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

"Don't help," Yuta cautioned Noriko after dinner. "Hanako-san has often refused an assistant. She likes doing everything herself and we need her to know how much we value her. Anyway, you told me you can't cook."


Noriko favored her husband with a spuriously demure glance. Normally, a wife was the senior lady and responsible for the household. That included, as her job at the Inn of the Golden Phoenix had, supervising the cooking and kitchen staff. This household was not truly large enough to support a cook who was only a cook. She had thought she could at least help with the clean up! While she could see the sense of not making Hanako-san lose face and of recognizing her accomplishments, what, then, would Noriko's responsibilities be?


"What about menu-planning and shopping?"


Chapter 129