Visiting Lafcadio Hearn's Former Residence, Kumamoto

In the afternoon, we went to Lafcadio Hearn's Former Residence. Lafcadio Hearn, also known as Yakumo Koizumi (小泉八雲) after naturalization, was a Greek-Irish writer who introduced the culture and literature of Japan to the Western world. 

He lived in Kumamoto for three years from 1891 to 1894 as an English teacher at the former Fifth High School, present-day Kumamoto University. 

The house is designated as a cultural property of Kumamoto City, and is open to the public. 

The picture shows us the history of Hearn went on his voyage to Japan🛳 

A timeline of Hearn's life.

The chronology of Hearn literary works during his stay in Kumamoto.

Hearn with his wife Setsuko. 

During his fifteen-month stay in Matsue, Hearn married Koizumi Setsuko (小泉節子), aka. Koizumi Setsu (小泉セツ), the daughter of a local samurai family. 

This is a traditional Japanese house with garden view🏡

Visiting the Former Oe Residence of Natsume Soseki, Kumamoto

After visiting Janes Residence, we went to the Former Oe Residence of Natsume Soseki. 

It is not too far from here; just walking around the Suizenji Jojuen Garden and when you see the nursery school, it's right in front of you. 

The entrance. 

Natsume Soseki moved to Kumamoto from Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, in 1896 to take up a post as an English teacher at the former Fifth High School, present-day Kumamoto University. Soseki moved six times in the four years and three months between 1896 and 1900. Of the six houses he lived in, only two remain: the third house in Oe and the fifth house in Uchitsuboimachi (内坪井町) near Kumamoto Castle.

The admission fee is ¥200 per person, and historical documents from that time are on display inside. It's definitely worth a visit😃

Visiting Janes Residence, Kumamoto

Yesterday we had decided to take a drive🚙 to Janes Residence in Kumamoto. I've been there many times before, but I'd never been to the old house, so I decided to go.

According to the Kumamoto city official website, this is the oldest Western-style building still standing in the prefecture, and was built in 1871 to welcome the American educator Leroy Lancing Janes to Kumamoto Western School. Janes lived here for five years, from 1871 to 1876, educating the young people of Kumamoto.

This building is the place where, during the Satsuma Rebellion in 1877, Tsunetami Sano received permission from Prince Arusugawa Taruhito, a Japanese carrier officer in the Imperial Japanese Army, to establish the Hakuaisha (博愛社), the precursor to the current Japanese Red Cross Society.

It was originally built in the Kojomachi area near Kumamoto Castle, but was moved several times as its function changed, eventually being moved to the adjacent to the east side of Suizenji Jojuen Garden. However, it was destroyed by the Kumamoto earthquakes. The new house of Janes that was moved at the Suizenji Ezuko Park in September 2023.

Let's take a tour to the retro style building🏛 of the early Meiji era.

The room is very specious, with chandelier and fireplace. I felt so nostalgic😊

Signs of the Janes' Mansion and Japan Red Cross Memorial Museum.

These are parts of building a house broken by earthquake😨  

Visiting Usa Machu Picchu viewpoint, Oita

On June 28 we had decided to take a drive🚙 to Machu Picchu viewpoint in the former town of Innai, now merged with the city of Usa. 

In Japan, it is commonly known as Machu Picchu in Usa. There's a reason why they call it Machu Picchu. The shape of a mountain called Akiba-sama (秋葉様) that looks like Mount Huayna Picchu in Peru😁