The Journey of a Bengali Woman to Japan & Other Essays By Hariprabha Takeda | Translated by Somdatta Mandal

In the early 20th century, long before global travel became commonplace, Hariprabha Takeda embarked on a remarkable journey that would bridge two distinct cultures—Bengali and Japanese. The Journey of a Bengali Woman to Japan & Other Essays is a unique and historically significant memoir that brings to life her experiences as one of the first Bengali women to travel to Japan and integrate into its society.

Born as Hariprabha Mallick in Bengal, she defied the norms of her time by marrying a Japanese man, Oemon Takeda, and crossing the treacherous kalapani (black waters), a journey that was culturally and socially taboo. Arriving in Japan in the early 1900s, she found herself in a world that was both foreign and fascinating. The language barrier, the customs of her Japanese in-laws, and the evolving socio-political landscape of Japan shaped her unique perspective, which she documented in her writings.

This book features three essays by Hariprabha Takeda:

• The Journey of a Bengali Woman to Japan – A firsthand account of her initial journey, her impressions of Japanese life, and the cultural exchanges between her homeland and Japan.
• In War-Torn Japan – A gripping narrative of her experiences during the Second World War when she served as the Bengali voice of Radio Tokyo, working under the leadership of Indian revolutionary Rashbehari Bose.
• Child Rearing and Women’s Education in Japan – A comparative study of Japanese and Indian society, focusing on family structures, women’s education, and child-rearing practices in the two cultures.

Beyond her personal narratives, the book includes archival materials, essays, and commentaries by scholars, offering an enriched understanding of Hariprabha’s contributions to Indo-Japanese relations. Appendices explore how Japan was perceived by contemporary Bengali intellectuals, reflections from Hariprabha’s descendants, and discussions on her historical legacy.

Translated from the original Bengali by Somdatta Mandal, this volume captures the voice of a woman who was ahead of her time—a pioneer, a cultural ambassador, and a witness to history. It is an essential read for those interested in women’s history, travel literature, colonial encounters, and early cross-cultural interactions between India and Japan.

A rare memoir that unveils Japan through the eyes of a young Bengali woman—a tale of love, resilience, and cultural confluence.