【Extra】Koizumi Yakumo Memorial Museum

This time I came to neighboring Yaizu City~

When you hear “Yaizu,” images of a port town and fish might first come to mind. That’s certainly true, but this city also has a place deeply connected to Lafcadio Hearn (Koizumi Yakumo), the writer who introduced Japanese culture to the world. That place is the Yaizu Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum, located inside the Yaizu City Cultural Center.

It’s not exactly a tourist attraction, but visiting will likely change your impression a bit—making you think, “So Yaizu has this quiet cultural side too?” I was really surprised by how impressive the cultural center is, and I felt a little jealous lol.

Overview of the Yaizu Koizumi Yakumo Memorial Museum

The Yaizu Koizumi Yakumo Memorial Museum opened in 2007 as a literary memorial museum. While not large in scale, its compact size allows for a focused exploration of the life and works of Koizumi Yakumo.

Admission is free❗️❗️ How wonderful~ Its accessibility makes it easy to drop in during sightseeing, a major draw.

Inside, you’ll find Hakushu’s original manuscripts, letters, photographs, and historical materials on display. The exhibits offer insight not only into his literary achievements but also into his character and daily life. Even if you’re not well-versed in literature, you’ll naturally come to understand why this man was so drawn to Japan.

Who Was Lafcadio Hearn?

I’m sure you all know more than I do, but let’s review a bit.

Lafcadio Hearn was born in Greece as the writer Lafcadio Hearn. Of Irish descent, he worked as a newspaper reporter and writer in America during his youth. His arrival in Japan in 1890 (Meiji 23) sparked a deep fascination with Japanese culture and spirituality.

He eventually married a Japanese woman, Koizumi Setsu, and naturalized as a Japanese citizen. Under the pen name “Koizumi Yakumo,” he became a writer who introduced Japanese folktales, ghost stories, and customs to the world in English. Stories like “The Snow Woman” and “Hōichi the Earless,” collected in his masterpiece Kwaidan, remain widely known today.

These works were born not only from Yakumo’s creative talent but also from stories told to him by Japanese people, including Setsu. Knowing this background makes the works feel more relatable.

Yakumo Koizumi (Japanese: 小泉 八雲, Hepburn: Koizumi Yakumo; born Patrick Lafcadio Hearn;^[a] 27 June 1850 – 26 September 1904) was a Greek and Irish writer, translator, and teacher who introduced the culture and literature of Japan to the Western world.^[1] His writings offered unprecedented insight into Japanese culture, especially his collections of legends and ghost stories, such as Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things. Before moving to Japan and becoming a Japanese citizen, he worked as a journalist in the United States, primarily in Cincinnati and New Orleans. His writings about New Orleans, based on his decade-long stay there, are also well-known. His home in Orleans Parish is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum is in Japan.

wikipedia

The Relationship Between Yakumo and Yaizu

But why is there a Yakumo memorial hall in Yaizu???

It seems Yakumo visited Yaizu every summer from 1897 (Meiji 30) until his death in 1904, often staying for extended periods. He reportedly chose Yaizu as his summer retreat, drawn to its tranquil seaside scenery and the simple, warm-hearted nature of the local people.

Well, the fish is delicious here, after all~

The days he spent staying with a local fishmonger’s family, interacting naturally with the people, seemed to be a time of peace and comfort for Yakumo. Yaizu was not merely a temporary stopover but a place he embraced as part of his life. This deep connection has been passed down to the current memorial hall.

The True Face of Yakumo Revealed Through the Exhibition

What is striking about the memorial hall’s exhibition is that it presents Yakumo not as a “great man,” but as an ordinary person living his life. Manuscripts bearing traces of careful revision and letters imbued with affection for his family reveal a man who pondered, agonized, and wove his words with care.

The exhibition also thoughtfully explores the profound influence his wife, Setsu, had on his work. To convey Japanese narratives in a foreign language, a cultural bridge was essential. Understanding Setsu’s pivotal role in this process adds depth and dimension to Yakumo’s literary world.

NHK Drama “Bakebake” and Yakumo

One reason Lafcadio Hearn has recently gained renewed attention is the NHK drama “Bakebake.” This work depicts the relationship between Hearn and his wife Setsu, as well as their life in Japan, offering a chance to re-examine Hearn as a figure beyond the label of “ghost story writer.”

For those who developed an interest in Yakumo through the drama, the Yaizu Koizumi Yakumo Memorial Museum is a valuable spot where you can verify the story’s background against real locations. As you view the exhibits, overlaying the scenes and character portrayals from the drama should deepen your understanding.

A place where literature feels close at hand

Hearing “Literary Memorial Museum” might make it sound a bit intimidating. But this place is right next to the library and has a very comfortable atmosphere. Plus, the exhibits follow the flow of Yakumo’s life, so you can explore it like you’re following one person’s story.

After your visit, stroll through Yaizu town, breathe in the sea air, grab some fish and sake—that’d be just perfect.

Summary

The Yaizu Koizumi Yakumo Memorial Museum is a place that quietly conveys how a writer from a foreign land engaged with and lived in Japan, and specifically in the town of Yaizu.

It could be said to add depth of culture and narrative to the image of Yaizu—a port town and fish town located next to Fujieda City. If you have the opportunity to visit Yaizu, please stop by and see the town through Yakumo’s eyes.