Things Japanese: Being Notes on Various Subjects connected with Japan for the Use of Travellers and Others

1898

Truby King Collection DS 821 CE24 1898

London: John Murray

Illness dogged Truby King: as a youngster he contracted tuberculosis, which caused the loss of sight in his left eye. He was also often exhausted from too much activity. In 1904, he was granted six months sick leave on full pay. In a trip that was supposed to be recreational, he and his wife Bella travelled to Japan, where they busied themselves visiting hospitals, plant nurseries, and even Japanese photographers. Basil Hall Chamberlain’s Things Japanese was a book that the Kings consulted prior to their visit. Indeed, they were fortunate to breakfast with Chamberlain in Tokyo, where he was Professor of Japanese at the Imperial University. Perhaps they had chi chi (milk), sweet potato and kasutera (sponge cake)?