Kazuko+Yoshi+17+January+1937

17 January 1937 Kazuko Yoshi

Tomorrow is my birthday. It's been a couple of months since I've arrived in Korea. I can't imagine how uncivilized it was when I first set foot on this land. Korea had many beautiful scenes of nature but it seemed less developed. Many viewed us as totally inferior Westerners, but of course they were wrong. We had the technology and military, and even the culture that surpassed them.

Now I am in a country that is between two countries in an ongoing war, China and Japan. Yes, China is definitely humongous in terms of size and population. But what else? The Chinese are too scattered, and their welfare technology isn't superior either. In my opinion, the Japanese would conquer them in a matter of time.

My father, the imperial admiral, ensured us that they will bring back glory to our nation and family.

I spent all my 20 years in Japan, and now I am in a nearby country that may be actually quite similar. I wonder what Korea would've been like if they actually tried to accept Western culture or even some of our influence in the first place - then Korea wouldn't have been colonized and have to go through all this....

Next week I am getting married. Although he is a younger man, I've fell in love at first sight. There is no doubt that both families would agree upon our marriage, but I am 100% sure that we will work this through. My father is at war so he wouldn't have any time to mind an issue like this, and plus he is more concerned with my two older brothers finding their mates.

I just hope that Man Sook's family gives me a chance to serve as their myu-ne-ree, they say, or daughter in law. Perhaps they shall think twice when they have figured out that I am pregnant with Man Sook's first child already.

I wonder how I will support Man Sook. I'm not even fluent in Korean, but I guess I will have to learn quickly. We are both in Dang-jin right now, which is far far away from Seoul. Sometime soon, my leftover family will return to Nagoya in Japan, and I plan to stay in Korea. Avoiding the unwelcoming eyes is the most difficult part, however I hope to soon adjust to Korea's culture.