How Lafcadio Hearn Shaped the Future: A Legacy Timeline

How the contributions of Lafcadio Hearn continue to shape the world today.

Lafcadio Hearn, also known as Yakumo Koizumi, was a Greek-born writer who is best known for introducing Japanese culture and literature to Western audiences. After a career as a journalist in the United States, particularly in Cincinnati and New Orleans, he moved to Japan, became a citizen, and wrote extensively about Japanese folklore, ghost stories, and customs. His work, such as "Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things," provided unique insights into Japanese culture. His writings about New Orleans are also significant. Hearn's legacy is preserved through his home in New Orleans and the Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum in Japan.

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Full Timeline Legacy & Impact

1900: Japanese styles become fashionable

At the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1900, the introduction of Japanese aesthetics led to Japanese styles becoming fashionable in Western countries, increasing the relevance and interest in Lafcadio Hearn's writings about Japan.

September 1904: Death of Yakumo Koizumi

In September 1904, Yakumo Koizumi, also known as Lafcadio Hearn, passed away. He was a Greek writer, translator, and teacher who played a crucial role in introducing Japanese culture and literature to the Western world.

1924: Publication of 'Creole Sketches'

In 1924, selections of Lafcadio Hearn's New Orleans writings were first collected and published in "Creole Sketches", contributing to the preservation and recognition of his work.

Creole Sketches

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1926: Julius Daniels records a song

In 1926, Julius Daniels recorded a song with stanzas similar to those Lafcadio Hearn had printed in the Commercial after hearing them sung by roustabouts.

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1939: Tommy McClennan version of "Bottle Up and Go"

In 1939, Tommy McClennan's version of "Bottle Up and Go" included similar stanzas as those Lafcadio Hearn had printed in the Commercial after hearing them sung by roustabouts.

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1964: Kwaidan film adaptation

In 1964, Masaki Kobayashi adapted four of Hearn's tales into the film 'Kwaidan', bringing his stories to a wider audience through cinema.

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1983: Reprint of 'Ye Giglampz'

In 1983, the Cincinnati Public Library reprinted a facsimile of all nine issues of 'Ye Giglampz', an 8-page weekly journal of art, literature, and satire that Lafcadio Hearn wrote, illustrated, and published with Henry Farny in 1874.

1984: Nihon no omokage TV series

In 1984, the Japanese TV series 'Nihon no omokage' (Remnants of Japan) depicted Lafcadio Hearn's life in Japan, with George Chakiris portraying Hearn, bringing his story to television audiences.

1989: Lefkada and Shinjuku become sister cities

In 1989, Lefkada, Hearn's birthplace, and Shinjuku, a city he lived in, became sister cities, connecting the two ends of his life's journey.

1994: New Orleans and Matsue become sister cities

In 1994, New Orleans and Matsue, two other cities where Lafcadio Hearn lived, became sister cities, further solidifying Hearn's legacy and connecting the places significant to his life.

1999: Kwaidan puppet theatre

In 1999, Ping Chong adapted some of Lafcadio Hearn's stories into a puppet theatre production called Kwaidan.

2002: OBON: Tales of Moonlight and Rain puppet theatre

In 2002, Ping Chong adapted some of Lafcadio Hearn's stories into a puppet theatre production called OBON: Tales of Moonlight and Rain.

2007: Opening of Lafcadio Hearn Museum in Yaizu

In 2007, another small museum dedicated to Lafcadio Hearn opened in Yaizu, Shizuoka (ja:焼津小泉八雲記念館), further preserving and celebrating his legacy in Japan.

2008: Inclusion in American True Crime Retrospective

In 2008, The Library of America selected Lafcadio Hearn's murder account, Gibbeted, for inclusion in its two-century retrospective of American True Crime, recognizing his early journalistic work.

July 2014: Inauguration of Lafcadio Hearn Historical Center in Lefkada

On July 4, 2014, the first museum in Europe dedicated to Lafcadio Hearn, the Lafcadio Hearn Historical Center, was inaugurated in Lefkada, Greece, his birthplace, showcasing his life and works through exhibits and collectibles.

October 2015: Opening of 'Coming Home: The Open Mind of Patrick Lafcadio Hearn' exhibit

From October 15, 2015, to January 3, 2016, the Little Museum of Dublin hosted 'Coming Home: The Open Mind of Patrick Lafcadio Hearn', the first exhibition honoring Hearn in Dublin, featuring first editions of his works and personal items, with Professor Bon Koizumi in attendance.

2015: Publication of 'The Faceless Ghost'

In 2015, Sean Michael Wilson, along with artist Michiru Morikawa, created a manga book version of Hearn's Japanese stories called 'The Faceless Ghost'.

January 2016: The Open Mind of Patrick Lafcadio Hearn exhibit closes

On January 3, 2016, the 'Coming Home: The Open Mind of Patrick Lafcadio Hearn' exhibit closed at the Little Museum of Dublin. The exhibit had opened on October 15, 2015 and marked the first time Hearn was honoured in the city.

2018: 'Sayonara' collection published

In 2018, Coiscéim published 'Sayonara,' a collection of Japanese folk tales translated from English to Irish by Pádraig Mac Cearáin.

2020: Publication of 'Manga Yokai Stories'

In 2020, Sean Michael Wilson, along with artist Ai Takita, created a manga book version of Hearn’s Japanese stories called 'Manga Yokai Stories'.

2022: Lafcadio Hearn and the Global Imagination conference

In 2022, Durham University held a conference titled 'Lafcadio Hearn and the Global Imagination at the Fin de Siècle,' underscoring the ongoing academic interest in Hearn's work and its global impact.