Kokoro

An Intimate Portrait of Japanese Inner Life

Lafcadio Hearn, Patricia Welch

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Paperback

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English

Tuttle Publishing
23 August 2022

Popular culture; Ethnic minorities & multicultural studies; Black & Asian studies; Social & cultural anthropology

'The papers composing this volume treat of the inner rather than of the outer life of Japan, for which reason they have been grouped under the title Kokoro (heart). [This] word signifies also mind, in the emotional sense; spirit; courage; resolve; sentiment; affection; and inner meaning, just as we say in English, the heart of things.'

- Lafcadio Hearn

As an interpreter of Japan for the West, Lafcadio Hearn is without parallel. His books are still read with fascination that is a tribute to his keen powers of observation and the vividness of his prose. Kokoro is Hearn's love letter to Japan - his exploration of the genius of Japanese civilization and the wonder he felt at encountering the islands and their inhabitants.

His 15 extraordinary essays include:

'Kimiko' - The story of a beautiful geisha who hatches a desperate plan to save her mother from poverty but then must make a heartbreaking choice. 'A Glimpse of Tendencies' - As Western powers gain greater influence in Japan, Hearn sees massive change in Japan's future, both good and bad. 'A Conservative' - A samurai's son embraces the West and travels to Europe but finds his new home to be a shallow and faithless land. 'A Street Singer' - A singer captivates a crowd with the beauty of her song, but her story goes much deeper than her musical talent. 'By Force of Karma' - The peculiar story of a Buddhist priest who receives a letter from a mysterious woman and ultimately takes his own life.

Published six years after Hearn arrived in Japan, these essays focus on understanding the inner spiritual life of the Japanese. Sometimes touching and always compelling, they are drawn from Hearn's own experiences, telling stories of the people and customs that still make Japan so unique. Kokoro includes an informative foreword by Hearn expert Patricia Welch which highlights the book's beauty and how, 125 years later, our understanding of the soul of Japan can still be deepened by Hearn's heartfelt prose.

By: Lafcadio Hearn
Foreword by: Patricia Welch
Imprint: Tuttle Publishing
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 203mm, Width: 130mm,
Weight: 312g
ISBN: 9784805317204
ISBN 10: 4805317205
Pages: 256
Publication Date: 23 August 2022
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Lafcadio Hearn was one of the earliest foreign writers to publish stories and essays about Japan in English. After his arrival in Japan in 1890, he taught English literature and began publishing books on Japan in 1894, soon becoming known as the most perceptive Western interpreter of all things Japanese. His books on Japan include Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan, Kwaidan and In Ghostly Japan. Patricia Welch is a professor of Japanese and Comparative Literature in the Department of Comparative Comparative Literature, Languages, and Linguistics at Hofstra University.

Reviews for Kokoro: An Intimate Portrait of Japanese Inner Life

When not penning his observations, travels and historico-cultural analysis, Hearn switches to passages of novelistic invention, as if crafting an inspirational gothic fantasy out of Japan that will take him to the heart ( kokoro ) of the mystery of human existence. --The Japan Times