Tag Archive for: Lafcadio Hearn

Sublime Aesthetics or the Cultural & Mythical Inversion Power of Negativity | Japan Seminar Series

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We invite you to join Professor Hideki Kuwajima, Hiroshima University, as he seeks to uncover a certain possibility for a comparative aesthetic fusion between Irish and Japanese cultures, moving from Edmund Burke’s Ireland to Lafcadio Hearn’s Izumo in Hidden Japan at the upcoming seminar ‘Sublime Aesthetics or the Cultural & Mythical Inversion Power of Negativity’ organised by our friends at UCD Centre for Japanese Studies.
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Date: Wednesday, 27th March 2024
Time: 1 – 2 p.m.
Venue: UCD Newman Building, Room D101, Stillorgan Road, Belfield, Dublin
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Hideki Kuwajima
Born in Gumma, Japan, in 1970. Received his BA, MA and PhD from the Osaka University. Professor of Aesthetics, Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences / School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University. A Director/Executive Committee Member of Japan-Ireland Society, Japanese Society for Aesthetics, and Japanese Society for British Philosophy, as well as a Founding Committee Member of the Hiroshima-Ireland Friendship Association etc.
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Kwaidan: The exhibition and a prestigious cultural event connecting Japan and Ireland

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‘Kwaidan’, the exhibition and a prestigious cultural event connecting Japan and Ireland is managed by Blue Moon Projects and SO Fine Art Editions, Dublin.

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About Kwaidan
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Kwaidan aims to follow in Lafcadio Hearn’s footsteps by connecting east and west through common cultural values, and will be a shared celebration of the life and work of Lafcadio Hearn, the Irish literary figure revered in Japan as the cultural icon Koizumi Yakumo.
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Kwaidan includes 20 leading artists from Japan and 20 artists from Ireland who visually interpret a story of their choice from Kwaidan, Hearn’s 1904 seminal collection of ghost stories inspired by Shintō and Buddhist legends.

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The exhibition will be staged in many venues in Japan and Ireland from September 2023 to the end of 2025. This will include being one of the main opening events for the exhibition space in the new Irish Embassy building (New Ireland House) in Tokyo and at the Lafcadio Hearn Museum in Matsue. In Ireland the prestigious venues will include Farmleigh Gallery in Dublin and Hyde Bride Gallery at the Yeats Building Sligo.

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Kwaidan will offer unique access to connections, exposure and cultural affinity with an historic event that will have lasting resonance in both countries. Project has the support of the Dept. of Foreign Affairs Ireland, Irish Embassy in Tokyo, Japanese Embassy in Dublin, Business to Arts and UCD, and organisers will engage with Culture Ireland and The Arts Council of Ireland.

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For more information: https://kwaidanexhibition.com/

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About the Curators
  • SO Fine Art Editions is one of Ireland’s leading contemporary galleries specialising in printmaking. SO Director Catherine O’Riordan has worked with many of the Kwaidan participants previously. SO’s most recent international print project was a lonely impulse of delight in 2015 which toured to London, Beijing and Tokyo. www.sofinearteditions.com
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Contact details
Stephen Lawlor
0868314040
slawlorart@gmail.com
www.stephenlawlor.com
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‘Black Dragonfly’ – Debut Novel by Jean Pasley

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We are delighted to announce the upcoming release of Jean Pasley’s novel ‘Black Dragonfly’ based on the remarkable experiences of the Irish writer Lafcadio Hearn.

Over a century after his death, nomadic Irish writer, Patrick Lafcadio Hearn remains one of the most famous Westerners ever to make Japan his home. In this richly imagined novel, Jean Pasley explores not only Hearn’s stark, lonely childhood in Ireland and his scandalous time in America but also how Japan changed him and how he went on to become one of Japan’s most celebrated and cherished writers.

Dublin-born writer and filmmaker Jean Pasley spent ten years in Japan. Her screenplays have won numerous awards, the most recent being The Audience Award at Cork International Film Festival 2020 for The Bright Side on which she was co-writer. Her new short film, Ship of Souls, which she directed, was also inspired by Hearn and is due for release shortly. She now lives in Dublin, close to one of Hearn’s childhood homes. This is her first novel. Jean Pasley is also a member of the Ireland Japan Association (IJA).

 

A lavish, beautiful testimony to the life and achievements of Lafcadio Hearn. – Frank McGuinness

 

The story of a complex and troubled man, as he tries to come to terms with his life and at the same time, negotiate the ancient, mysterious and fast-changing civilisation of nineteenth century Japan. – Christine Dwyer Hickey

 

An alluring and absorbing tale and one of the most engaging and insightful books I have read in a long time. – Manchán Magan

 

Black Dragonfly is published by Balestier Press. Publication date: 15 April 2021.

You can preorder your copy online here:

ABOUT BALESTIER PRESS
Founded in 2015, Balestier Press is an independent publisher proudly presenting the hidden gems of contemporary world literature, picture books, comics/graphic novels and memoirs, with a focus on Asia, Pacific and Africa. We enable a greater variety of original voices to be heard by promoting writers, translators, and illustrators worldwide, with the belief that the beauty of literature, stories and thoughts can connect different cultures and people across borders.

Day trip to Lafcadio Hearn Japanese gardens in Tramore

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On 9th September 2018, Ireland Japan Association organised a day trip for its members and friends to Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens in Tramore, Co. Waterford.

We were happy to see so many IJA members, families and friends joining us and it definitely was a wonderful day spent together outdoors learning about the history of the gardens and exploring its beauty.

The Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens are set in the beautiful seaside town of Tramore and reflect the life of Patrick Lafcadio Hearn (Koizumi Yakumo), who grew up in Ireland, and whose life journey embraced several parts of the world.

Japanese gardens feature many Japanese plants and Japanese architectural features and are a haven of beauty and tranquility for all who visit. You will also find a beautiful traditional Japanese Tea Garden, a Stream Garden, ponds, a waterfall and an extensive woodland area. Children are introduced to these magical gardens through a special children’s discovery trail, secret pathways, woodlands and Lafcadio Hearn’s fairytales and folklore.

After the walk through the gardens, we were treated to a delicious Japanese lunch provided by Yamamori restaurants.

IJA would like to thank everyone who joined us for this amazing trip, everyone at Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens for hosting and guiding us through the gardens, and Yamamori Restaurants for providing us with delicious Japanese Bento lunchboxes.

*Information about the gardens from: Lafcadiohearngardens.com

Writer Lafcadio Hearn’s Great-Grandson Honoured by Japanese Foreign Minister

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Mr. Bon Koizumi. Photo: Embassy of Japan in Ireland

On 30 July 2017, Mrs. Mari Miyoshi, Ambassador of Japan to Ireland, presented the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation to Mr. Bon Koizumi and Mrs. Shoko Koizumi for their outstanding contribution to the mutual understanding and friendship between Japan and Ireland.

Mr. Bon Koizumi is the great-grandson of the writer and translator Lafcadio Hearn (1850-1904), perhaps “Japan’s best-known Irishman” (John Moran) who was born on Lefkada Island, Greece, to an Irish military surgeon and a Greek mother. He is also known as Yakumo Koizumi in Japan where he found a home, married Setsu Koizumi, the daughter of a Matsue samurai, became a citizen and wrote 14 books on cultural subjects.

Bon and his wife Mrs. Shoko Koizumi have been introducing the life and works of Lafcadio Hearn to countries around the world including Japan, Ireland, and Greece since 1990. Hearn’s understanding of Japanese culture and his ‘open-minded’ spirit helped many to nurture mutual understanding and friendship between Japan and Ireland.  As board members of the Sanin Japan-Ireland Association, Mr. and Mrs. Koizumi have been involved with various activities for the purpose of not only publicising Bon’s great-grandfather but also introducing Irish culture to Japan.  Matsue City, where Lafcadio Hearn used to live, has a strong relationship with Dublin, often exchanging reciprocal visits.

At the presentation ceremony, Ambassador Miyoshi said, “I would like to express my gratitude to Mr. and Mrs. Koizumi for their outstanding contributions to deepening the mutual understanding and friendship between Japan and Ireland over the last decades”, and continued, “On this occasion of the 60th anniversary of Japan-Ireland diplomatic relations, it gives me great pleasure to award the Foreign Minister’s Commendation to Mr. and Mrs. Koizumi’’. Mr. Masuo Nishibayashi, Ambassador of Japan to Greece, also sent Mr. and Mrs. Koizumi a congratulatory message.

Mr. and Mrs. Koizumi commented, “It is an honour for us to accept this award for our activities. We are grateful for the support of the Japanese Embassy in building bridges of understanding and friendship between Ireland and Japan”.

Japanese pianist Satoko Inoue on tour in Ireland

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This summer is bringing lots of amazing Japanese talent to Ireland and we are delighted to announce the concert tour of renowned Japanese pianist Satoko Inoue in three concerts taking place across Ireland this June.

Concerts will be focusing on classical music and music of living composers from Ireland and Japan, celebrating the links between Ireland and Japan with four new works written specially for these concerts featuring pianist and speaker. All the texts (ghost stories and folk tales) are by Lafcadio Hearn/Koizumi Yakumo.

Concerts in Ireland:
Friday 23rd June | 8PM | Regional Cultural Cente, Letterkenny (Tickets – €10 / €5 at door)
  • C.P.E. Bach (from ‘Die sechs Sammlungen von Sanaten, freien Fantasien und Rondos für Kenner und Liebhaber’)
  • Fantasia Ⅰ (Fünfte Sammlung)
  • Rondo Ⅱ (Dritte Sammlung)
  • Claude Debussy – Clair de lune
  • Toru Takemitsu – Rain Tree Sketch 1 (1982)
  • Yuji Itoh – Yuruginaki-Kokoro (2011)
  • John McLachlan – Nuance (2003)
  • Jean-Luc Darbellay – Ciel étoilé (2014)
  • Paul Hayes – Lost in Baha (2001)
  • World premieres with texts from Lafcadio Hearn
    – John McLachlan – Fragment (2016)
    – Paul Hayes – The Second Heaven of Desire in Old Tramore (2016)

Sunday 25th June | 12PM | Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin (Admission Free)

  • Diana Rotaru (1981-) – Prélude Parisien no.1 DEBUMESSQUISSE (2007)
  • Akemi Naito (1956-) – Rain, Calling Autumn (1994)
  • Yuji Itoh (1956-) – Yuruginaki-Kokoro (2011)
  • Jo Kondo (1947-) – Interlude (2017)
  • Paul Hayes (1951-) – 27th January 1995 (1995)
  • David Rosenboom (1947-) – Kicking Shadows (2007)
  • John McLachlan (1964-) – Fragment (after Lafcadio Hearn) (2017)

Tuesday 27th June | 8PM | Large Room, City Hall, Waterford City (Tickets €10 / €5 at door)

  • Toru Takemitsu – Rain Tree Sketch 1 (1982)
  • Satoshi Tanaka – Oracle (2011)
  • Akemi Naito – UBAZAKURA (2017) – world premiere
  • Yuji Itoh – The Reconciliation (2017) – world premiere
  • The Lafcadio Hearn pieces – Speaker John McLachlan
  • John McLachlan – Fragment (after Lafcadio Hearn) (2016)
  • Paul Hayes – The Second Heaven of Desire in Old Tramore (2017)

Lafcadio Hearn, known also by the Japanese name Koizumi Yakumo, was an Irish writer, known best for his books about Japan, especially his collections of Japanese legends and ghost stories.

Pianist Satoko Inoue is renowned throughout Japan, Europe and in United States as a leading interpreter of contemporary solo piano music. She has premiered works by some of Japan’s foremost composers including Jo Kondo, Yori-aki Matsudaira, Yoritsune Matsudaira, and Toshi Ichiyanagi. She is well-known for playing Jo Kondo’s complete piano works and performing works of other contemporary composers such as Toru Takemitsu, John Cage, Morton Feldman, Henry Cowell, Luciano Berio, Giacinto Scelsi, Luc Ferrari, Doina Rotaru, and others.

Besides performing in Japan, Satoko Inoue has performed in major European festivals including Darmstadt, the International Experimental Music Festival in Bourges, and had solo recitals in Bucharest, Bern and Buenos Aires. She has featured in solo concerts in the US, Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Ireland, Turkey, Romania, Egypt, and Argentina. She has recorded three solo CDs and has further CDs on the labels Edition Hundertmark (Germany), Emec Discos (Spain), and ALM Records (Japan). Inoue is also Associate Professor at the Kunitachi College of Music in Tokyo.

Satoko’s tour is part of the events celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Japan and Ireland.

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