When the day of Lord Saito Gonji's birthday arrives, Gonji celebrates
with dread, knowing that in a week, he will be married. Sent away in his
youth for samurai training, and then to higher education, Gonji is very
connected to his studies. After his intelligence is proven, his
professors even tell Gonji that he would do great things for Japan one
day. However, since he is the youngest son in his family, Gonji is
expected to marry--a social expectation that he cannot get around. Now,
on his birthday, he is expected to marry a childhood friend, Ohano in
one week, which will greatly interfere with his studies. When his family
notice how upset Gonji is over the arranged marriage, they grant him one
week of pure freedom, allowing him to do whatever he chooses. Soon into
the week, Gonji meets a famous dancer. Known by the stage name of
Spider, the dancer was at the height of her career after being trained
by the most celebrated geisha in Japan. When Spider and Gonji become
intimate during the week, their fleeting encounter soon proves to
complicate the plans Gonji's parents made for him.
Featuring complex and memorable characters as well as detailed
descriptions of Japanese customs and landscapes, The Honorable Miss
Moonlight depicts a vivid portrait of 20th century Japan. With themes
of gender, sexuality, identity, and a close perspective of the
honor/shame culture of Japan in the 1900s, The Honorable Miss
Moonlight is as enlightening as it is entertaining.
First published in 1912, The Honorable Miss Moonlight is one of Onoto
Watanna's most famous works, yet is rarely found in print. This special
edition features a stunning cover design and is printed in an
easy-to-read font. With these accommodations, this edition caters to
contemporary readers by restoring the novel to modern standards while
preserving the original intricacy of Onoto Watanna's work.
