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Lafcadio Hearn's Japan: An Anthology of his Writings on the Country and Its People
This collection of writings from Lafcaido Hern paints a rare and fascinating picture of pre-modern Japan
Over a century after his death, author, translator, and educator Lafcaido Hearn remains one of the best-known Westerners ever to make Japan his home. Almost more Japanese than the Japanese—"to think with their thoughts" was his aim—his prolific writings on things Japanese were instrumental in introducing Japanese culture to the West.
In this masterful anthology, Donald Richie shows that Hearn was first and foremost a reliable and enthusiastic observer, who faithfully recorded a detailed account of the people, customs, and culture of late nineteen-century Japan. Opening and closing with excerpts from Hearn's final books, Richie's astute selection from among "over 4,000 printed pages" not including correspondence and other writing, also reveals Hearn's later, more sober and reflective attitudes to the things that he observed and wrote about.
Part One, "The Land," chronicles Hearn's early years when he wrote primarily about the appearance of his adopted home. Part Two, "The People," records the author's later years when he came to terms with the Japanese themselves. In this anthology, Richie, more gifted in capturing the essence of a person on the page than any other foreign writer living in Japan, has picked out the best of Hearn's evocations.
Select writings include:
The Chief City of the Province of the Gods
Three Popular Ballads
In the Cave of the Children's Ghosts
Bits of Life and Death
A Street Singer
Kimiko
On A Bridge
Over a century after his death, author, translator, and educator Lafcaido Hearn remains one of the best-known Westerners ever to make Japan his home. Almost more Japanese than the Japanese—"to think with their thoughts" was his aim—his prolific writings on things Japanese were instrumental in introducing Japanese culture to the West.
In this masterful anthology, Donald Richie shows that Hearn was first and foremost a reliable and enthusiastic observer, who faithfully recorded a detailed account of the people, customs, and culture of late nineteen-century Japan. Opening and closing with excerpts from Hearn's final books, Richie's astute selection from among "over 4,000 printed pages" not including correspondence and other writing, also reveals Hearn's later, more sober and reflective attitudes to the things that he observed and wrote about.
Part One, "The Land," chronicles Hearn's early years when he wrote primarily about the appearance of his adopted home. Part Two, "The People," records the author's later years when he came to terms with the Japanese themselves. In this anthology, Richie, more gifted in capturing the essence of a person on the page than any other foreign writer living in Japan, has picked out the best of Hearn's evocations.
Select writings include:
The Chief City of the Province of the Gods
Three Popular Ballads
In the Cave of the Children's Ghosts
Bits of Life and Death
A Street Singer
Kimiko
On A Bridge
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
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372 people want to read
About the author
Lafcadio Hearn
1,434 books442 followersGreek-born American writer Lafcadio Hearn spent 15 years in Japan; people note his collections of stories and essays, including
Kokoro
(1896), under pen name Koizumi Yakumo.
Rosa Cassimati (Ρόζα Αντωνίου Κασιμάτη in Greek), a Greek woman, bore Patrick Lafcadio Hearn (Πατρίκιος Λευκάδιος Χερν in Greek or 小泉八雲 in Japanese), a son, to Charles Hearn, an army doctor from Ireland. After making remarkable works in America as a journalist, he went to Japan in 1890 as a journey report writer of a magazine. He arrived in Yokohama, but because of a dissatisfaction with the contract, he quickly quit the job. He afterward moved to Matsué as an English teacher of Shimané prefectural middle school. In Matsué, he got acquainted with Nishida Sentarô, a colleague teacher and his lifelong friend, and married Koizumi Setsu, a daughter of a samurai.
In 1891, he moved to Kumamoto and taught at the fifth high school for three years. Kanô Jigorô, the president of the school of that time, spread judo to the world.
Hearn worked as a journalist in Kôbé and afterward in 1896 got Japanese citizenship and a new name, Koizumi Yakumo. He took this name from "Kojiki," a Japanese ancient myth, which roughly translates as "the place where the clouds are born". On that year, he moved to Tôkyô and began to teach at the Imperial University of Tôkyô. He got respect of students, many of whom made a remarkable literary career. In addition, he wrote much reports of Japan and published in America. So many people read his works as an introduction of Japan. He quit the Imperial University in 1903 and began to teach at Waseda University on the year next. Nevertheless, after only a half year, he died of angina pectoris.
Rosa Cassimati (Ρόζα Αντωνίου Κασιμάτη in Greek), a Greek woman, bore Patrick Lafcadio Hearn (Πατρίκιος Λευκάδιος Χερν in Greek or 小泉八雲 in Japanese), a son, to Charles Hearn, an army doctor from Ireland. After making remarkable works in America as a journalist, he went to Japan in 1890 as a journey report writer of a magazine. He arrived in Yokohama, but because of a dissatisfaction with the contract, he quickly quit the job. He afterward moved to Matsué as an English teacher of Shimané prefectural middle school. In Matsué, he got acquainted with Nishida Sentarô, a colleague teacher and his lifelong friend, and married Koizumi Setsu, a daughter of a samurai.
In 1891, he moved to Kumamoto and taught at the fifth high school for three years. Kanô Jigorô, the president of the school of that time, spread judo to the world.
Hearn worked as a journalist in Kôbé and afterward in 1896 got Japanese citizenship and a new name, Koizumi Yakumo. He took this name from "Kojiki," a Japanese ancient myth, which roughly translates as "the place where the clouds are born". On that year, he moved to Tôkyô and began to teach at the Imperial University of Tôkyô. He got respect of students, many of whom made a remarkable literary career. In addition, he wrote much reports of Japan and published in America. So many people read his works as an introduction of Japan. He quit the Imperial University in 1903 and began to teach at Waseda University on the year next. Nevertheless, after only a half year, he died of angina pectoris.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 24, 2023
”When you find, in four or five years more (after you settled in Japan), that you cannot understand the Japanese at all, then you will begin to know something about them.”
I found this book recently in a second-hand bookshop.
I had never heard of Lafcadio Hearn, but my curiosity was aroused by the back-cover excerpt introducing this westerner who made Japan his home at the turn of the century (1890-1904).
Although westerners had sporadically visited Japan since the 16th century, they were just a handful and it is not until the middle of the 19th century that some started to settle in this country and even so, only a very few did it.
As such, when Hearn arrived there in 1890, employed by Harper’s Magazine to report on this exotic culture that was becoming fashionable in the western world, he found a country that was very preserved from all Western influence.
He was fascinated.
”The majority of the first impressions of Japan recorded by travellers are pleasurable impressions […] My own first impressions of Japan, had doubtless much in common with the average of such experiences. I remember especially the wonder and the delight of the vision. The wonder and the delight have never passed away: they are often revived for me even now, by some chance happening, after fourteen years of sojourn. But the reason of these feelings was difficult to learn, - or at least to guess; for I cannot yet claim to know much about Japan.”
The book is a collection of short essays, letters, articles, which have been split in two sections: the Land and the People.
These texts, written in an excellent style, at times lyric, at times journalistic, these texts provide a very fresh and delightful vision of Japan. Not speaking the language, many customs remained obscured to Hearn, but he was a reliable observer who faithfully recorded what he saw and was instrumental in shaping the western perception and views on Japan.
What I found most striking is the astute sensation and understanding reached by Hearn that, what he was seeing, was a society and a culture, that were about to change, that were vanishing, about to be trampled by the unstoppable progress of modernization. He understood that he was one of the last witnesses of these customs and landscapes, still then preserved from the modern and western world influence. This understanding gives an “end of an ancestral world” value to these texts which I found beautiful and very touching.
Coming across this book was a remarkable discovery which I am very glad to have made.
I found this book recently in a second-hand bookshop.
I had never heard of Lafcadio Hearn, but my curiosity was aroused by the back-cover excerpt introducing this westerner who made Japan his home at the turn of the century (1890-1904).
Although westerners had sporadically visited Japan since the 16th century, they were just a handful and it is not until the middle of the 19th century that some started to settle in this country and even so, only a very few did it.
As such, when Hearn arrived there in 1890, employed by Harper’s Magazine to report on this exotic culture that was becoming fashionable in the western world, he found a country that was very preserved from all Western influence.
He was fascinated.
”The majority of the first impressions of Japan recorded by travellers are pleasurable impressions […] My own first impressions of Japan, had doubtless much in common with the average of such experiences. I remember especially the wonder and the delight of the vision. The wonder and the delight have never passed away: they are often revived for me even now, by some chance happening, after fourteen years of sojourn. But the reason of these feelings was difficult to learn, - or at least to guess; for I cannot yet claim to know much about Japan.”
The book is a collection of short essays, letters, articles, which have been split in two sections: the Land and the People.
These texts, written in an excellent style, at times lyric, at times journalistic, these texts provide a very fresh and delightful vision of Japan. Not speaking the language, many customs remained obscured to Hearn, but he was a reliable observer who faithfully recorded what he saw and was instrumental in shaping the western perception and views on Japan.
What I found most striking is the astute sensation and understanding reached by Hearn that, what he was seeing, was a society and a culture, that were about to change, that were vanishing, about to be trampled by the unstoppable progress of modernization. He understood that he was one of the last witnesses of these customs and landscapes, still then preserved from the modern and western world influence. This understanding gives an “end of an ancestral world” value to these texts which I found beautiful and very touching.
Coming across this book was a remarkable discovery which I am very glad to have made.
March 20, 2014
Hearn often receives a bad rap in in the realm of Asia Studies, which was initially what drew me to this compilation. The reasons for his disregard in academic circles are varied. Most find him to be a rather oblique example of Nihonjinron discourse. That is to say he overtly praises everything Japanese, making no attempt to define the nations culture through modern sociologically analysis and logic. Instead, the Japanese are in such a distinct category whose history diverges so starkly with other peoples, that one can’t possibly come to a true understanding of their minds. Having no means, thus to approach them, one can only observe in astonishment. And that is how the writing of Lafcadio Hearn reads, at first glance.
Hearn's essays, some which might more properly be called vignettes, are filtered through a sense of awe of Japanese aesthetics. But this does not diminish from the quality of his writing, or the authority of his observations. His piece on Japanese gardens is extremely well written, putting the reader in Hearn's environment. The sights, sounds, and textures of the gardens are conveyed with stunning detail.
The traditional ghost stories are also a fine example of Hearn at his best. He manages to capture the grotesque with the ethereal, mixing them with antidotes, and retelling them through the tone of friendly conversations. After a few short passages, you’ll want to seek out more of Hearn's writing on the subject.
What Hearn's writing seems to most reveal, is a overwhelming identification with the aesthetics of Japan, and a profuse disregard for the fashions and attitudes that where being developed in the West. He was essentially an outcast, someone not of his own time, and had found a place he could finally agree with. One could take umbrage with the fact that Hearn managed to learn only rudimentary Japanese in his fourteen years in the country, and that is a fair criticism if one is examining his writings for a better sociological understanding of the Japanese people. In that sense, Hearn's writing can only peel back a limited amount of layers. But for the reader hoping to capture a sense of experience, and feel the beauty of a place, than this book is a very good primer.
Hearn's essays, some which might more properly be called vignettes, are filtered through a sense of awe of Japanese aesthetics. But this does not diminish from the quality of his writing, or the authority of his observations. His piece on Japanese gardens is extremely well written, putting the reader in Hearn's environment. The sights, sounds, and textures of the gardens are conveyed with stunning detail.
The traditional ghost stories are also a fine example of Hearn at his best. He manages to capture the grotesque with the ethereal, mixing them with antidotes, and retelling them through the tone of friendly conversations. After a few short passages, you’ll want to seek out more of Hearn's writing on the subject.
What Hearn's writing seems to most reveal, is a overwhelming identification with the aesthetics of Japan, and a profuse disregard for the fashions and attitudes that where being developed in the West. He was essentially an outcast, someone not of his own time, and had found a place he could finally agree with. One could take umbrage with the fact that Hearn managed to learn only rudimentary Japanese in his fourteen years in the country, and that is a fair criticism if one is examining his writings for a better sociological understanding of the Japanese people. In that sense, Hearn's writing can only peel back a limited amount of layers. But for the reader hoping to capture a sense of experience, and feel the beauty of a place, than this book is a very good primer.
April 27, 2018
Japan has always been a place short of dreamland for me. Everything about this country has always intrigued me so much. And it's so interesting to see it from a Westerner's eyes. I found out about Lafcadio Hearn through a non-fiction book about Asian stories written by Western writers, and I was quickly interested, because Hearn seems to fall hard for the country. I'd like to know how someone could fall that hard for a place. And so I purchased this book.
In truth, this book is a compilation of Lafcadio Hearn's past works—so technically it was written by him—but edited and prefaced by someone else (Donald Richie). Its publication feels more like a tribute to the late writer than anything else. The book is beautifully segmented into two big parts: the land and the people, in which each focuses only on either aspect of the country. They contain various stories that Hearn has heard or experienced while living in the Country of the Sun, which are quintessentially Japan, in which it contains various supernatural and cultural elements that will only make sense there.
Lafcadio's writing is very eloquent yet elaborate—with side notes to explain more about things that he's brought up—using the prosaic language of his time, which I personally find more beautiful than that of ours. He is very honest in his descriptions and opinions, sometimes being enchanted by the country, sometimes completely disillusioned by it. But it really shows how a Westerner can really see Japan, instead of what they want Japan to be. The only thing I don't particularly like is his spelling of Japanese words, which at times can look quite primitive—but understandable, since not many westerners of his time were probably familiar with the language. Personally, I find his works very interesting, because I've never read a recollection of Japan from the turn-of-the-century through a westerner's point-of-view.
Would highly recommend, if you want a culturally enriching yet significantly light read—especially if you're intrigued by Japan!
In truth, this book is a compilation of Lafcadio Hearn's past works—so technically it was written by him—but edited and prefaced by someone else (Donald Richie). Its publication feels more like a tribute to the late writer than anything else. The book is beautifully segmented into two big parts: the land and the people, in which each focuses only on either aspect of the country. They contain various stories that Hearn has heard or experienced while living in the Country of the Sun, which are quintessentially Japan, in which it contains various supernatural and cultural elements that will only make sense there.
Lafcadio's writing is very eloquent yet elaborate—with side notes to explain more about things that he's brought up—using the prosaic language of his time, which I personally find more beautiful than that of ours. He is very honest in his descriptions and opinions, sometimes being enchanted by the country, sometimes completely disillusioned by it. But it really shows how a Westerner can really see Japan, instead of what they want Japan to be. The only thing I don't particularly like is his spelling of Japanese words, which at times can look quite primitive—but understandable, since not many westerners of his time were probably familiar with the language. Personally, I find his works very interesting, because I've never read a recollection of Japan from the turn-of-the-century through a westerner's point-of-view.
Would highly recommend, if you want a culturally enriching yet significantly light read—especially if you're intrigued by Japan!
March 24, 2019
I found this volume at a bookstore in Japan. The idea of reading about Japan from the eyes of a foreigner who arrived and fell in love with the country seemed really interesting. Little did I know, I had found a text from one of the key figures in the exposition of Japanese culture to the West, a poster boy for cultural nationalism nowadays, and a problematic figure in Asian studies. Interpretations of Lafcadio's work are varied, but it doesn't make the texts any less delightful or surprising. I thoroughly enjoyed many of the chronicles from Lafcadio's experience in Matsue or the stories of the people he met along the way. It is also a beautiful way to study the history that other books won't cover, the more delicate and unexpected aspects of Japanese culture.
Overall, I had a great experience. Not all the texts got me, but those that did I'll remember fondly for many years. As an outsider who also enjoyes learning about Japanese culture, I got what I expected. As for the problematic aspects of Lafcadio's work overall, I don't think I have enough information to comment, so my review may come off as slightly ignorant. It is what it is. I think people outside Japan can enjoy this book, and develop an inclination for looking into more materials about Japanese culture and history. At least that's the case for me.
Overall, I had a great experience. Not all the texts got me, but those that did I'll remember fondly for many years. As an outsider who also enjoyes learning about Japanese culture, I got what I expected. As for the problematic aspects of Lafcadio's work overall, I don't think I have enough information to comment, so my review may come off as slightly ignorant. It is what it is. I think people outside Japan can enjoy this book, and develop an inclination for looking into more materials about Japanese culture and history. At least that's the case for me.
November 30, 2020
Better amd more clear eyed view of Japan and Japanese than i would have expected. This was a good read.
October 26, 2013
Quite good story...
I learned many new tradition, legend, and other stories from the ancient East. The fact that a few legends were very well written was a pleasure to read..plus the sayings which also were in japanese were good to read.
All in all, I was great pleasure reading this book, and I learned many ineresting stories from the japanese culture, and by knowing the Japan NOW, I could also distinguise and compare it from the past one.
:D
P.S.
I only gave 3 stars for this book because it didn-t had that feel which makes you feel like you can-t put it down from your hands. I had been traveling in the past few months so I had time to read it quite fast.
I learned many new tradition, legend, and other stories from the ancient East. The fact that a few legends were very well written was a pleasure to read..plus the sayings which also were in japanese were good to read.
All in all, I was great pleasure reading this book, and I learned many ineresting stories from the japanese culture, and by knowing the Japan NOW, I could also distinguise and compare it from the past one.
:D
P.S.
I only gave 3 stars for this book because it didn-t had that feel which makes you feel like you can-t put it down from your hands. I had been traveling in the past few months so I had time to read it quite fast.
April 25, 2019
The writings of a master Japanologist, introduced by a master Japanologist. Lafcadio Hearn was one of the first interpreters of Japan I was introduced to in college, and Donald Richie was one of the most influential scholars of Japan that I personally felt close to. The fact that Tuttle chose to release the works of the former selected and introduced by the latter, made this book an absolute must-have. I highly recommend this book not only to those whose interest in Japan is professional or personal, but also to all those readers who want to experience the magic of beautiful prose bringing other cultures to life.
March 9, 2017
Western eyes capturing a pivotal time in Japan, when transition between its ancient soul and the tide of modernity clashed like titans, Lafcadio Hearn opened doors still appreciated and honored by modern historians. For those looking to delve into his work, this book is an appropriate starting point. Well annotated and organized, the most novice in curiosity over the famed island nation will find enjoyment in this read.
February 18, 2016
I really liked Hearn's writing style and I especially liked the chapter titled "The Hair of Women" and the poetry of his language.
April 24, 2024
Lafcadio Hearn was an Irish excellent who introduced many great french writers into english via criticism and translation, such as Gautier and Flaubert (his translation of Saint Anthony is excellent), who in later life became so smitten with Japan that he moved and lived there until his death. While most of his writings on Japan were translations of prose stories, folky tales about ghosts, (despite the fact that he did not actually seem to speak Japanese, and translated with the extensive help of bilingual Japanese) this is a collection of essays he sent back to western magazines and newspapers to illustrate the Japanese lifestyle. While the introduction to this volume tries to present Hearn as undergoing a journey from orientalist fetishization of Japan to a more realistic, grounded appreciation its culture, the essays don't really reflect that -- from start to finish he writes with glee of the Buddhist spirit of eternity underpinning all of Japan's daily and spiritual life, and delights also in reporting local shrines and lore, almost always relating back to an apocryphal story about a young woman who died of unrequited love. More interesting are the couple of articles reflecting on Japan's political system, including a brief piece about the local Japanese enthusiasm for the Russo-Japanese war, and another reflecting on the atavistic collectivism underpinning even a post-Meiji, westernized Japan; but these are brief & do not say more than what you would expect from how I have here described them. My favorite story is a local tale, apparently recent and true, about a man whose uncle-in-law called him a baby for complaining about a hot tub's heat, which led to the man and his wife ritually slaying the uncle, and then committing double suicide. Hearn is a pretty good writer, with a wide but economical diction, and a light, brisk pace appropriate for these relatively silly and brief tales, but in general these are not particularly interesting essays, nor do I feel they expose anything more detailed or interesting about Japan that a brief historical survey doesn't include.
April 15, 2023
Hearn presents the Japan today's westerners think they will encounter when visiting the country, and I so wish that Japan still existed, but, ironically, the very reason it doesn't is westerners.
I'm not yet done with this book, but it's already given me insight into Japanese culture and the sad state of affairs we currently see the West in. After coming to Japan I've realized just how incredibly arrogant, racist and xenophobic westerners are, going about the world trying to impose our ways onto everyone else because we consider our culture superior, regardless of evidence showing us that everything turned western turns to garbage.
I'm not yet done with this book, but it's already given me insight into Japanese culture and the sad state of affairs we currently see the West in. After coming to Japan I've realized just how incredibly arrogant, racist and xenophobic westerners are, going about the world trying to impose our ways onto everyone else because we consider our culture superior, regardless of evidence showing us that everything turned western turns to garbage.
March 24, 2023
Anyone who has read any of Hearn's other works, or knows anything about him, will appreciate this collection, drawing together some of his writings on the people and places of his beloved japan.
A collection to dip into for its historical appeal, an intriguing look into attitudes from over a 100 years ago.
A collection to dip into for its historical appeal, an intriguing look into attitudes from over a 100 years ago.
March 7, 2024
Hearn lived in Japan from 1890 - 1904, and tried to document aspects of the culture that were quickly disappearing during the rapid modernization of the Meiji era. It's a fun read if you have an interest. I heard Lafcadio Hearn is somehow out of favor but I found it fascinating.
August 30, 2024
Hearn was prescient enough that he knew the Japan he lived in (and loved) was vanishing. He’s smart enough to avoid generally being orientalist, and there are some lovely descriptions in this.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews