A rare and deeply personal glimpse into the life of a Japanese woman in the early Shōwa era (circa 1930s).
This handwritten-style printed diary, titled 『すゝ子 (Susuko)』, was written by Matsuoka Ryōko (松岡陵子) of Takamatsu City.
Through a series of introspective entries such as “公園 (The Park),” “婦人会 (Women’s Gathering),” and “湯茶 (Tea),” the author captures the quiet rhythm of daily life — moments of solitude, reflection, and domestic emotion in a Japan poised between tradition and modernity.
Her prose is both delicate and observational, suggesting a diary kept over several months and later privately published, possibly in a limited literary circle edition (同人誌). The text’s intimate voice, handwritten impression, and subdued aesthetic make this work a rare document of female authorship and emotional interiority during pre-war Japan.
Bound in a soft green washi cover with traditional stitched binding (和綴じ), the volume carries the warmth of a personal manuscript rather than a mass-printed book — an authentic artifact of early modern Japanese womanhood.
『すゝ子』is a valuable early example of female self-expression in pre-war Japan, preceding the postwar feminist literary movement. It embodies the quiet power of personal narrative and remains a touching window into the lived experience of women in early 20th-century Japan.
Ideal for collectors of Japanese diaries, women’s literature, or Showa-era manuscripts.
