William Lafcadio Hearn (also known by his Japanese name, Koizumi Yakumo (小泉 八雲 - the surname taken from his Japanese wife https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lafcadio_Hearn), was a peripatetic Anglo-Greek writer, translator, and teacher who introduced the culture and literature of Japan to the West. Hearn longed for the “true Japan,” which he found in Matsue - apparently, all else failed in comparison, particularly Kumamoto (where he spent three years, 1891-94), which he abhorred, finding it cultureless and blindly adoptive of anything Western. His Kumamoto house is directly behind Tsuruya; tours are free. Hearn was particularly well-known for his ghost stories. One of the scariest stories I’ve ever read is “A Passional Karma,” which can be read for free here: https://tinyurl.com/4wey3pmb. It’s a relatively short, hair-raising tale suitable for English students looking to read their first English literature. Happy Halloween!