April 2025
Prof. Mary Gallagher speaks about Lafcadio Hearn’s childhood in Dublin to Mr Tommy Bastow (actor who plays character based on the real-life Lafcadio Hearn /小泉八雲, on NHK Asadora (Japanese morning tv series) starting in Autumn 2025).
The NHK World documentary features Mr Bastow (known for his recent role as Father Martin Alvito in Shōgun (2024 TV series)) who traces the cultural journey of the writer, Patrick Lafcadio Hearn / Koizumi Yakumo. It describes him as a world traveller, from about 130 years ago.
Prof. Gallagher (UCD School of Languages, Linguistics and Cultures) gives Mr Bastow a tour of Lafcadio’s childhood home in Rathmines, Dublin.
Mr Bastow (whose great grandfather is Irish) will play a character (called Haven ヘブン, pronounced as Hebun), based on the real-life Lafcadio Hearn as known as Koizumi Yakumo (小泉 八雲), on NHK Asadora (Japanese morning tv series) entitled "Bakebake"(ばけばけ). The protagonist of the story is his wife called Toki (トキ), who is based on the real-life Koizumi Setsuko (小泉 節子). The drama will go on air in the autumn of 2025 in Japan.
Patrick Lafcadio Hearn’s works have been better known in Japan (outside Ireland) but they are becoming increasingly familiar with the opening of Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Gardens in Tramore, Co. Waterford (https://www.lafcadiohearngardens.com/) in 2015 and the recent exhibition “Kwaidan – Encounters With Lafcadio Hearn” (An international touring exhibition of contemporary fine art prints by forty Irish and Japanese artists) at the Farmleigh Gallery in Phoenix Park ((opens in a new window)https://kwaidanexhibition.com/)
Prof. Gallagher (who’s been a member of the UCD Centre for Japanese Studies from the foundation) has been researching on the life of Hearn, with a particular focus on his writings on nineteenth-century Louisiana and Martinique. The Centre held a series of Hearn-themed seminars with Prof. Gallagher.
- https://www.ucd.ie/japan/newsevents/patricklafcadiohearnseminarsin2017/
- https://www.ucd.ie/japan/newsevents/lafcadiohearnfrenchliteratureseminarinmoli/
- https://www.ucd.ie/japan/newsevents/interdisciplinaryjapanesestudiesseminar/
- https://www.ucd.ie/japan/newsevents/
To watch the documentary - (opens in a new window)https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/shows/3025201/