1. who is Koizumi Yakumo, who loved Japan and spread Japanese culture abroad?

Born in Greece. After writing in the U.S., moved to Japan

Koizumi Yakumo, born Patrick Lafcadio Hearn in 1850 on the Greek island of Lefkada and raised in Ireland, lost the sight in his left eye at the age of 16 in a school accident, and at 19 moved to America to pursue his career as a journalist.
While expanding his activities as a travel writer and translator, Yakumo became fascinated with Japanese culture through the World's Fair held in New Orleans and the English translation of "Kojiki," etc. In 1890, he arrived in Japan, which was his long-cherished dream.

Assigned to Matsue. Encounters Koizumi Setsu.

After arriving in Japan, Yakumo was assigned as an English teacher at the Shimane Prefectural Junior High School and Normal School in Matsue. Koizumi Setsu was hired to take care of his personal needs. Setsu came to live and work at Yakumo's house, and the two eventually came to live together as husband and wife.
The "Herne language" was born from the language barrier between English and Japanese. Herun" is a term of endearment used by Matsue residents to call Yakumo "Herun-san," "Herun-sensei," and so on. The two men developed a strong bond through this unique language, which omits Japanese particles and uses a mixture of English and Japanese in word order.

Life in Matsue, the "Capital of the Land of the Gods.

Yakumo was an English teacher in Matsue. Through interaction with her students and the people of the town, she discovered the appeal of the ancient Japanese customs, culture, and spirituality that remain in the land of eight million gods and goddesses.
He wrote about his day in Matsue in "The Capital of the Land of the Gods," a chapter of his first book after coming to Japan, "Unknown Faces of Japan. The book vividly depicts scenes of the castle town of Matsue, including its streets, the people of the city, nature, and living creatures, as well as legends, with great sensitivity.

Obtains Japanese citizenship at the age of 46. And to the birth of "Kwaidan

After leaving Matsue, where he lived for about one year and three months, Yakumo moved to Kumamoto, Kobe, and Tokyo, where he taught at Imperial University and Waseda University. The name "Yakumo" is said to be derived from "Yakumo tate," a Japanese word for "Izumo" in the oldest waka poem in Japan, which appears in the Kojiki (Records of Ancient Matters).

Blessed with three sons and a daughter, Yakumo introduced Japanese culture to the rest of the world through his various works until his death in 1904 at the age of 54. The source of his late masterpiece, "Kwaidan," was a collection of ancient Japanese folk tales and ghost stories told to Yakumo by Setsu, who loved stories. The ghost stories, which were created as "retellings" based on Yakumo's unique interpretations and expressions, are filled with a sense of awe, human emotion, sadness, and nostalgia amidst the horror, and leave a deep aftertaste as works of literature.
These ghost stories include "Hoichi without Ears," "Snow Woman," "Rorokurokubi," and "Mujina.
Yakumo and Setsu together spun a "ghost story" that is still read today as an immortal masterpiece known by all. 2.

2. places related to Yakumo that you should visit in Matsue

Koizumi Yakumo Memorial Museum

Located next to the former residence of Yakumo Koizumi, the memorial museum is headed by his great-grandson, Bon Koizumi. Based on the concept of Yakumo's open mind, the museum introduces his life and achievements through graphics and videos.
The museum houses and exhibits a collection of his personal belongings, including desks, chairs, clothing, and xeroxes, as well as his handwritten manuscripts, first editions, family photos, and other valuable items. If you are interested in Yakumo's works, please visit the library where his books and related publications are lined up. Take your time and immerse yourself in the world that Yakumo spun.

Koizumi Yakumo's Former Residence

Yakumo lived in Matsue for about one year and three months. The latter five months of his life were spent in the Negishi family's samurai residence, which is now open to the public as his former residence. Yakumo said that he wished to live in a samurai residence with a garden. In one of his books, "Japanese Gardens," he wrote about the beauty of the trees and stones and the fascination of the garden where insects and other creatures lurk. At the former residence, the beautiful garden and other places remind us of the time when Yakumo and Setsu lived there.

3. visit a place where ghost stories and strange tales still live on

Matsue Bridge

This bridge spans the Ohashi River, which separates Matsue City from north to south, and was built in 1608 when Matsue Castle was constructed. The current bridge is the 17th generation, and is well known to citizens as a symbol of Matsue, the city of water.
The "Gensuke Memorial Monument" catches the eye at the south end of the bridge. Gensuke was used as a human sacrifice because of the difficulty of the initial construction work, and the bridge pier in the center was called "Gensuke Pillar". Yakumo wrote about this sad legend in "Unknown Faces of Japan.
In the same book, Yakumo also described the sound of clogs of people crossing the bridge as musical, like a grand ball, and unforgettable.

Matsue Castle

Yoshiharu Horio, the founder of the Matsue government, built the castle from 1607 to 1611. It is one of only 12 surviving castle keepers in Japan and is designated as a National Treasure. On the top floor, there is a watchtower with a 360-degree view of the city of Matsue and Lake Shinji.
Various stories about the construction of Matsue Castle remain. When the construction of the stone walls went wrong, a beautiful girl who could dance well was chosen to serve as a human pillar. Since then, Bon Odori dances have not been held near Matsue Castle because the castle would be shaken if there were Bon Odori dances held there.
In his book "Unknown Faces of Japan," Yakumo described Matsue Castle as a dragon made of a collection of bizarre things and mentioned the story of this girl.

Fumonin Temple

A temple of the Tendai sect, it was built around 1607-1611, when Matsue Castle and the castle town were constructed. The temple grounds are surrounded by an elegant garden with a pond called Shinji-ike.
The "Kangetsu-an" (a tea house) on the temple grounds is a tea house in the Hosokawa Sansai style, where Harusato Matsudaira, the seventh lord of the Matsudaira family of the Matsue Domain and a feudal lord tea master with the title of "Fumai" (a lord of tea ceremony), often enjoyed tea ceremonies. It is said that Yakumo also learned tea ceremony at Kangetsuan.
There is a legend that if one chants a song called "Kakitsubata" on the "Azuki Togi Bridge" in front of the Fumonin Temple, it is said to bring bad luck.

Shiroyama Inari Shrine

Founded in 1638 by Naomasa Matsudaira, the first lord of the Matsue Domain Matsudaira family, the shrine's "Horanenya" ceremony held every 10 years is one of the three largest boat Shinto rituals in Japan, and the parade of about 100 boats is a spectacular sight.
Stone foxes of various shapes and sizes line the grounds of the shrine. It is said that Yakumo was attracted by the unique stone foxes and often visited the shrine.
Yakumo's book, "Unknown Faces of Japan," contains a legend about the shrine's founding. When Matsudaira Naomasa entered Matsue, a beautiful boy named Inari Shinzaemon appeared to him and told him that he would protect the castle from fire if he built a house for him. It is said that a shrine was built there, and numerous stone foxes still guard the shrine today.

4. bring a souvenir of Yakumo's favorite Japanese sweets

Ichirikido Kyoten Honten "Hearn's Yokan

Along with Kyoto and Kanazawa, Matsue is famous as one of Japan's "Three Great Sweets Towns. The tea ceremony culture established by Matsudaira Jirigo (tea name: Fumai), the seventh lord of the Matsudaira family of the Matsue Domain, known as a feudal lord tea master, is still alive today. Ichirikido was founded in the Horeki era (1751-1764) of the Edo period (1603-1868), and has been a long-established confectionary shop serving the Matsue domain for generations since its foundation.
Yakumo, who was said to have had a sweet tooth, particularly enjoyed yokan, and even after moving to Tokyo, his wife Setsu would order it from Matsue. Hearn's Yokan" is a proudly reproduced product based on the recipe written by the sixth generation head of Ichirikido, in order to bring back the taste of those days.

5. enjoy the world of Hoshino Resorts KAI Tamatsukuri through the "Journey to Koizumi Yakumo" program.

Hot spring ryokan "Hoshino Resorts KAI Tamatsukuri" KAI" is located in Tamatsukuri hot spring ryokan, which is said to be one of the oldest hot springs in Japan. The hotel offers a variety of activities including bathing in the outdoor hot spring baths in all Guest rooms, seafood from the San'in region, sake from Shimane, the birthplace of Japanese sake, and traditional Shimane culture and folk art. Come learn more about Yakumo and immerse yourself in his worldview.

Take a rickshaw tour of places associated with Yakumo

In the "Rickshaw Guided Tour," you will ride a rickshaw, which was a favorite of Hearn's, to Koizumi Hearn's former residence, Matsue Ohashi Bridge, the temple where his ghost stories were set, and other places associated with him. This private tour allows visitors to experience the scenery that Yakumo would have seen while being guided by a guide who knows Matsue inside and out.

Enjoy a ghost story while savoring the "Yakumo Sake Set

A fun evening event is the "Ghost Story Tea Room" held in the museum's tea room. First, there will be an explanation of Yakumo's life and the background of his writing "Kwaidan," followed by a reading of "The Snow Woman" and "Hoichi the Earless" with an original video presentation, inviting you into the world of the ghost stories spun by Yakumo.
Along with the masterpieces, visitors can enjoy "Yakumo-shigure," a Japanese confectionery that Yakumo enjoyed as a snack with his evening meal, and "Yakumo-shu Set," a set of Japanese sake. The Kiomishigure is a Hoshino Resorts KAI Tamatsukuri original that uses sake for the red bean paste. Three types of sake are available, including nigori sake. You can enjoy a gem of a story together with beautiful sake.