Kamakura

Kamakura is nothing if she has no history, writes Japanese novelist, poet, and essayist Yone Noguchi. At the turn of the 20th century, Kamakura was, as it is today, a commercialized coastal resort, a short train journey away from Tokyo. But Kamakura was once the most populous settlement in Japan and, in the middle ages, the seat of several major Buddhist sects. In this short book of meditative essays and poetry, Noguchi sets out to recover Kamakura's rich history in visits to its most important temples and shrines. The final essay is written by Noguchi's contemporary and friend, the American Japanophile, Lafcadio Hearn. (Summary by Phil Benson)