The Commoner by John Burnham Schwartz

In postwar Japan, Haruko, the daughter of a sake brewer, marries the Crown Prince, becoming the first commoner ever to enter the Imperial Family. Her fairy-tale ascent soon becomes a haunting story of isolation and duty as she struggles beneath the weight of centuries-old traditions and the unyielding expectations of the throne. Years later, her daughter faces the same painful path, and Haruko must summon the courage to help her break free.

With lyrical restraint and emotional power, The Commoner reveals the hidden sacrifices behind a life of privilege and the quiet strength of a woman who dares to defy an empire.