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A Place to Write

Posted by
GJC (Kyoto, Japan) on 6 July 2011 in Lifestyle & Culture.

This is another view of the home where Lafcadio Hearn lived with his new wife, a woman named Setsu whom he met not long after arriving in Matsue. Hearn wrote in this back room, and we see here copies of the desk and chair he used. Because he struggled with poor eyesight the desk was built high enough that his papers and books would be close to eye level when he sat down.

His greatest pleasure was to live in the world of his imagination and to write, his wife Setsu wrote in later years. When he was lost in his writing, he often saw visions and heard imaginary sounds, which made me very uneasy, and I just wished that he would not become so absorbed. There were times in Matsue, when I was still young, I thought that Hearn might lose his mind. I was so worried that one day I asked Nishida [a friend] for his opinion. In the course of time, however, I came to realize that he was just totally caught up in his own thoughts.

NIKON D300 1/8 second F/9.0 ISO 320 27 mm (35mm equiv.)

andante from Japan

It shoud be ideal for writing and also good for me as a hermit.

6 Jul 2011 6:41am

Ronnie 2¢ from Atlantic Shores, United Kingdom

And what a special place this looks to be. Love the sense of form and proportion here and, as so frequent in your postings, the gentle balance with Nature.

6 Jul 2011 8:24am

Hiro from Kyoto, Japan

While living in Izumo, I must have visited the Memorial Museum. But I cannot recall the details. Your photos are fresh for me.

6 Jul 2011 9:30am

ordinaryimages from Kentucky Bluegrass, United States

The mind is a dangerous place...never venture in there alone. best...jf

6 Jul 2011 10:59am

Ian Smith from London, United Kingdom

Nice angles and rich colours! Good photo!

6 Jul 2011 12:34pm

Eric Cousineau from Sherwood Park, Canada

Beautifully composed shot GJC! Love the rich colour of the wood offset by the cooling green of the garden! Nicely captured! ;-)

6 Jul 2011 12:49pm

peter.K from blue mountains, Australia

serene and harmonious...

6 Jul 2011 1:15pm

Denny Jump Photo from Easton, PA, United States

A beautiful image and text to match even more..just wonderful text, GJC...thank you. I think if it were I, I would not be able to write because of the beauty around and I would be distracted by it...but to each his own,. Obviously, he drew energy form the proximity there by the door and it fired him up...Beautiful piece, here sir!

6 Jul 2011 5:32pm

Steve Rice from Olympia, United States

A truly gorgeous image and amazing commentary.

6 Jul 2011 7:09pm

Sugata from Newark, United States

Wonderful balance between the light and the darkness!

7 Jul 2011 4:01am

Veronique from Hautes-Pyrénées, France

you managed so well this picture !! I would love to live in such a place :-) His desk makes me think of Glenn Gould's piano chair

7 Jul 2011 7:37am

Anita from West Nottingham, Pennsylvania, United States

Serene and beautiful place to write. Great handling of darks and lights, as always!

8 Jul 2011 6:23pm

Japanalia from Yokohama, Japan

This is so beautifully shot...it simply makes me sigh!

14 Jul 2011 12:57pm

NIKON D300
1/8 second
F/9.0
ISO 320
27 mm (35mm equiv.)

matsue
松江