The modern Madame Butterfly

by Karen Ma

Romantic involvement between Japanese and Westerners dates back to the sixteenth century. The romances of the early-day couples sparked the imagination of the West, inspiring works of literature and art, among which the best known and most enduring has been Puccini's Madame Butterfly. The image of the heroine in the famous opera as a passive, self-sacrificing, tragic figure has endured and still influences contemporary thinking despite the passage of time and changing reality. In fact, cross-cultural romances involving Japanese and Westerners have undergone great changes, particularly in the recent decade. By focusing on topics like generational differences, dating habits and sexual mores, women in the workplace, family life, and culture shock, The Modern Madame Butterfly provides a rare and realistic look at the Japanese woman of today. Almost a century after Puccini wrote his famous opera, myths and misconceptions about Japanese women still abound.