“That you are!” Tadamasa replied, laughing.

“Wait, a ’stupid white woman’ or ‘very serious?’”

Tadamasa chortled, waving a hand before his face. “Both!”

She laughed with him as he opened the door for her. Slipping the Madam back into her back quickly, she patted Tadamasa on the shoulder. “Hang in there, kyodai.”

“‘Kyodai,’ she says!” Tadamasa replied as he pulled the door closed behind here.

I’m inside.

With the Madam at her side, this venture into the Minowara compound had a very different feel.

We are inside.

She strolled casually over the Muromachi-era paintings, past the living room and kitchen, down the plum-carpeted corridor to the...

Please subscribe to keep reading.