youmans first went to Japan in 1992 and was immediately captivated.  After years of travel and study, she continues to be charmed and amazed by a fascinating history and a culture that's both endearingly quirky and entirely unique. She is a retired lawyer who now lives in Tokyo. Her family, including her daughter and two grandsons, live in Seattle, USA.

In 2014, she started Tales of the Meiji Era with The Toki-Girl and the Sparrow-Boy's unparalleled blend of historical fantasy in the first book of the series, Coming Home.  She continues exploring the combination of history and folklore to share her love and fascination with a very different country and culture. 

Exciting adventures continue to unfold in this delightful fantastical yet historical world as social and political changes expand, technology explodes, and two very unusual children grow up.  



The Toki-Girl and the Sparrow-Boy

"We must go," Azuki cried, rushing out of the cave's big storage chamber into the smaller living quarters.


"Now," she cried, dodging into the porch and out the tiny passage that formed a door, tripping onto the ground at Yuta-sensei's feet. Suddenly conscious that there might be watchers, she rolled into the proper kneeling position and bowed deeply, her forehead nearly touching the ground. "Sensei, I have information for you," she said.


"We have to go!" Shota landed on her back and began to pick at her scarf.


"Stop it!" Azuki brushed at him and came to a seiza posture, sitting on her feet with her knees bent.


"We do have to go," Yuta told her. "Eitaro's troops are setting up an ambush in the meadow."


"We have to go to Anko-san," Azuki urged. "The rock the westerners want is seikitan." She held up her dirty sleeve. "It's everywhere around here. I saw it on the surface almost all the way to the sea!"


Chapter 27