Press Release
2015/9/28
[15-10] The Open Mind of Patrick Lafcadio Hearn - Coming Home (Lafcadio Hearn Gathering in Ireland | October 2015)
After a long and fantastic journey, the wandering soul of Patrick Lafcadio Hearn will be back in his home in Ireland in the form of various Japanese cultural events in Dublin, Waterford, Tramore and Galway this October.
The aim of the programme of events is to celebrate the return of Lafcadio Hearn (1850-1904), also known by his Japanese name Koizumi Yakumo, who spent the most formative years of his youth in Ireland from the ages of two to thirteen. After a life journey that crossed over half the globe, he died in Japan at the age of fifty-four.
Lafcadio Hearn wrote stories based on traditional Japanese folk tales including Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan (1894), Kokoro (1896) and Kwaidan (1904). He also helped to introduce knowledge of Japan to the outside world as a prolific writer in and about Japan after his arrival there in 1890. A miraculous imagination nurtured during his childhood in Ireland is reflected in Hearn’s unique interpretations of Japan. Event highlights are as follows:
- Exhibition “Coming Home-The Open Mind of Patrick Lafcadio Hearn” at the Little Museum of Dublin from 7 October to 3 January
- Lafcadio Hearn Reading Performance by Shiro Sano and Kyoji Yamamoto in Dublin, Waterford and Galway
Mr Chihiro Atsumi, Ambassador of Japan said, “I am very happy that a whole range of events related to Lafcadio Hearn will be held this October to offer people the opportunity to learn more about his life and works”, and continued, “I hope that people in all over Ireland will deepen their interest in Lafcadio Hearn and Japanese culture, and that the close connections between Japan and Ireland will go from strength to strength in the years ahead”.
Professor Bon Koizumi, University of Shimane Junior College, great-grandson of Lafcadio Hearn said,” I am honoured and delighted that these events celebrating the memory of my great-grandfather Patrick Lafcadio Hearn are being held in three cities and other places in his home country of Ireland. The overall theme of the events is “The Open Mind of Patrick Lafcadio Hearn – Coming Home –”. This concept of an “open mind” lies at the very core of Lafcadio Hearn’s spiritual beliefs. As we also realise how vitally important this way of thinking is in the world of the 21st century, we have held art exhibitions, symposia and other events around this theme in places connected with Hearn’s life nearly every year since 2009”, and continued, “With these events, I feel that at this point our project has reached its final destination. I hope that many people will gain an understanding of Hearn’s spiritual nature, and that this will be an opportunity for Hearn to be acknowledged as a cultural resource for Ireland, which can contribute to society”.
Events are organised with the assistance of the many supporters, including the Sanin Japan-Ireland Association, Japan Foundation, Embassy of Japan in Ireland and Matsue City.
For the latest information see below:
Website: http://hearn2015.sanin-japan-ireland.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hearn2014
(END)
(Contact)
Ms Shoko Koizumi, Sanin Japan-Ireland Association
Tel: +81 90-4109-5542 or +81- 852-20-0207 (Please note Japan is 8 hours ahead), E-mail: shoko-k@f3.dion.ne.jp
Press and Cultural Affairs Section, Embassy of Japan in Ireland
Tel: 01 - 202 8305, E-mail: cultural@ir.mofa.go.jp, Website: https://www.ie.emb-japan.go.jp/itprtop_en/index.html
The aim of the programme of events is to celebrate the return of Lafcadio Hearn (1850-1904), also known by his Japanese name Koizumi Yakumo, who spent the most formative years of his youth in Ireland from the ages of two to thirteen. After a life journey that crossed over half the globe, he died in Japan at the age of fifty-four.
Lafcadio Hearn wrote stories based on traditional Japanese folk tales including Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan (1894), Kokoro (1896) and Kwaidan (1904). He also helped to introduce knowledge of Japan to the outside world as a prolific writer in and about Japan after his arrival there in 1890. A miraculous imagination nurtured during his childhood in Ireland is reflected in Hearn’s unique interpretations of Japan. Event highlights are as follows:
- Exhibition “Coming Home-The Open Mind of Patrick Lafcadio Hearn” at the Little Museum of Dublin from 7 October to 3 January
- Lafcadio Hearn Reading Performance by Shiro Sano and Kyoji Yamamoto in Dublin, Waterford and Galway
Mr Chihiro Atsumi, Ambassador of Japan said, “I am very happy that a whole range of events related to Lafcadio Hearn will be held this October to offer people the opportunity to learn more about his life and works”, and continued, “I hope that people in all over Ireland will deepen their interest in Lafcadio Hearn and Japanese culture, and that the close connections between Japan and Ireland will go from strength to strength in the years ahead”.
Professor Bon Koizumi, University of Shimane Junior College, great-grandson of Lafcadio Hearn said,” I am honoured and delighted that these events celebrating the memory of my great-grandfather Patrick Lafcadio Hearn are being held in three cities and other places in his home country of Ireland. The overall theme of the events is “The Open Mind of Patrick Lafcadio Hearn – Coming Home –”. This concept of an “open mind” lies at the very core of Lafcadio Hearn’s spiritual beliefs. As we also realise how vitally important this way of thinking is in the world of the 21st century, we have held art exhibitions, symposia and other events around this theme in places connected with Hearn’s life nearly every year since 2009”, and continued, “With these events, I feel that at this point our project has reached its final destination. I hope that many people will gain an understanding of Hearn’s spiritual nature, and that this will be an opportunity for Hearn to be acknowledged as a cultural resource for Ireland, which can contribute to society”.
Events are organised with the assistance of the many supporters, including the Sanin Japan-Ireland Association, Japan Foundation, Embassy of Japan in Ireland and Matsue City.
List of Events
| Date | Time | City | Location | Event Details |
| Wed 7 Oct | 18.00 | Dublin | The Little Museum of Dublin | Exhibition “Coming Home—The Open Mind of Patrick Lafcadio Hearn” Opening Ceremony |
| Thu 8 Oct | 14.00 | Dublin | Dublin City University | Lectures “Lafcadio Hearn and Japan” by Akiko Manabe, Eisuke Kotani, Shiro Yuki, Rodger Williamson |
| PM | Japanese Tea Ceremony by Sachiko & Makiko Nakamura | |||
| 18.00 | The Little Museum of Dublin | Lectures and Music “Lafcadio at Home”: Lectures by Bon Koizumi, Paul Murray, John Moran, Rodger Williamson. Irish harp by Junshi Murakami |
||
| Fri 9 Oct | AM | Dublin | Town Tour: Visit the places related to Lafcadio Hearn, navigated by Paul Murray and John Moran | |
| 13.30 | St. Ann’s Church | Talk by Bon Koizumi and Lafcadio Hearn Reading Performance by Shiro Sano and Kyoji Yamamoto | ||
| 19.00 | Waterford | Waterford City Hall | Welcome Reception organised by Waterford City and County Council hosted by the Mayor of Waterford | |
| Sat 10 Oct | 11.00 | Tramore | The Lafcadio Hearn Gardens | Friendship Events at The Lafcadio Hearn Gardens Presentation Ceremony of “a Relief of Koizumi Yakumo” |
| 15.00 | Tramore Coastguard Cultural Centre | A Small Exhibition on “Lafcadio Hearn and Tramore” | ||
| 16.00 | Japanese Tea Ceremony by Sachiko & Makiko Nakamura | |||
| Sun 11 Oct | 11.15 | Tramore | The Holy Cross Church | Mami Yoneyama Organ Concert |
| 15.00 | Waterford | The Garter Lane Arts Centre | Talk by Bon Koizumi and Lafcadio Hearn Reading Performance by Shiro Sano and Kyoji Yamamoto | |
| Mon 12 Oct | 19.00 | Galway | The King’s Head Pub | Kyoji Yamamoto Live |
| Tue 13 Oct | AM | Galway | Welcome Event at Cong: the places related to Lafcadio Hearn | |
| 18.30 | The Nun’s Island Theatre | Reception | ||
| Storytelling by Local Storytellers and Lafcadio Hearn Reading Performance by Shiro Sano and Kyoji Yamamoto | ||||
| Wed 14 Oct | 19.00 | Dublin | The Little Museum of Dublin | A Performance on “The Dublin Haunting of Lafcadio Hearn” by Paul Murray |
Website: http://hearn2015.sanin-japan-ireland.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hearn2014
(END)
(Contact)
Ms Shoko Koizumi, Sanin Japan-Ireland Association
Tel: +81 90-4109-5542 or +81- 852-20-0207 (Please note Japan is 8 hours ahead), E-mail: shoko-k@f3.dion.ne.jp
Press and Cultural Affairs Section, Embassy of Japan in Ireland
Tel: 01 - 202 8305, E-mail: cultural@ir.mofa.go.jp, Website: https://www.ie.emb-japan.go.jp/itprtop_en/index.html