Lafcadio Hearn 
Exotics and Retrospectives (Barnes & Noble Digital Library) 

This 1898 collection is split into two parts:  The first, ‘Exotics, ‘ consists of Hearn’s Japanese journalism; the second, ‘Retrospectives, ‘ contains his personal essays and reflections.  Standouts are ‘Fuji no Yama, ‘ recounting the author’s grueling ascent of Mt. Fuji, and ‘Insect Musicians, ‘ relating the now-vanished market in music-making insects. 

About the author

Patrick Lafcadio Hearn (1850-1904), also known as Koizumi Yakumo, was born in Greece, raised in Ireland, spent years in America, and finally became a citizen of Japan.  A journalist and translator, he played a major role in introducing Japanese culture to the West.  His translations of Japanese fairy tales and ghost stories were especially influential.