Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things »

Hearn (1850-1904) was born in Levkas, Greece, as the son of Greek and British parents. In 1869 he went to the United States and did various work, finally as a journalist. In 1890 he came to Japan and taught English in Japanese schools, and became a Japanese citizen under the name of Koizumi Yakuma. He died in Tokyo.

Twenty unusual tales from Japan collected by one of the greatest writers on the country.

Introduction     vii
Kwaidan
The Story of Mimi-Nashi-Hoichi     3
Oshidori     15
The Story of O-Tei     19
Ubazakura     23
Diplomacy     25
Of a Mirror and a Bell     29
Jikininki     35
Mujina     41
Rokuro-Kubi     45
A Dead Secret     57
Yuki-Onna     61
The Story of Aoyagi     67
Jiu-Roku-Zakura     79
The Dream of Akinosuke     81
Riki-Baka     89
Hi-Mawari     93
Horai     97
Insect-studies
Butterflies     101
Mosquitoes     121
Ants     125