Neil Maher

The writer Lafcadio Hearn surely needs no introduction to members of the IJA. Many of you will have read Kwaidan, In Ghostly Japan and Kokoro in which Lafcadio Hearn introduced the traditions and customs of a Japan that was rapidly being lost to late Victorian modernity.

The city of Matsue in Shimane Prefecture on the west coast of Japan, is closely associated with Hearn as not only did he live there for 15 months shortly  after his first arrival in Japan, he also married the daughter of a local samurai family.

Hearn’s residence in Matsue is preserved much as it was in 1890 together with many of his personal belongings (including his very long-legged desk which he used due to his terrible eyesight). Matsue has retained a special connection with Ireland since Hearn’s time but as Shimane is quite off the tourist track for foreign visitors far fewer Irish people have visited Matsue than have read Hearn’s books.

Matsue City is offering a seven day stay in Japan as a prize in its 2009 Lafcadio Hearn Essay competition in an effort to promote both Matsue and the works of Lafcadio Hearn.

Applicants must reside in Ireland and the closing date is 25 December 2009. More details can be found here: http://www1.city.matsue.shimane.jp/hearn/eigo.html.