I have only just begun to look into Japanese literature and folk tales. Accordingly, I decided to start with two of the most important people to introduce Japanese culture into the West, Lafcadio Hearn and, A. B. Mitford. Lafcadio Hearn is much more "literary" than is Mitford. But Mitford does a superior job of providing context and historical discussion of the people, institutions. and belief systems incorporated into his stories. And, again, as with Hearn, you are getting a unique look at Japan in transition, from the end of the Tokugawa shogunate to the Meiji Restoration. Thus we get an eyewitness account of Japan moving towards modernization. It's also an era now lost to history. ( )

Mitford went to Japan as second secretary to the British Legation at the time of the exciting but difficult Meiji Restoration. There he met Ernest Satow and wrote Tales of Old Japan (1871) - a book credited with making such classical Japanese tales as the "Forty-seven Ronin" first known to a wide Western public. He resigned from the diplomatic service in 1873. (from wikipedia).

"Tales of Old Japan" was the first collection of Japanese popular stories to appear in English and is a classic among writings from Japan. Mitford's work covers the genres of ghost story, fairy tale, folklore and tales of the samurai. Here you will find mysterious "No Plays", a fascinating eye-witness account of a hara-kiri ceremony by candlelight and tales of vampires and other creatures of superstition - magic cats, foxes and badgers. Included too are the tale of the cat who bites to death a concubine and transforms itself into a witch-simulacrum of her and the most celebrated story, "The Ghost of Sakura". Of the samurai genre, Mitford presents "The Forty-Seven Ronins" alongside wonderful stories of relentless revenge, furious sword fights, vile treachery, staunch loyalty and vagabond life. Mitford conveys what he saw as the essence of the Japanese spirit - heroism, ruthlessness, devoted loyalty and chivalry - in a memorably vigorous style. This book is a treasury of information on places, customs and characters that illuminates Japanese culture as it delights and entertains. [Alibris review]