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

"Yuta?" Noriko's voice called Yuta back to the present. "I must go downstairs and dress."


"What I always do," she said with a smile. "Check the guests out, set the menu for dinner and also tomorrow's breakfast, balance the books and"  she looked at him solemnly  "I will go to the dojo. Will you come with me? I want to present you to my master."


"I'm meeting Kawabata-san for a midday meal. Will there be enough time?"


Noriko handled chores around the inn until the head housekeeper came in to organize the day's cleaning. Then it was her custom to attend to her own affairs and also attend a dojo to continue her training in martial arts. Yuta grimaced internally. He needed to do that; his own skills were rusty from lack of use, as he'd found out when he fought the mill guards at her side.


Chapter 116