In Ghostly Japan

Project Description
A collection of supernatural stories written during the late 19th century that delves into various aspects of Japanese folklore, spirituality, and cultural practices that intertwine the earthly with the ethereal, showcasing themes of love, death, and reincarnation. Hearn also draws on personal experiences in Japan to give his own anecdotes concerning Japanese ghost stories and folktales.

Originally packaged as an exoticized text meant to highlight the “oriental” to a Western audience, I wanted to retool this book into something for modern readers and also for anyone generally interested in world culture. I particularly aimed to appeal to lovers of gothic fiction and dark folklore, highlighting the mystery and mysticism that a lot of these tales are actually about. 

Original Publication Date
1899

Intended Audience
Students and general readers of Japanese culture, people interested in world mythologies and folklore, particularly on the darker side; potentially history buffs who want to step into the world of 19th century Japan

Trim Size
6 × 9 inches

Type
Title and headers set at Penumbra Regular and Semibold
Text is set 11/14.5 Adobe Jenson Pro Regular

Manufacturing Specifications
Gold foil on red cloth, black endpapers