Reviews for Looking at Japan

The average rating for Looking at Japan based on 2 reviews is 3 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2013-06-09 00:00:00 John Houser Hearn often receives a bad rap in in the realm of Asia Studies, which was initially what drew me to this compilation. The reasons for his disregard in academic circles are varied. Most find him to be a rather oblique example of Nihonjinron discourse. That is to say he overtly praises everything Japanese, making no attempt to define the nations culture through modern sociologically analysis and logic. Instead, the Japanese are in such a distinct category whose history diverges so starkly with other peoples, that one can’t possibly come to a true understanding of their minds. Having no means, thus to approach them, one can only observe in astonishment. And that is how the writing of Lafcadio Hearn reads, at first glance. Hearn's essays, some which might more properly be called vignettes, are filtered through a sense of awe of Japanese aesthetics. But this does not diminish from the quality of his writing, or the authority of his observations. His piece on Japanese gardens is extremely well written, putting the reader in Hearn's environment. The sights, sounds, and textures of the gardens are conveyed with stunning detail. The traditional ghost stories are also a fine example of Hearn at his best. He manages to capture the grotesque with the ethereal, mixing them with antidotes, and retelling them through the tone of friendly conversations. After a few short passages, you’ll want to seek out more of Hearn's writing on the subject. What Hearn's writing seems to most reveal, is a overwhelming identification with the aesthetics of Japan, and a profuse disregard for the fashions and attitudes that where being developed in the West. He was essentially an outcast, someone not of his own time, and had found a place he could finally agree with. One could take umbrage with the fact that Hearn managed to learn only rudimentary Japanese in his fourteen years in the country, and that is a fair criticism if one is examining his writings for a better sociological understanding of the Japanese people. In that sense, Hearn's writing can only peel back a limited amount of layers. But for the reader hoping to capture a sense of experience, and feel the beauty of a place, than this book is a very good primer.

Review # 2 was written on 2019-05-03 00:00:00 Paul Wenzel Japan has always been a place short of dreamland for me. Everything about this country has always intrigued me so much. And it's so interesting to see it from a Westerner's eyes. I found out about Lafcadio Hearn through a non-fiction book about Asian stories written by Western writers, and I was quickly interested, because Hearn seems to fall hard for the country. I'd like to know how someone could fall that hard for a place. And so I purchased this book. In truth, this book is a compilation of Lafcadio Hearn's past works—so technically it was written by him—but edited and prefaced by someone else (Donald Richie). Its publication feels more like a tribute to the late writer than anything else. The book is beautifully segmented into two big parts: the land and the people, in which each focuses only on either aspect of the country. They contain various stories that Hearn has heard or experienced while living in the Country of the Sun, which are quintessentially Japan, in which it contains various supernatural and cultural elements that will only make sense there. Lafcadio's writing is very eloquent yet elaborate—with side notes to explain more about things that he's brought up—using the prosaic language of his time, which I personally find more beautiful than that of ours. He is very honest in his descriptions and opinions, sometimes being enchanted by the country, sometimes completely disillusioned by it. But it really shows how a Westerner can really see Japan, instead of what they want Japan to be. The only thing I don't particularly like is his spelling of Japanese words, which at times can look quite primitive—but understandable, since not many westerners of his time were probably familiar with the language. Personally, I find his works very interesting, because I've never read a recollection of Japan from the turn-of-the-century through a westerner's point-of-view. Would highly recommend, if you want a culturally enriching yet significantly light read—especially if you're intrigued by Japan!