The Japan Society

Upcoming Events

ARCHIVED ONLINE EVENT - Japan Society Book Club: The Diary of Lady Murasaki

Monday 11 September 2023 / 7:00pm
ONLINE EVENT - Japan Society Book Club: The Diary of Lady Murasaki

Date
Monday 11 September 2023
Time
7.00pm (BST)
For countries outside the UK, please use this calculator to check the time in your region.

Booking Details
Online event
Free for Japan Society Members

Book available from Bookshop.orgAmazon and Blackwell's 
Japanese version available here

Book online here

The activities of the Japan Society are made possible thanks to the support of its members. This event is free of charge and open to all. We realise that this is a difficult time for many people. However, if you are planning to attend and do not have a membership subscription as an individual or through your employer, please consider making a donation. You can find details of membership and how to join the Japan Society community here.


The Diary recorded by Lady Murasaki (c. 973-c. 1020), author of The Tale of Genji, is an intimate picture of her life as tutor and companion to the young Empress Shoshi. Told in a series of vignettes, it offers revealing glimpses of the Japanese imperial palace - the auspicious birth of a prince, rivalries between the Emperor's consorts, with sharp criticism of Murasaki's fellow ladies-in-waiting and drunken courtiers, and telling remarks about the timid Empress and her powerful father, Michinaga. The Diary is also a work of great subtlety and intense personal reflection, as Murasaki makes penetrating insights into human psychology - her pragmatic observations always balanced by an exquisite and pensive melancholy.

If you have any questions, please call the Japan Society office on 020 3075 1996 or email events@japansociety.org.uk.


Booking Info

  • You should receive an automated email from the Japan Society to let you know that your booking request has been registered. Please note that your booking is pending while we check your details and you will receive a further email once your booking is confirmed.

  • For online events, we will send you the zoom links and details to attend the event closer to the date.

  • If you don't receive any confirmation emails or links, please check your spam folder or email events@japansociety.org.uk.