themselves and cause mischief for humans。
＇1＇ O…jochu （〃honorable damsel〃）； a polite form of address used in
speaking to a young lady whom one does not know。
（2） An apparition with a smooth； totally featureless face； called a
〃nopperabo；〃 is a stock part of the Japanese pantheon of ghosts and demons。
＇2＇ Soba is a preparation of buckwheat； somewhat resembling vermicelli。
（3） An exclamation of annoyed alarm。
（4） Well！
ROKURO…KUBI
＇1＇ The period of Eikyo lasted from 1429 to 1441。
＇2＇ The upper robe of a Buddhist priest is thus called。
（1） Present…day Yamanashi Prefecture。
（2） A term for itinerant priests。
＇3＇ A sort of little fireplace； contrived in the floor of a room； is thus
described。 The ro is usually a square shallow cavity； lined with metal and
half…filled with ashes； in which charcoal is lighted。
（3） Direct translation of 〃suzumushi；〃 a kind of cricket with a
distinctive chirp like a tiny bell； whence the name。
（4） Now a rokuro…kubi is ordinarily conceived as a goblin whose neck
stretches out to great lengths； but which nevertheless always remains
attached to its body。
（5） A Chinese collection of stories on the supernatural。
＇4＇ A present made to friends or to the household on returning from a
journey is thus called。 Ordinarily； of course； the miyage consists of
something produced in the locality to which the journey has been made： this
is the point of Kwairyo's jest。
（6） Present…day Nagano Prefecture。
A DEAD SECRET
（1） On the present…day map； Tamba corresponds roughly to the central area
of Kyoto Prefecture and part of Hyogo Prefecture。
＇1＇ The Hour of the Rat （Ne…no…Koku）； according to the old Japanese method
of reckoning time； was the first hour。 It corresponded to the time between
our midnight and two o'clock in the morning； for the ancient Japanese hours
were each equal to two modern hours。
＇2＇ Kaimyo； the posthumous Buddhist name； or religious name； given to the
dead。 Strictly speaking； the meaning of the work is sila…name。 （See my
paper entitled； 〃The Literature of the Dead〃 in Exotics and
Retrospectives。）
YUKI…ONNA
（1） An ancient province whose boundaries took in most of present…day
Tokyo； and parts of Saitama and Kanagawa prefectures。
＇1＇ That is to say； with a floor…surface of about six feet square。
＇2＇ This name； signifying 〃Snow；〃 is not uncommon。 On the subject of
Japanese female names； see my paper in the volume entitled Shadowings。
（2） Also spelled Edo； the former name of Tokyo。
THE STORY OF AOYAGI
（1） An ancient province corresponding to the northern part of present…day
Ishikawa Prefecture。
（2） An ancient province corresponding to the eastern part of present…day
Fukui Prefecture。
＇1＇ The name signifies 〃Green Willow；〃 though rarely met with； it is
still in use。
＇2＇ The poem may be read in two ways； several of the phrases having a
double meaning。 But the art of its construction would need considerable
space to explain； and could scarcely interest the Western reader。 The
meaning which Tomotada desired to convey might be thus expressed： 〃While
journeying to visit my mother； I met with a being lovely as a flower； and
for the sake of that lovely person； I am passing the day here。。。 Fair one；
wherefore that dawn…like blush before the hour of dawn？ can it mean that
you love me？〃
＇3＇ Another reading is possible； but this one gives the signification of
the answer intended。
＇4＇ So the Japanese story…teller would have us believe； although the
verses seem commonplace in translation。 I have tried to give only their
general meaning： an effective literal translation would require some
scholarship。
JIU…ROKU…ZAKURA
（1） Present…day Ehime Prefecture。
THE DREAM OF AKINOSUKE
（1） Present…day Nara Prefecture。
＇1＇ This name 〃Tokoyo〃 is indefinite。 According to circumstances it may
signify any unknown country； or that undiscovered country from whose
bourn no traveler returns； or that Fairyland of far…eastern fable； the
Realm of Horai。 The term 〃Kokuo〃 means the ruler of a country； therefore
a king。 The original phrase； Tokoyo no Kokuo； might be rendered here as
〃the Ruler of Horai；〃 or 〃the King of Fairyland。〃
＇2＇ The last phrase； according to old custom； had to be uttered by both
attendants at the same time。 All these ceremonial observances can still be
studied on the Japanese stage。
＇3＇ This was the name given to the estrade； or dais； upon which a feudal
prince or ruler sat in state。 The term literally signifies 〃great seat。〃
RIKI…BAKA
（1） Kana： the Japanese phonetic alphabet。
（2） 〃So…and…so〃： appellation used by Hearn in place of the real name。
（3） A section of Tokyo。
＇1＇ A square piece of cotton…goods； or other woven material； used as a
wrapper in which to carry small packages。
（4） Ten yen is nothing now； but was a formidable sum then。
INSECT STUDIES
BUTTERFLIES
（1） Haiku。
＇1＇ 〃The modest nymph beheld her God； and blushed。〃 （Or； in a more
familiar rendering： 〃The modest water saw its God； and blushed。〃） In this
line the double value of the word nympha used by classical poets both in
the meaning of fountain and in that of the divinity of a fountain； or
spring reminds one of that graceful playing with words which Japanese
poets practice。
＇2＇ More usually written nugi…kakeru； which means either 〃to take off and
hang up；〃 or 〃to begin to take off；〃 as in the above poem。 More loosely；
but more effectively； the verses might thus be rendered： 〃Like a woman
slipping off her haori that is the appearance of a butterfly。〃 One must
have seen the Japanese garment described； to appreciate the comparison。 The
haori is a silk upper…dress； a kind of sleeved cloak； worn by both
sexes； but the poem suggests a woman's haori； which is usually of richer
color or material。 The sleeves are wide； and the lining is usually of
brightly…colored silk； often beautifully variegated。 In taking off the
haori； the brilliant lining is displayed； and at such an instant the
fluttering splendor might well be likened to the appearance of a butterfly
in motion。
＇3＇ The bird…catcher's pole is smeared with bird…lime； and the verses
suggest that the insect is preventing the man from using his pole； by
persistently getting in the way of it； as the birds might take warning
from seeing the butterfly limed。 Jama suru means 〃to hinder〃 or 〃prevent。〃
＇4＇ Even while it is resting； the wings of the butterfly may be seen to
quiver at moments； as if the creature were dreaming of flight。
＇5＇ A little poem by Basho； greatest of all Japanese composers of hokku。
The verses are intended to suggest the joyous feeling of spring…time。
＇6＇ Literally； 〃a windless day；〃 but two negatives in Japanese poetry do
not necessarily imply an affirmative； as in English。 The meaning is； that
although there is no wind； the fluttering motion of the butterflies
suggests； to the eyes at least； that a strong breeze is playing。
＇7＇ Alluding to the Buddhist proverb： Rakkwa eda ni kaerazu； ha…kyo
futatabi terasazu （〃The fallen flower returns not to the branch； the broken
mirror never again reflects。〃） So says the proverb yet it seemed to me
that I saw a fallen flower return to the branch。。。 No： it was only a
butterfly。
＇8＇ Alluding probably to the light fluttering motion of falling cherry…petals。
＇9＇ That is to say； the grace of their motion makes one think of the grace
of young girls； daintily costumed； in robes with long fluttering sleeves。。。
And old Japanese proverb declares that even a devil is pretty at eighteen：
Oni mo jiu…hachi azami no hana： 〃Even a devil at eighteen；
flower…of…the…thistle。〃
＇10＇ Or perhaps the verses might be more effectively rendered thus： 〃Happy
together； do you say？ Yes if we should be reborn as field…butterflies in
some future life： then we might accord！〃 This poem was composed by the
celebrated poet Issa； on the occasion of divorcing his wife。
＇11＇ Or； Tare no tama？ ＇Digitizer's note： Hearn's note calls attention to
an alternative reading of the ideogram for 〃spirit〃 or 〃soul。〃＇
＇12＇ Literally； 〃Butterfly…pursing heart I wish to have always；' i。e。；
I would that I might always be able to find pleasure in simple things； like
a happy child。
＇13＇ An old popular error； probably imported from China。
＇14＇ A name suggested by the resemblance of the larva's artificial
covering to the mino； or straw…raincoat； worn by Japanese peasants。 I am
not sure whether the dictionary rendering； 〃basket…worm；〃 is quite
correct； but the larva commonly called minomushi does really construct
for itself something much like the covering of the basket…worm。
（2） A very large； white radish。 〃Daikon〃 literally means 〃big root。〃
＇15＇ Pyrus spectabilis。
＇16＇ An evil spirit。
（3） A common female name。
MOSQUITOES
（1） Meiji： The period in which Hearn wrote this book。 It lasted from 1868
to 1912； and was a time when Japan plunged head…first into Western…style
modernization。 By the 〃fashions and the changes and the disintegrations of
Meiji〃 Hearn is lamenting that this process of modernization was destroying
some of the good things in traditional Japanese culture。
ANTS
（1） Cicadas。
＇1＇ An interesting fact in this connection is that the Japanese word for
ant； ari； is represented by an ideograph formed of the character for
〃insect〃 combined with the character signifying 〃moral rectitude；〃
〃propriety〃 （giri）。 So the Chinese character actually means 〃The
Propriety…Insect。〃
End