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

The voice was the rich warmed honey tone of the Dragon Queen, but the sound was gentler than Noriko had ever heard it. Rizantona lacked a Wishing Rock; she claimed she had her own ways around that lack, but her voice surrounded Noriko with a nearly soporific vibration. Alone in her dojo, between classes, Noriko had finished her own workout and now settled next to the warmth of the Chinese stove with a pot of tea and a periodical that had just arrived. She bowed as deeply as the Queen's rank demanded but, as usual, was uncertain of the correct direction.


"Good morning, your majesty." Rizantona was suspiciously calm. That worried Noriko. Her majesty was prone to flaming first and talking later.


"I think you may not know that Renko-hime is gone."


"I knew she was not here, your majesty," Noriko admitted. "I did not know that was cause for concern."


Chapter 174