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

Azuki placed the last carefully wrapped obi into the small crate that would carry her wares to the Hirata's workshop via Shota's small cargo vessel. Her work was as perfect as she could make it, and she couldn't help but be proud. She suspected she might be too deeply involved with it, but it was wonderful, exciting, like it wasn't her at all but came from some special source acting through her, surprising her with the beauty and intricacy of the products, which seemed far beyond one insignificant girl, or toki, or both.


Chapter 61