# Yei Ozaki

## Biography

Yei Theodora Ozaki (1870–1932) was a prominent early 20th-century translator instrumental in bringing Japanese short stories and fairy tales to Western readers. Born in London, she was the daughter of a Japanese baron and an English woman, giving her a unique bicultural background. After spending her early years in England, she moved to Japan in her teens. Ozaki became independent, refusing an arranged marriage and working as a teacher and secretary. Her passion was to bridge cultural understanding by sharing Japan's rich narrative traditions. Encouraged by friends, she began translating and adapting classic Japanese tales. Her most famous work, "The Japanese Fairy Book" (1903), along with other collections like "Warriors of Old Japan," became widely popular. These translations, though sometimes liberal, were beloved and reprinted numerous times, establishing her enduring legacy as a significant cultural ambassador. She later married Japanese politician Yukio Ozaki.

## Books

- [Japanese Fairy Tales](https://samolit.com/books/96252)