Abstract

Setsu Koizumi was the daughter of a samurai family that fell into poverty after the Meiji Restoration.
Lafcadio Hearn, abandoned by his parents, drifted from Europe to America, working various jobs and finally arrived in Japan.
This book tells the true story of how they met during the Meiji era—a time when international marriage was still rare.
Despite the language barrier, they found a deep connection and worked together to transform ancient Japanese traditional folk tales into the world-famous "Kwaidan" literature.
Setsu and Hearn are the models for the protagonists of NHK's morning drama series currently airing on Japanese TV (Asadora) titled "Bakebake: The Ghost Writer's Wife."
Let's explore the secret of how these two souls, who both endured difficult lives, united their hearts to create masterpieces that still shine today.
Recommended by Bon Koizumi (Great-grandson of Lafcadio Hearn and Director of the Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum)!
"This unique biography shines a light on Setsu, the wife of Lafcadio Hearn (widely known in Japan as Yakumo Koizumi, the author of 'Kwaidan').
The author, who has long taught Japanese to foreigners, vividly brings to life the communication between Setsu and Hearn and the secret story behind the birth of 'Kwaidan.'
Readers will be filled with happiness by the author’s prose full of love for this couple, and will also be encouraged by the way they lived."

Author’s Information

Sayaka Minari: Associate Professor, Department of Regional Culture, Faculty of Human Culture, Shimane University.
Born in Izumo City (formerly Hirata City), Shimane Prefecture, Japan in 1984. Completed the doctoral program at Utsunomiya University Graduate School, receiving her PhD in International Studies.
Prior to her current position, she served as a part-time lecturer at International University of Health and Welfare and Bunsei University of Art, an assistant professor at HigashiOsaka University, a specially appointed lecturer at Shimonoseki City University, and a full-time lecturer at Niijima Gakuen Junior College.
Studying abroad in Spain and working as a Japanese language teacher in Korea sparked her interest in various cultures, literature, and languages around the world. She specializes in comparative literature, primarily researching Lafcadio Hearn. She is also involved in initiatives for multicultural societies and Japanese language education.
Her publications include "Sociology of Chibi Maruko-chan" and "Creative Tourism: A Journey to Meet 'That Person'" (Kokon Shoin, both co-authored).
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Yuka Osada: An illustrator and manga artist.
Born in 1991 and raised in Uenohara City, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. Graduated from the Department of Design, Faculty of Art, Tokyo Polytechnic University. She has worked on a wide range of projects, including book covers and illustrations, manga production, and contributions to art museum promotional materials. Her published works include the manga "Soko to Kashiko 1" and "Bouquet and Pencil [Series] Soko to Kashiko" (Kobunsha), and "A Fun Introduction to Edo Painting: Approaching the Charm of 'Oshi' Through Manga" (Kodansha/supervised by Kaneko Nobuhisa).