In Ghostly Japan: Japanese Legends of Ghosts, Yokai, Yurei, and Other Oddities

A pilgrim tries to climb a mountain of skulls. A dying woman bequeaths her rival a sinister legacy. A ghostly beauty leaves the spirit world to visit her samurai lover. In Ghostly Japan collects Lafcadio Hearn's writings on the supernatural tales and ghostly lore of old Japan. Drawing on ancient legends passed down through generations, Hearn paints a vivid portrait of spirits, demons, and mysteries that haunt the Japanese imagination. In his characteristically captivating prose, he brings to life phantoms and visions, exploring the country's rich tradition of otherworldly beliefs along with Buddhist proverbs, haiku translations, and the ritual uses of incense. This spine-tingling collection offers a fascinating glimpse into the unseen realms of the Japanese world as envisioned by one of the great chroniclers of Japanese culture who was also a master of the macabre.