Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan

by Lafcadio Hearn

Overview

Explore the captivating world of late 19th-century Japan through the insightful eyes of Lafcadio Hearn in "Glimpses of an Unfamiliar Japan: First Series." This meticulously prepared edition offers a timeless journey into Japanese culture, customs, and traditions. Hearn's keen observations paint a vivid picture of a nation undergoing rapid transformation, capturing its unique spirituality and social fabric.

Delve into the religious life and customs of Japan, exploring aspects of daily life rarely seen by Western eyes. From intimate glimpses of local practices to broader reflections on Japanese society, this collection provides a rich tapestry of cultural understanding. Perfect for those interested in Japanese history, travel, and the enduring fascination with a nation steeped in rich traditions. Discover Japan through the authentic lens of a writer deeply immersed in its captivating allure.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781022928763
Publisher:	Anson Street Press
Publication date:	03/28/2025
Pages:	196
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.42(d)

About the Author

Lafcadio Hearn (1850-1904) was born on the Greek island of Lefkas, the son of an Anglo-Irish surgeon in the British army and a Greek mother. After his parent's divorce when he was six, he was brought up in Dublin by a great aunt. At the age of nineteen, he went to America, eventually ending up in New Orleans as a newspaper reporter. His flight from Western materialism brought him to Japan in 1890, where he worked for an English newspaper, the Kobe Chronicle, and taught in various schools. In 1896, he began teaching English literature at Tokyo Imperial University, a position he held until 1903, and at Waseda University. Hearn married a samurai's daughter, Koizumi Setsu, became a Japanese citizen and a Buddhist, and changed his name to Koizumi Yakumo. At the young age of 54, he died of a heart attack. Hearn's search for beauty and tranquility, for pleasing customs and lasting values made him a confirmed Japanophile. His keen intellect, poetic imagination, and wonderful clear style permitted him to penetrate to the very essence of things Japanese. He became the great interpreter of things Japanese to the West. Hearn's most famous work is a collection of lectures entitled Japan: An Attempt at Interpretation (published posthumously in 1905). His other books on Japan include Out of the East (1895), Kokoro (1896), Gleanings in Buddha Fields (1897), Exotics and Retrospectives (1898), In Ghostly Japan (1899), Shadowings (1900), A Japanese Miscellany (1901), and Kwaidan (1904).