Kwaidan

Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things is a book by Lafcadio Hearn, first published in 1904. It contains 17 tales collected by Hearn during his time living in Japan. Filled with ghost stories, supernatural tales, and legends that are based on traditional Japanese folklore, the tales in the book are characterized by eerie and unsettling atmospheres, with themes of death, ghosts, and supernatural beings. Some of the most famous stories in the book include 'The Story of Mimi-Nashi-Hoichi', about a blind musician who is visited by the ghosts of warriors and forced to play for them, and 'Yuki-Onna', about a snow woman who appears to travelers lost in the snow and takes their lives. The tales are written in Hearn's unique style, blending Japanese folklore with his own imaginative interpretations. The book provides a glimpse into the supernatural beliefs and customs of traditional Japanese culture and remains a popular work of Japanese literature and folklore.