Museum for Lafcadio Hearn to open soon

The first European museum dedicated to the international writer Lafcadio Hearn, also known by the Japanese name Koizumi Yakumo, is opening in July in Lefkada Town, place of birth and origin of this world-famous literary man.

The museum will be housed in a renovated room at the ground floor of the Cultural Center of Lefkada Town Hall. Rare books, first editions and Japanese collective items will consist the exhibits of the Historical Center of Lafcadio Hearn, whose inauguration will take place on July 4th, 2014.

With the help of photos, texts, personal items and interactive applications, visitors will explore the most important moments in the impressive life of Hearn, his wanderings in Europe, the USA and Japan in the late 18th and early 19th century, as well as his imaginative stories.

Along with the museum's inauguration, there will be in Lefkada Town a three-day festival dedicated to the Japanese culture on the occasion of the 110 years since the death of Lafkadio Hearn. The events are under the aegis of the Embassy of Japan in Greece and includes lectures, poetry nights, origami courses, Japanese theatre performances, and more.

Lafkadio Hearn was born in Lefkada in 1850 and was the son of the Irish Charles Hearn and the Greek Rosa Kasimatis. He traveled a lot during his life and is best know for his books about Japan, especially his collections of Japanese legends and ghost stories. This is why he is considered the national poet of Japan. He died in Tokyo in 1904, aged 54.