J Horror

An unexpected encounter with literary greatness in a rundown Shinjuku neighborhood near Kabukicho. I suspect it was a nicer area when he lived there. Yokai Attack is dedicated to Hearn and his wife/interpreter Setsuko.

Comments

[Aceface]

Any Yokai/Lafcadio Hearn/Manga enthusiast should check this newest work from Otsuka Eiji

http://www.amazon.co.jp/八雲百怪-1-森-美夏/dp/4048542745

[MattAlt]

Thanks for the tip!

[Ryan]

Seiichi Umemoto's _Portrait of Tokyo_ has this as 265 2-chome Nishi-Okubo.

Nina Kennard's 1912 biography of Hearn (available via Google Books) reports, "Nishi Okubo is known as the Gardener's Quarter, where the celebrated Tokyo azaleas are grown, and where a show of azaleas is held once a year."

[Ryan]

From Vera McWilliams' 1946 bio of Hearn:

"In ... Okubo, a district noted for its azaleas, Setsuko found a small estate which pleased her, and she took Hearn to look at the property. It was in a secluded, Japanese neighborhood and it boasted a bamboo grove and many fine old trees as well as an attractive garden."

[Ryan]

One last bit - looks like U.S. firebombing is what changed the character of the neighborhood:

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20020120a1.html

[MattAlt]

Yes, definitely more "Okubo" than Shinjuku, though they're within walking distance. Thanks for the link to the article -- good ol' Mark Schreiber spins it old-school for us yet again!

[MattAlt]

There is actually a little park dedicated to Hearn just down the street from his former residence, but when we dropped by it was filled with litter, stray cats, and a homeless dude taking a makeshift bath in the sink of the public restroom...