The silver drum

This is the story of a Japanese princess. It is the first autobiography by a member of the Japanese Imperial Family to be published in English. Her name was Setsuko, Princess Chichibu, who was born in Walton-on-Thames, England, in 1909, was educated at the Peeresses' School for Girls, Tokyo, and the Friends School, Washington, and was then invited to marry Prince Chichibu, younger brother of Emperor Hirohito and therefore next in line to the throne. She accepted, and although from a distinguished noble family in western Japan - the Matsudairas - she was technically a commoner because her…